Opinion ID: 2498587
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Excluding Evidence of Collateral Source Payments Pursuant to Subsection 10-1-135(10)(a)

Text: ¶ 20 Subsection 10-1-135(10)(a) excludes evidence of the amounts paid by Smith's insurance company for medical expenses. As previously noted, we first give the plain language of a statute its commonly accepted and understood meaning when ascertaining legislative intent. Smith, 230 P.3d at 1189; see also Van Waters, 840 P.2d at 1076. The statute must be applied as written when its language is clear and unambiguous. Van Waters, 840 P.2d at 1076. ¶ 21 Subsection 10-1-135(10)(a) clearly and unambiguously states that the fact or amount of any collateral source payment or benefits shall not be admitted as evidence in any action against an alleged third-party tortfeasor. (emphasis added). A collateral source is a person or company, wholly independent of an alleged tortfeasor, that compensates an injured party for that person's injuries. Van Waters, 840 P.2d at 1074; see § 13-21-111.6, C.R.S. (2011) (Colorado's post-verdict collateral source statute). Smith's insurance company is a collateral source because it is wholly independent of Jeppsen, and it paid for Smith's medical expenses after the accident. ¶ 22 Smith filed a negligence action, sounding in tort, against Jeppsen. Jeppsen was therefore an alleged tortfeasor for the purposes of this case. Thus, this action falls into the category of any action against an alleged tortfeasor. As such, subsection 10-1-135(10)(a) excludes evidence of the payment made by a collateral sourceSmith's insurerfrom this action against Jeppsenan alleged tortfeasor. The trial court therefore did not abuse its discretion by excluding evidence of the amounts paid by Smith's insurance company.