Erreca's v. SUPERIOR COURT OF SAN DIEGO CTY.

Opinion

HUFFMAN, J.—The

issues raised by these petitions focus our attention upon the two competing policies established by Code of Civil Procedure sections 877 and 877.6, which govern “the effect that a settlement agreement has on a settling defendant’s potential liability to other defendants for contribution or comparative indemnity” (Abbott Ford, Inc. v. Superior Court (1987) 43 Cal.3d 858, 871-872 [239 Cal.Rptr. 626, 741 P.2d 124]) (hereafter Abbott Ford): (1) The equitable sharing of costs among the parties at fault and (2) the encouragement of settlements. (Tech-Bilt, Inc. v.…