50-PERCENT RULE

50-percent rule.The principle that liability for negligence is apportioned in accordance with

the percentage of fault that the fact-finder assigns to each party, that the plaintiff’s recovery will be

reduced by the percentage of negligence assigned to the plaintiff, and that the plaintiff’s recovery

is barred if the plaintiff’s percentage of fault is 50% or more. — Also termed

modified-comparative-negligence doctrine. Cf. PURE-COMPARATIVE-NEGLIGENCE

DOCTRINE . See comparative negligence under NEGLIGENCE; APPORTIONMENT OF

LIABILITY . [Cases: Negligence 549(10).][Blacks Law 8th]