§ 52.194

In any action, the plaintiff may, within sixty days after being notified by the defendant of the filing of an offer of compromise, file with the clerk of the court a written acceptance of the offer signed by the plaintiff or the plaintiff's attorney agreeing to settle the underlying action for the sum certain specified in the defendant's offer of compromise. Upon the filing of the written acceptance and receipt by the plaintiff of such sum certain, the plaintiff shall file a withdrawal of the action with the clerk of the court and the clerk shall record the withdrawal of the action against the defendant accordingly. No trial may be postponed because the period within which the plaintiff may accept the offer has not expired, except at the discretion of the court.(1949 Rev., S. 7943; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 111; P.A. 82-160, S. 95; P.A. 05-275, S. 6.)History: 1959 act deleted provisions for actions before justices of the peace; P.A. 82-160 rephrased the section; P.A. 05-275 increased from 10 days to 60 days the time period for acceptance of the offer, replaced 'offer of judgment' with 'offer of compromise', provided that by filing the acceptance the plaintiff was 'agreeing to settle the

days to 60 days the time period for acceptance of the offer, replaced 'offer of judgment' with 'offer of compromise', provided that by filing the acceptance the plaintiff was 'agreeing to settle the underlying action for the sum certain specified in the defendant's offer of compromise' and replaced 'Upon the filing of the written acceptance, the court shall render judgment against the defendant as upon default for the sum so named and for the costs accrued at the time of the defendant's giving the plaintiff notice of the offer' with 'Upon the filing of the written acceptance and receipt by the plaintiff of such sum certain, the plaintiff shall file a withdrawal of the action with the clerk of the court and the clerk shall record the withdrawal of the action against the defendant accordingly', effective October 1, 2005, and applicable to actions accruing on or after that date.Cited. 163 C. 445; 239 C. 708. Language of section unambiguously provides that written acceptance of a party's offer of judgment against defendant must result in court's rendering judgment against defendant. 258 C. 299.Cited. 10 CS 166.