Opinion ID: 1975266
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Settlement Offset

Text: Mockus first contends that having denied Melanson's request to set aside the default and default judgment against him, the court erred as a matter of law in granting the requested set-off. She argues that the failure of Melanson to request the set-off at the hearing on her motion for a default judgment or to seek an amendment of the judgment as provided in M.R.Civ.P. 59(e), forecloses the court from granting Melanson's motion pursuant to M.R.Civ.P. 60(b)(6). We need not address this argument because the court is authorized by M.R.Civ.P. 60(a) to correct an error in the judgment arising from oversight or omission. [2] Set-off is required by law pursuant to 14 M.R.S.A. § 163 (1980), [3] not merely available on request. Thurston v. 3K Kamper Ko., Inc., 482 A.2d 837, 842 (Me. 1984); Emery Waterhouse Co. v. Lea, 467 A.2d 986, 996 (Me.1983). Here, the court stated in its decision of May 7, 1992, that had it remembered or been reminded of the offset provision at the time of the entry of the default judgment against Melanson on June 4, 1991, it would have reduced that judgment to reflect the settlement reached by Mockus with the remaining defendants as required by section 163. The court's failure to apply the offset was an oversight, and the court properly corrected the oversight according to the authority conferred by M.R.Civ.P. 60(a). Davis v. Bruk, 411 A.2d 660, 666-67 (Me.1980); see also Allen v. Allen, 603 A.2d 482, 483 (Me. 1992). Nor do we find merit in Mockus's contention that the reduction was improper because it should be limited to settlements with defendants affirmatively determined to have causative fault. See Hewitt v. Bahmueller, 584 A.2d 664, 666 (Me.1991) (The only instance in which we have held that section 163 does not require reduction of a verdict by the amount of a settlement is when the settlement was made with a party who is determined by the verdict to be without causative fault. (Emphasis deleted)). The entry is: Judgment affirmed. All concurring.