I. If the proportionate fault of the parties to a claim for contribution has been established as provided in N.H. Rev. Stat. § 507:7-e, a party paying more than its proportionate share of the obligation may recover judgment for contribution upon motion in the same action, or by separate action.
II. If the proportionate fault of the parties to the claim for contribution has not been established, contribution may be enforced in a separate action, whether or not a judgment has been rendered against either the person seeking contribution or the person from whom contribution is being sought.

Terms Used In New Hampshire Revised Statutes 507:7-g

  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • person: may extend and be applied to bodies corporate and politic as well as to individuals. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:9
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.

III. If a judgment has been rendered, the action for contribution must be commenced within one year after the judgment becomes final. If no judgment has been rendered, the person bringing the action for contribution must have either (a) discharged by payment the common liability within the period of the statute of limitations applicable to the claimant’s right of action against that person and commenced the action for contribution within one year after payment, or (b) agreed while action was pending to discharge the common liability and, within one year after the agreement, have paid liability and commenced an action for contribution.
IV. All such claims for contribution shall be resolved by arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association, and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof except as follows:
(a) A party seeking contribution by separate action may at the outset elect to have the contribution action heard in a court of competent jurisdiction by filing an action in court; or
(b) A party against whom contribution is sought in a separate action may, within 60 days of receiving notice by certified mail of a demand for arbitration, elect to have the contribution action heard by a court of competent jurisdiction. Such election shall be made by notice by regular mail to the party seeking contribution or his counsel.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if and only if the plaintiff in the principal action agrees, a defendant seeking contribution may bring an action in contribution prior to the resolution of the plaintiff’s principal action, and such action shall be consolidated for all purposes with the principal action.