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Whenever the acts or omissions of a third party are the proximate cause of an incident giving rise to a claim against the state for which the state has, pursuant to this chapter, compensated the person injured or damaged by the acts or omissions of such third party, the state of Tennessee may institute an action against such third party for the recovery of the whole or any specified part of the amount paid by the state in the appropriate court in Tennessee, or in the federal, state or district court in which such third party resides.
As a condition for the settlement of a claim filed under this chapter in which a third party may be liable, the state treasurer, exercising the settlement authority delegated to the state treasurer pursuant to § 9-8-405, shall require the claimant to agree, by such form as the attorney general and reporter may direct, to cooperate fully with appropriate officials of the state should the state proceed to institute an action against a third party to recover the whole or any specified part of the amount paid by the state. Should the claimant fail to cooperate with the state in accordance with such agreement, the state shall have the right to recover any amounts paid by the state to the claimant. In awarding compensation, the claims commission shall include a requirement that the claimant execute an agreement with the state to cooperate with the state in an action against a liable third party in accordance with this section, unless the commission finds that the facts in such claim dictate that such an agreement should not be required.
Should any claimant choose to exercise such claimant's right to recover damages in civil court for injury or damages, such claimant shall notify the attorney general and reporter of the institution of such a lawsuit by serving the attorney general and reporter through the United States mail with a copy of the complaint, all subsequent pleadings and a copy of the final judgment in order to give the state notice of the existence of such an action so that the state may pursue its subrogated interest.