Indiana Code

Ind. Code § 34-51-2-7 (2026)

Jury instructions; single party defendant

✓ current as of May 2026
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     Sec. 7. (a) This section applies to an action based on fault that is:

(1) brought against one (1) defendant or two (2) or more defendants who may be treated as a single party; and

(2) tried to a jury.

     (b) The court, unless all the parties agree otherwise, shall instruct the jury to determine its verdict in the following manner:

(1) The jury shall determine the percentage of fault of the claimant, of the defendant, and of any person who is a nonparty. The jury may not be informed of any immunity defense that is available to a nonparty. In assessing percentage of fault, the jury shall consider the fault of all persons who caused or contributed to cause the alleged injury, death, or damage to property, tangible or intangible, regardless of whether the person was or could have been named as a party. The percentage of fault of parties to the action may total less than one hundred percent (100%) if the jury finds that fault contributing to cause the claimant's loss has also come from a nonparty or nonparties.

(2) If the percentage of fault of the claimant is greater than fifty percent (50%) of the total fault involved in the incident which caused the claimant's death, injury, or property damage, the jury shall return a verdict for the defendant and no further deliberation of the jury is required.

(3) If the percentage of fault of the claimant is not greater than fifty percent (50%) of the total fault, the jury then shall determine the total amount of damages the claimant would be entitled to recover if contributory fault were disregarded.

(4) The jury next shall multiply the percentage of fault of the defendant by the amount of damages determined under subdivision (3) and shall then enter a verdict for the claimant in the amount of the product of that multiplication.

[Pre-1998 Recodification Citation: 34-4-33-5(a).]

As added by P.L.1-1998, SEC.47.

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 43 cases (8 in the last 5 years), 1999–2026 · leading case: Paragon Fam. Restaurant v. Bartolini, 799 N.E.2d 1048 (Ind. 2003).
Paragon Fam. Restaurant v. Bartolini, 799 N.E.2d 1048 (Ind. 2003). · cites it 4× “" Ind. Code § 34-51-2-7 (b). The Act declares that the "requirements of causal relation" apply to the determination of fault.”
Webber v. Butner, 923 F.3d 479 (7th Cir. 2019). · cites it 3× “This ruling was reflected in an instruction to the jury. The jury returned a verdict apportioning 51% of fault to plaintiff Webber and 49% to defendant Butner.”
Kocher v. Getz, 824 N.E.2d 671 (Ind. 2005). · cites it 6× “Ind.Code §§ 34-51-2-7, -8. 10 . Id. 11 . Id.”
The Est. of Gary Pfafman v. Lori Lancaster, Individually, & as Guardian of the Est. of Kole Craig, 67 N.E.3d 1150 (Ind. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 14× “I.C. § 34-51-2-7(b)(1) (2016) (emphases added).”
Mendenhall v. Skinner & Broadbent Co., 728 N.E.2d 140 (Ind. 2000). · cites it 4× “" Ind.Code Ann. § 34-51-2-7(b)(1) (West Supp.”
Witte v. Mundy Ex Rel. Mundy, 820 N.E.2d 128 (Ind. 2005). · cites it 2× “" Ind.Code § 34-51-2-7 (2004). As the Court of Appeals pointed out, until 1995, a "nonparty" was defined as "a person who is, or may be liable to the claimant in part or in whole for the damages claimed but who has not been joined in the action as a defendant by the claimant.”
Creasy v. Rusk, 730 N.E.2d 659 (Ind. 2000). · cites it 3× “CODE §§ 34-51-2-7 & 34-51-2-8. Accordingly, I concur in the majority's holding in Part I that a person with a mental disability owes a duty of reasonable care.”
Indiana Dep't of Ins. v. Everhart, 960 N.E.2d 129 (Ind. 2012). · cites it 2× “Ind.Code § 34-51-2-7, -8 (2008). In exchange for giving negligent plaintiffs greater access to the courts, however, the Act abrogates the old rule of joint and several liability in suits to which the Act applies.”
Kocher v. Getz, 787 N.E.2d 418 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 8× “See I.C. § 34-51-2-7. Thus, unlike the court in Deible, 691 N.”
Kmart Corp. v. Englebright, 719 N.E.2d 1249 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 2× “Ind.Code § 34-51-2-7. Rather than completely foreclosing a plaintiffs recovery, under the Act, the plaintiffs recovery is reduced by the proportion of fault attributable to him.”
Dennerline v. Atterholt, 886 N.E.2d 582 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “" Ind. Code § 34-51-2-7 (b)(1). Dennerline does not challenge any of the jury instructions regarding fault allocation in this appeal.”
Solnosky v. Goodwell, 892 N.E.2d 174 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “Ind.Code Ann. § 34-51-2-14 (West Supp.1999).”
Ind. Code § 34-51-2-7(b): 3 cases
Latoya Torrence v. Courtney Gamble, 124 N.E.3d 1249 (Ind. Ct. App. 2019).
Kathryn Davidson v. State of Indiana, 211 N.E.3d 914 (Ind. 2023).
Ind. Code § 34-51-2-7(b)(1): 8 cases
Mendenhall v. Skinner & Broadbent Co., 728 N.E.2d 140 (Ind. 2000). “" Ind.Code Ann. § 34-51-2-7(b)(1) (West Supp.”
The Est. of Gary Pfafman v. Lori Lancaster, Individually, & as Guardian of the Est. of Kole Craig, 67 N.E.3d 1150 (Ind. Ct. App. 2017). “I.C. § 34-51-2-7(b)(1) (2016) (emphases added).”
Carroll v. Whitney, 29 S.W.3d 14 (Tenn. 2000).
R.L. McCoy, Inc. v. Jack, 752 N.E.2d 67 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001).
Ind. Code § 34-51-2-7(b)(2): 1 case
Pandel Ludwig v. Flaherty & Collins, Inc., No. 25A-CT-00941 (Ind. Ct. App. Mar. 16, 2026).
Ind. Code § 34-51-2-7(b)(3): 1 case
Supervised Admin. of the Est. of Inlow v. Inlow, 893 N.E.2d 734 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008).
Ind. Code § 34-51-2-7(b)(4): 1 case
Supervised Admin. of the Est. of Inlow v. Inlow, 893 N.E.2d 734 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008).
Ind. Code § 34-51-2-7(b)(l): 3 cases
The Est. of Gary Pfafman v. Lori Lancaster, Individually, & as Guardian of the Est. of Kole Craig, 67 N.E.3d 1150 (Ind. Ct. App. 2017). “I.C. § 34-51-2-7(b)(1) (2016) (emphases added).”
Solnosky v. Goodwell, 892 N.E.2d 174 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008). “Ind.Code Ann. § 34-51-2-14 (West Supp.1999).”
Bulldog Battery Corp. v. Pica Investments, Inc., 736 N.E.2d 333 (Ind. Ct. App. 2000).
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