Oklahoma § 51-159 - Enforcement of judgments

§ 51-159. Enforcement of judgments

A. Judgments recovered against the state or political

subdivisions under the provisions of this act shall be enforced in

the same manner and to the same extent as judgments are now enforced

against the state or political subdivisions under the law except as

herein provided.

B. If the judgment is obtained against the state or a political

subdivision that has procured a contract or policy of liability or

indemnity insurance protection, the holder of the judgment may use

the methods of collecting the judgment which are provided by the

policy or contract or law to the extent of the limits of coverage

provided.

C. For the payment of any judgment obtained under the

provisions of this act against a political subdivision that is a

self-insurer or not fully covered by liability insurance, the manner

of paying a money judgment shall be as follows. Proof of

indebtedness, as required in Sections 362 through 364 of Title 62 of

the Oklahoma Statutes and evidence of any estimated tax levy or

increases necessary to reimburse the sinking fund for the purposes

of the judgment as provided in Section 431 of Title 62 of the

Oklahoma Statutes, and other evidence or statements which the court

may require, shall be made to the court before final judgment is

rendered. As an alternative to paying the money judgment out of the

sinking fund at the rate of one-third (1/3) each year, the court,

based on consideration of evidence and proof, may provide for the

judgment to be paid over a period of not less than one (1) nor more

than ten (10) years. The interest rate on any judgment when payment

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 51. Officers

is extended more than three (3) years shall be at the rate

prescribed by law for the first three (3) years and at the rate of

six percent (6%) for each remaining year.

D. Money judgments against the state not payable by insurance

shall be paid in the following manner. An agency whose act or

omission gave rise to the judgment may, at its discretion and upon

approval of the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise

Services, pay a judgment or any portion thereof from any funds

available to it. Provided, however, no agency shall be required to

pay a judgment prior to the fiscal year next following the fiscal

year in which the judgment is obtained. Any such judgment may be

paid at a rate of one-third (1/3) per fiscal year from funds

available for operation of the agency.

E. Nothing in this act shall be interpreted as allowing liens

on public property.

Added by Laws 1978, c. 203, § 9, eff. July 1, 1978. Amended by Laws

1984, c. 226, § 11, eff. Oct. 1, 1985; Laws 2012, c. 304, § 207.