Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.013

Current with legislation from the 2023 Regular and Special Sessions signed by the Governor as of November 21, 2023.

Section 33.013 - Amount of Liability

(a) Except as provided in Subsection (b), a liable defendant is liable to a claimant only for the percentage of the damages found by the trier of fact equal to that defendant's percentage of responsibility with respect to the personal injury, property damage, death, or other harm for which the damages are allowed.

(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), each liable defendant is, in addition to the defendant's liability under Subsection (a), jointly and severally liable for the damages recoverable by the claimant under Section 33.012 with respect to a cause of action if:

(1) the percentage of responsibility attributed to the defendant with respect to a cause of action is greater than 50 percent; or

(2) the defendant, with the specific intent to do harm to others, acted in concert with another person to engage in the conduct described in the following provisions of the Penal Code and in so doing proximately caused the damages legally recoverable by the claimant:

(A) Section 19.02 (murder);

(B) Section 19.03 (capital murder);

(C) Section 20.04 (aggravated kidnapping);

(D) Section 22.02 (aggravated assault);

(E) Section 22.011 (sexual assault);

(F) Section 22.021 (aggravated sexual assault);

(G) Section 22.04 (injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual);

(H) Section 32.21 (forgery);

(I) Section 32.43 (commercial bribery);

(J) Section 32.45 (misapplication of fiduciary property or property of financial institution);

(K) Section 32.46 (fraudulent securing of document execution);

(L) Section 32.47 (fraudulent destruction, removal, or concealment of writing);

(M) conduct described in Chapter 31 the punishment level for which is a felony of the third degree or higher; or

(N) Section 21.02 (continuous sexual abuse of young child or disabled individual).

(c) Repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 204, Sec. 4.10(5).

(d) This section does not create a cause of action.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary stated in the provisions of the Penal Code listed in Subsection (b)(2), that subsection applies only if the claimant proves the defendant acted or failed to act with specific intent to do harm. A defendant acts with specific intent to do harm with respect to the nature of the defendant's conduct and the result of the person's conduct when it is the person's conscious effort or desire to engage in the conduct for the purpose of doing substantial harm to others.

(f) The jury may not be made aware through voir dire, introduction into evidence, instruction, or any other means that the conduct to which Subsection (b)(2) refers is defined by the Penal Code.

Tex. Civ. Prac. and Rem. Code § 33.013

Amended by Acts 2021, Texas Acts of the 87th Leg. - Regular Session, ch. 837,Sec. 4, eff. 9/1/2021.

Amended by Acts 2021, Texas Acts of the 87th Leg. - Regular Session, ch. 221,Sec. 2.02, eff. 9/1/2021.

Amended by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 593, Sec. 3.02, eff. 9/1/2007.

Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 204, Sec. 4.07, 4.10(5), eff. 9/1/2003.

Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 136, Sec. 1, eff. 9/1/1995

Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., 1st C.S., ch. 2, Sec. 2.09, eff. 9/2/1987

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 959, Sec. 1, eff. 9/1/1985.