1. Acceptance of any compensation under sections 595.010 to 595.075 shall subrogate this state, to the extent of such compensation paid, to any right or right of action accruing to the claimant or to the victim to recover payments on account of losses resulting from the crime with respect to which the compensation has been paid. The attorney general may enforce the subrogation, and he shall bring suit to recover from any person to whom compensation is paid, to the extent of the compensation actually paid under sections 595.010 to 595.075, any amount received by the claimant from any source exceeding the actual loss to the victim.

2. The department shall have a lien on any compensation received by the claimant, in addition to compensation received under provisions of sections 595.010 to 595.075, for injuries or death resulting from the incident upon which the claim is based. The claimant shall retain, as trustee for the department, so much of the recovered funds as necessary to reimburse the Missouri crime victims’ compensation fund to the extent that compensation was awarded to the claimant from that fund.

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Terms Used In Missouri Laws 595.040

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • State: when applied to any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.

3. If a claimant initiates any legal proceeding to recover restitution or damages related to the crime upon which the claim is based, or if the claimant enters into negotiations to receive any proceeds in settlement of a claim for restitution or damages related to the crime, the claimant shall give the department written notice within fifteen days of the filing of the action or entering into negotiations. The department may intervene in the proceeding of a complainant to recover the compensation awarded. If a claimant fails to give such written notice to the department within the stated time period, or prior to any attempt by claimant to reach a negotiated settlement of claims for recovery of damages related to the crime upon which the claim is based, the department’s right of subrogation to receive or recover funds from claimant, to the extent that compensation was awarded by the department, shall not be reduced in any amount or percentage by the costs incurred by claimant attributable to such legal proceedings or settlement, including, but not limited to, attorney’s fees, investigative cost or cost of court. If such notice is given, attorney fees may be awarded in an amount not to exceed fifteen percent of the amount subrogated to the department.

4. Whenever compensation is awarded to a claimant who is entitled to restitution from a criminal defendant, the department may initiate restitution hearings in such criminal proceedings or intervene in the same. The department shall be entitled to receive restitution in such proceedings to the extent compensation was awarded; provided, however, the department shall be exempt from the payment of any fees or other charges for the recording of restitution orders in the offices of the judges of probate. The claimant shall notify this department when restitution is ordered. Failure to notify the department will result in possible forfeiture of any amount already received from the department.

5. Whenever the department shall deem it necessary to protect, maintain or enforce the department’s right to subrogation or to exercise any of its powers or to carry out any of its duties or responsibilities, the attorney general may initiate legal proceedings or intervene in legal proceedings as the department’s legal representative.