Helfend v. Southern California Rapid Transit District
California Supreme Court
465 P.2d 61 (1970)
- Written by Sean Carroll, JD
Facts
Julius J. Helfend (plaintiff) filed a tort action against the Southern California Rapid Transit District (SCRTD) (defendant), a public-transit entity, and Kenneth Mitchell (defendant), an employee of SCRTD, for injuries sustained in a bus-automobile accident. The trial court rejected the defendants’ request at trial to show that about 80 percent of Helfend’s hospital bill had been paid for by his insurance carrier. The trial court held that the collateral-source rule applied and that the award therefore should not be reduced by the amount of insurance payments received by Helfend. The defendants appealed, arguing the collateral-source rule did not apply to tort actions against public entities and public employees.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Tobriner, J.)
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