Kiss v. Jacob

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

CLIFFORD, J.

Plaintiffs’ appeal challenges the Appellate Division’s interpretation of the collateral-source statute, N.J.S.A 2A:15-97. The court below held that the statute allows a court to reduce a plaintiffs verdict in a personal-injury case by the amount paid by a settling defendant that a jury later determines is not liable in any degree. 268 N.J.Super. 235, 633 A.2d 544 (1993). We granted certification, 137 N.J. 165, 644 A.2d 613 (1994), and now reverse.

I

On January 13, 1988, plaintiff Joszef Kiss was the owner and operator of an automobile that…