Beech Aircraft Corp. v. Jinkins

MAUZY, Justice.

This case concerns the contribution rights of a settling party under both statutory and common law contribution schemes. The specific issue is whether a defendant, who settles a plaintiff’s entire claim, may preserve a right to contribution from an alleged joint tortfeasor who does not participate in the settlement. The trial court rendered summary judgment denying the settling defendants any opportunity to establish their right to contribution. The court of appeals affirmed, holding that the settling defendants were, as a matter of law, not entitled to seek contribution under…