Opinion ID: 2104035
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Pending-appeal settlement

Text: After the original malpractice trial, the Hospital separately settled with Danny for $4 million, and thus did not appeal the $15,710,000 verdict. The appeal did continue; the Hospital did not discharge the liability of SLU, American Cyanamid or Hesselberg. In another state case, the Hospital sued Hesselberg for contribution, and American Cyanamid for contribution, fraud and indemnification. Cardinal Glennon, 997 S.W.2d at 43-44. The Court of Appeals held that by the settlor-barred doctrine, the Hospital could not seek contribution from American Cyanamid or Hesselberg because the Hospital did not discharge their liability. Cardinal Glennon, 997 S.W.2d at 45. The Court of Appeals expressly rejected exceptions to the settlor-barred doctrine. Id. This state case controls here. By settling with Danny, Fetick discharged only his liability to Danny, and protected himself from contribution claims of other defendants. Equally, he is barred from seeking contribution from American Cyanamid or Hesselberg in the present case.