pro tanto
Pro tanto is Latin phrase meaning “to that extent” or “for so much,” and it often refers to a partial satisfaction of a debt or claim. Example: In a negligence suit with multiple tortfeasors , a plaintiff may settle with one of the defendants and then pursue further action against the remaining defendants. That settlement is referred to as a “pro tanto settlement.” The remaining defendants are entitled to offset the pro tanto settlement against any judgment entered against them. For example, in Ex parte Goldsen , two defendants were liable for damages sustained by the plaintiff as a result of a car accident. The second defendant was able to offset the $76,898 judgment against him by $20,000, the amount of the pro tanto settlement with the first defendant.
[Last reviewed in July of 2020 by the Wex Definitions Team ]
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