Under Pennsylvania law, even though Haas was only 10 percent liable, Burns could have tried to collect the total amount of a jury award from him because Wetzel apparently does not have much in assets. Haas then would have had to sue Wetzel to contribute his 90 percent share.
Wetzel did not have a lawyer for the September trial and said he couldn't afford one. He didn't have a lawyer for this week's trial and didn't attend it because Judge Alan M. Black told him he didn't have to.
By settling the case, Burns was guaranteed a certain amount and Haas limited his liability, possibly to the limits of his insurance coverage.