Which rule permits recovery only when the plaintiff's negligence is slight in comparison with the other party's gross negligence?

• A. Slight versus gross rule
• B. Release
• C. Sovereign immunity; governmental immunity
• D. Charitable immunity

Answer: (A)

The main idea is a fault-based rule that sets a threshold for recovery: you may recover only if your own negligence is slight in comparison to the other party’s gross negligence. This slight-versus-gross standard serves as a gatekeeper—when the defendant’s conduct is grossly negligent and the plaintiff’s fault is only slight, the plaintiff can recover, but if the plaintiff’s fault isn’t slight (i.e., it’s ordinary or gross), recovery may be barred or limited. This concept sits within comparative-negligence frameworks, contrasting with pure contributory negligence or modern proportionate fault schemes where damages are allocated by degree of fault without a specific “slight” threshold. The other options relate to different defenses or contractual releases that don’t hinge on the relative degrees of fault between the parties.