Law Reform Commission of Saskatchewan
The Contributory Negligence Act allows a plaintiff to collect damages against any or all defendants held liable at trial for the plaintiff’s injuries. The goal of the contribution rules is to shift the burden of underpayment away from the plaintiff and onto contributing defendants. The Commission encourages discussion of the contribution rules, which sometimes produce unfair results.
Structured settlements provide compensation to a plaintiff in periodic payments instead of a lump sum. Though Saskatchewan courts approve settlements negotiated between parties, they lack jurisdiction to deliver structured judgments. The proposed Structured Judgments Act would allow courts to make structured awards while providing them with some guidance on the complexities involved.