Court Opinion

ID: 9685025
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 14:21:21.828878+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:01.809553
License: Public Domain

SAND, Justice,
concurring specially.
While I concur in Justice Pederson’s opinion, I deem it appropriate to make an additional comment.
In any action involving negligence of more than one tortfeasor so as to bring into operation the comparative negligence concept, North Dakota Century Code § 9-10-07, an opportunity, if not a tendency, exists for each tortfeasor to attempt to shift the blame on the other tortfeasor or tort-feasors, as the case may be. Likewise, in a multiple tortfeasor action, where a settlement has been made with one or more tortfeasors, an opportunity, if not a tendency, exists for the plaintiff to attempt to impose or shift the greater blame upon the remaining tortfeasor or tortfeasors. Conversely, the opportunity, if not a tendency, exists for the remaining tortfeasors to attempt to shift the greater blame upon the tortfeasor or tortfeasors who have settled with the plaintiff.
The ultimte fact finder, jury or judge, as the case may be, in discharging its responsibility will make the appropriate adjustment. Arguably, the fact finder might resent an attempt to shift blame and, as a result, may be inclined to view the situation opposite to what the party wanted to accomplish and thereby produce the opposite effect. Furthermore, those countervailing opportunities or tendencies under our adversary legal system should offset each other and balance the scales so that the fact finder, judge or jury will make the appropriate evaluation and judgment.