(a) A court or arbitrator having jurisdiction over a claim by a participant against a third party shall additionally have jurisdiction over apportionment of any recovery on the claim, if the participant and the health benefits trust or any other party asserting a lien cannot agree on an allocation.
(b) In the event of a settlement between the participant and the third party where there is no agreement on proper apportionment of the settlement between the participant and the health benefits trust or any other party asserting a lien, the participant may petition the court for a determination in accordance with this section. The parties may introduce evidence with respect to the issue of apportionment in any manner authorized by the Evidence Code, including, but not limited to, introduction by sworn declaration or by relevant discovery responses. The participant shall make available to the health benefits trust all relevant discovery in a reasonable and timely manner. The use of witness testimony shall be discouraged and shall be allowed only by stipulation of the parties.
(c) In the event of a judgment where there is no agreement on proper apportionment of the judgment between the participant and the health benefits trust or any other party asserting a lien, the participant may file a post-trial motion asking the court to apportion the judgment in accordance with this section.
(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 69, Sec. 22. Effective June 24, 2004.)