6. How much, if anything, can the plaintiff collect from the truck driver, and how much, if anything, can the truck driver then collect from the bus driver in contribution?

D is correct. Pure comparative negligence allows the plaintiff to recover all damages not attributed to his own negligence. The plaintiff is therefore entitled to $60,000, which is the $100,000 in damages he suffered minus his 40% of the fault. Since this is a joint and several liability jurisdiction, the defendants are each liable for the entire award. The plaintiff can collect the full amount of his award from either defendant or both, as long as the total only equals the $60,000 he is entitled to. The jurisdiction allows contribution based on proportionate fault. The question asks how much (what is the most) the plaintiff can collect from the truck driver. Under joint and several liability, the plaintiff can collect up to his full award, $60,000, from the truck driver. The truck driver can then collect the bus driver's proportionate amount of the award in contribution, which is 30% of $100,000, or $30,000.

A is incorrect. As explained above, the plaintiff is entitled to $60,000 in damages from either the truck driver or the bus driver, and whichever defendant pays those damages may collect from the other defendant their proportionate amount of the award in contribution.

B is incorrect. Because joint and several liability applies, the plaintiff may collect the full amount of his award ($60,000) from either defendant. And because contribution based on proportionate fault also applies, the truck driver may collect $30,000 from the bus driver.

C is incorrect. The amount of $40,000 (40%) is what the plaintiff is responsible for, not the amount he may recover in damages, which is $60,000, $30,000 of which the truck driver may collect from the bus driver as a proportionate amount of the award in contribution.