MS HB145

Requires defendants to identify joint tortfeasors in their answer to a complaint in civil actions involving fault-based liability.

A defendant's failure to identify a joint tortfeasor waives the defendant's right to allocate fault to that person or entity.

Mandates that any party seeking to allocate fault to a non-party person or entity must bring them into the action as a party, which the court must allow.

Establishes that defendants seeking to allocate fault have the same burden of proof as plaintiffs seeking to allocate fault.

Effective date is July 1, 2025.