§ 72-1023 — SUBROGATION

(1) If a claimant seeks compensation under this chapter and compensation is awarded, the account is entitled to full subrogation against a judgment or recovery received by the claimant against the offender or from or against any other source for all compensation paid under this chapter. The account’s right of subrogation shall be a first lien on the judgment or recovery. If the claimant does not institute the action against the offender or against another source from which payment may be recovered for benefits compensable under this chapter within one (1) year from the date the criminally injurious conduct occurred, the commission may institute the action in the name of the claimant or the claimant’s personal representative.
(2) If the claimant institutes the action, the commission shall pay a proportional share of costs and attorneys’ fees if it recovers under its subrogation interest.
(3) If the commission institutes the action in the name of the claimant or the claimant’s personal representative and the recovery is in excess of the amount of compensation paid to the claimant and costs incurred by the account in pursuit of the action, the excess shall be paid to the claimant.
(4) If a judgment or recovery includes both damages for bodily injury or death for which the commission has ordered compensation paid under this chapter and damages for which the commission has not ordered compensation paid, then the account’s subrogation interest shall apply only to that proportion of the judgment or recovery for which it has paid compensation. In a civil action in a court of this state arising out of criminally injurious conduct, the judge, on timely motion, shall direct the jury to return a special verdict indicating separately the amounts of the various items of damages awarded. A claimant may not make recoveries against the offender or other source from which payment can be recovered for benefits compensable under this chapter in such a way as to avoid and preclude the account from receiving its proper subrogation share as provided in this section. The commission shall order the release of any lien provided for in subsection (1) of this section upon receipt of the account’s subrogation share.
(5) Moneys received under the provisions of this section shall be paid to the account.

Legislative History

[72-1023, added 1986, ch. 337, sec. 1, p. 832; am. 1988, ch 73, sec. 1, p. 105.]