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Torts • Satisfaction and Release
TORT#119
Legal Definition
A satisfaction occurs when a plaintiff recovers full payment of their damages. Only one satisfaction is allowed. Until satisfaction is had, a plaintiff may proceed against all jointly liable parties.
Plain English Explanation
When a victim is hurt by a tort, they are damaged. Tort law, generally, seeks to make a tort victim whole, which means you calculate the cost of the damage caused to the victim and then give them that amount back. Once the victim receives this amount, they are considered satisfied and may no longer legally pursue additional damages.
Hypothetical
Hypo 1: Bob and Amy are found to be jointly and severally liable for Sam's injuries, which amounted to $100. Amy pays Sam $50, and Bob chooses to ignore Sam. Result: Sam may continue to try to sue Bob for the remaining $50, or he can choose to sue Amy for an additional $50. This may seem unfair, but the goal is to make the victim, Sam, whole as quickly as possible and let the people who caused the harm deal with it themselves.
