Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Jun 20, 2023
Barbara S. Thomas, Appellant, vs. Emir Ramushi, Respondent.
Barbara S. Thomas sued Emir Ramushi for damages after a car accident where Ramushi admitted full liability. The trial court awarded Thomas $375.45 but allowed Ramushi a credit/set-off for $3,690.50, representing a payment from Ramushi's insurer (AAA) to Thomas's insurer (Liberty Mutual) for vehicle damage. The appellate court reversed, holding that Liberty Mutual lacked authority to settle Thomas's claims without her consent, and that allowing the credit violated the collateral source rule by impermissibly relying on evidence of payments from a collateral source.