The Short Happy Life of Litigation Between Tortfeasors: Contribution, Indemnification and Subrogation After Washington\u27s Tort Reform Acts

Section I summarizes the history and development of tort law in Washington, with an emphasis on the impact of the 1981 and 1986 Tort Reform Acts and their imperfect union. Section II outlines the traditional equitable remedies that are potentially available to a tortfeasor seeking reimbursement for having paid more than its share. Section III sets out the thesis and explains why under current law a tortfeasor\u27s suit for reimbursement should be the exception, not the rule. The need, and the basis, for such litigation is dependent upon the existence of joint and several liability-which now occurs only infrequently