Opinion ID: 884504
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Did the District Court err in applying Plumb to the instant case and dismissing Werner/Freeman's cross-claim against Bennett?

Text: ¶ 24 The standard of review of a district court's conclusions of law is whether the court's interpretation of the law is correct. Carbon County v. Union Reserve Coal Co. (1995), 271 Mont. 459, 469, 898 P.2d 680, 686. ¶ 25 In early May 1997, Anderson settled his claim against Bennett for $25,000. Thereafter, upon a joint motion filed by Anderson and Bennett, the court dismissed Werner/Freeman's cross-claim against Bennett for contribution and indemnity on the ground that Bennett was not subject to claims of contribution and indemnity pursuant to Plumb v. Fourth Jud. Dist. Ct. (1996), 279 Mont. 363, 927 P.2d 1011. ¶ 26 Werner/Freeman argues that the court misinterpreted Plumb and, therefore, erred in dismissing its cross-claim against Bennett and preventing the jury from apportioning liability between Bennett and Werner/Freeman. Werner/Freeman notes that in Plumb, we held § 27-1-703(6), MCA, unconstitutional because it violated substantive due process to the extent that it allowed apportionment of liability to parties who were not named in the pleadings and did not have the opportunity to appear and defend themselves. Plumb, 279 Mont. at 379, 927 P.2d at 1021. Werner/Freeman points out that Bennett was named as a party in the pleadings, and Bennett appeared and defended herself throughout the proceedings until six days before trial. Thus, Werner/Freeman argues, Plumb is distinguishable and does not apply to the instant case. We disagree. ¶ 27 In State ex rel. Deere v. District Court (1986), 224 Mont. 384, 730 P.2d 396, we interpreted the language in § 27-1-703, MCA (1981), which provides for contribution... proportional to the negligence of the parties against whom recovery is allowed. Based on the plain meaning of this language, we held that persons who have been released from liability by the claimant are not subject to contribution because they are not parties against whom recovery is allowed. Deere, 224 Mont. at 393, 730 P.2d at 402. This holding was reaffirmed in Plumb. See Plumb, 279 Mont. at 378-79, 927 P.2d at 1021 ([S]ettling tort-feasors may not be named as third-party defendants for the purpose of contribution). We noted in Plumb that the above language in § 27-1-703, MCA (1981), was still present in § 27-1-703(4), MCA (1995). Plumb, 279 Mont. at 379, 927 P.2d at 1021. ¶ 28 We recognize that the above language was stricken in the 1997 amendments to § 27-1-703, MCA, effective May 11, 1997. See 1997 Mont. Law, Ch. 429. However, we adhere to the rule that the substantive rights between parties to an action are determined by the law in effect on the date of the injury. Cadwell v. Bechtel Power Corp. (1987), 225 Mont. 423, 425, 732 P.2d 1352, 1354. Further, a statute will not be applied retroactively unless the legislature clearly expressed an intention to so apply it. Cadwell, 225 Mont. at 425, 732 P.2d at 1354. According to 1997 Mont. Law, Ch. 429, the legislature did not intend to apply the 1997 amendments to § 27-1-703, MCA, retroactively. Thus, because the accident in the instant case occurred before the 1997 amendments went into effect, Deere is the applicable law. Because Plumb reaffirmed the Deere rule that settling tort-feasors are not subject to contribution, we hold that the District Court correctly interpreted Plumb and did not err in dismissing Werner/Freeman's cross-claim against Bennett on the basis of Plumb.