2021 Oregon Revised Statutes
Chapter 031 - Tort Actions
Section 31.735 - Distribution of punitive damages; notice to Department of Justice; order of application.


(a) Thirty percent is payable to the prevailing party. The attorney for the prevailing party shall be paid out of the amount allocated under this paragraph, in the amount agreed upon between the attorney and the prevailing party. However, in no event may more than 20 percent of the amount awarded as punitive damages be paid to the attorney for the prevailing party.
(b) Sixty percent is payable to the Attorney General for deposit in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Account of the Department of Justice Crime Victims’ Assistance Section, and may be used only for the purposes set forth in ORS chapter 147. However, if the prevailing party is a public entity, the amount otherwise payable to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Account shall be paid to the general fund of the public entity.
(c) Ten percent is payable to the Attorney General for deposit in the State Court Facilities and Security Account established under ORS 1.178, and may be used only for the purposes specified in ORS 1.178 (2)(d).
(2) The party preparing the proposed judgment shall assure that the judgment identifies the judgment creditors specified in subsection (1) of this section.
(3) Upon the entry of a verdict including an award of punitive damages, the prevailing party shall provide notice of the verdict to the Department of Justice. In addition, upon entry of a judgment based on a verdict that includes an award of punitive damages, the prevailing party shall provide notice of the judgment to the Department of Justice. The notices required under this subsection must be in writing and must be delivered to the Department of Justice Crime Victims’ Assistance Section in Salem, Oregon within five days after the entry of the verdict or judgment.
(4) Whenever a judgment includes both compensatory and punitive damages, any payment on the judgment by or on behalf of any defendant, whether voluntary or by execution or otherwise, shall be applied first to compensatory damages, costs and court-awarded attorney fees awarded against that defendant and then to punitive damages awarded against that defendant unless all affected parties, including the Department of Justice, expressly agree otherwise, or unless that application is contrary to the express terms of the judgment.
(5) Whenever any judgment creditor of a judgment which includes punitive damages governed by this section receives any payment on the judgment by or on behalf of any defendant, the judgment creditor receiving the payment shall notify the attorney for the other judgment creditors and all sums collected shall be applied as required by subsections (1) and (4) of this section, unless all affected parties, including the Department of Justice, expressly agree otherwise, or unless that application is contrary to the express terms of the judgment. [Formerly 18.540; 2011 c.597 §311; 2011 c.689 §1]
Note: Section 3, chapter 689, Oregon Laws 2011, provides:
Sec. 3. The amendments to ORS 31.735 by section 1 of this 2011 Act apply only to causes of action that arise on or after the effective date of this 2011 Act [August 2, 2011]. [2011 c.689 §3]

Structure 2021 Oregon Revised Statutes

2021 Oregon Revised Statutes

Volume : 01 - Courts, Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure

Chapter 031 - Tort Actions

Section 31.150 - Special motion to strike; when available; burden of proof.

Section 31.152 - Time for filing special motion to strike; discovery; attorney fees.

Section 31.155 - Exempt actions; substantive law not affected.

Section 31.180 - Certain felonious conduct of plaintiff complete defense in tort actions; proof; exceptions.

Section 31.200 - Liability of radio or television station personnel for defamation.

Section 31.210 - When general damages allowed.

Section 31.215 - Publication of correction or retraction upon demand.

Section 31.230 - Wrongful use of civil proceeding; pleading; procedure.

Section 31.250 - Mandatory dispute resolution for certain actions against health practitioners and health care facilities.

Section 31.260 - Definitions for ORS 31.260 to 31.278.

Section 31.262 - Notice of adverse health care incident.

Section 31.264 - Discussion of adverse health care incident; offers of compensation; reporting to commission.

Section 31.266 - Discussion communications; admissibility; disclosure.

Section 31.268 - Mediation.

Section 31.270 - Payment and resolution.

Section 31.272 - Statute of limitations; evidence of offers and payments.

Section 31.274 - Patient representatives.

Section 31.276 - Duties of Oregon Patient Safety Commission; rules.

Section 31.278 - Use of information relating to notice of adverse health care incident.

Section 31.280 - Task Force on Resolution of Adverse Health Care Incidents; rules.

Section 31.300 - Pleading requirements for actions against design professionals.

Section 31.350 - Pleading requirements for actions against real estate licensees.

Section 31.360 - Proof required for claim of economic damages in action arising from injury caused by dog.

Section 31.370 - Presumption of absence of negligence if defendant conducts criminal records check through Department of State Police.

Section 31.555 - Effect of advance payment; payment as satisfaction of judgment.

Section 31.560 - Advance payment for death or personal injury not admission of liability; when advance payment made.

Section 31.580 - Effect of collateral benefits.

Section 31.600 - Contributory negligence not bar to recovery; comparative negligence standard; third party complaints.

Section 31.605 - Special questions to trier of fact; jury not to be informed of settlement.

Section 31.610 - Liability of defendants several only; determination of defendants’ shares of monetary obligation; reallocation of uncollectible obligation; parties exempt from reallocation.

Section 31.620 - Doctrines of last clear chance and implied assumption of risk abolished.

Section 31.700 - Right to include medical expenses paid by parent or conservator in action to recover for damages to child; effect of consent to inclusion.

Section 31.705 - Economic and noneconomic damages separately set forth in verdict; "economic damages" and "noneconomic damages" defined.

Section 31.710 - Limitation on award for noneconomic damages in claim for wrongful death.

Section 31.715 - Limitation on recovery of noneconomic damages arising out of operation of motor vehicle; uninsured plaintiff; plaintiff driving under influence of intoxicants.

Section 31.725 - Pleading punitive damages; motion to amend pleading to assert claim for punitive damages; hearing.

Section 31.730 - Standards for award of punitive damages; required review of award by court; additional reduction of award for remedial measures.

Section 31.735 - Distribution of punitive damages; notice to Department of Justice; order of application.

Section 31.740 - When award of punitive damages against health practitioner prohibited.

Section 31.760 - Evidence of nonuse of safety belt or harness to mitigate damages.

Section 31.770 - Inadmissibility of calculation of future earning potential based on race or ethnicity; jury instruction.

Section 31.800 - Right of contribution among joint tortfeasors; limitations; subrogation of insurer; effect on indemnity right.

Section 31.805 - Basis for proportional shares of tortfeasors.

Section 31.810 - Enforcement of right of contribution; commencement of separate action; barring right of contribution; effect of satisfaction of judgment.

Section 31.815 - Covenant not to sue; effect; notice.