Helfend v. Southern California Rapid Transit District

Julius Helfend (plaintiff) was injured when a bus owned by the Southern California Rapid Transit District (defendant) caused a car accident. He sued for his medical bills. The defendant sought to show that his insurer had paid part of those bills; the trial court excluded that evidence under the collateral-source rule, and the jury found for Helfend. The defendant appealed.

Whether an injured party must deduct, from the damages recoverable against the tortfeasor, compensation received for the injuries from a source wholly independent of the tortfeasor.