Right of subrogation, payment of a claim

537.693. Right of subrogation, payment of a claim — division lien on any compensation received by claimant — rulemaking authority. — 1. Payment of any compensation pursuant to sections 537.675 to 537.693 shall vest in the state of Missouri a right of subrogation to the extent of such compensation paid, to any right or right of action of the claimant to recover payments with respect to which the compensation has been paid and to enforce the underlying judgment against the tort-feasor. The attorney general may enforce the subrogation interest, and may file suit to enforce that right of subrogation.

2. The division shall have a lien on any compensation received by the claimant from the tort-feasor or the tort-feasor's agent after payment by the division to the claimant, in addition to compensation received pursuant to the provisions of sections 537.675 to 537.693, for injuries or death resulting from the incident upon which the claim is based. The claimant shall retain, as trustee for the division, so much of the recovered funds as necessary to reimburse the Missouri tort victims' compensation fund to the extent that compensation was paid to the claimant from that fund.

3. If a claimant initiates any legal proceeding to recover restitution or damages or enforce the underlying judgment related to the tort upon which the claim is based, or if the claimant enters into negotiations to receive any proceeds in settlement or a claim for restitution or damages related to the tort, the claimant shall give the division written notice within fifteen days of the filing of the action or entering into negotiations. The division may intervene in the proceeding of a claimant to enforce its subrogation interest. If a claimant fails to give such written notice to the division 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 tort upon which the claim is based, the division's right of subrogation to receive or recover funds from claimant, to the extent that compensation was awarded by the division, 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 costs or court costs; however, if the claimant provides written notice to the division as required in this section then the subrogation interest of the division shall be reduced by a percentage equal to the percentage that the attorney's fees and expenses incurred by the claimant bears to the total recovery.

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

5. The division is hereby granted authority to adopt rules and regulations, consistent with the provisions of sections 537.678 to 537.693, which rules and regulations may govern application for and distribution of those moneys appropriated to the division from the tort victims' compensation fund.

6. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in subsection 5 of this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2001, shall be invalid and void.