Family & Social Services Administration v. Schluttenhofer

ON PETITION TO TRANSFER

BOEHM, Justice.

This case addresses the meaning of the word "claim," as it is used in Indiana's lien reduction statute. We hold that each claim to which a lien holder asserts subro-gation rights must be evaluated independently of others that might arise from an injury. That was not done here. Therefore, we grant transfer and remand with instructions to reduce FSSA's lien to $15,824.52.

Factual and Procedural Background

On September 11, 1997, Wayne Scehlut-tenhofer stopped his employer's pickup truck to assist Terry Snodgrass, whose truck had been disabled after striking a…