Offerof Judgment
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Offerof Judg ment COMPEN DIU M OF LAW Offer of Judgment Compendium of Law This Compendium focuses on the state and federal application of Offer of Judgments in each of the states. We found that many of the states differ in the manner in which they apply the concept of offers of judgment. We hope this is beneficial to you in your analysis of cases and claims throughout the nation. Table of Contents Alabama ...........................................................................................................................................1 Alaska ..............................................................................................................................................2 Arizona .............................................................................................................................................3 Arkansas ...........................................................................................................................................4 California .........................................................................................................................................5 Colorado ...........................................................................................................................................7 Connecticut ......................................................................................................................................9 Florida ............................................................................................................................................10 Georgia ...........................................................................................................................................12 Hawaii ............................................................................................................................................15 Idaho ..............................................................................................................................................16 Illinois ............................................................................................................................................17 Indiana............................................................................................................................................18 Iowa................................................................................................................................................19 Kansas ............................................................................................................................................20 Kentucky ........................................................................................................................................22 Louisiana ........................................................................................................................................23 Maine .............................................................................................................................................25 Maryland ........................................................................................................................................26 Michigan ........................................................................................................................................28 Minnesota .......................................................................................................................................29 Mississippi .....................................................................................................................................31 Missouri .........................................................................................................................................32 Montana .........................................................................................................................................33 Nebraska ........................................................................................................................................34 Nevada ...........................................................................................................................................35 New Hampshire .............................................................................................................................36 New Jersey .....................................................................................................................................37 New Mexico ...................................................................................................................................38 New York .......................................................................................................................................40 North Carolina ...............................................................................................................................43 North Dakota ..................................................................................................................................44 Ohio................................................................................................................................................45 Oklahoma .......................................................................................................................................46 Oregon............................................................................................................................................51 Pennsylvania ..................................................................................................................................52 Rhode Island ..................................................................................................................................53 South Carolina ...............................................................................................................................54 South Dakota ..................................................................................................................................56 Tennessee .......................................................................................................................................57 Texas ..............................................................................................................................................58 Utah ................................................................................................................................................60 Virginia ..........................................................................................................................................61 Washington ....................................................................................................................................62 West Virginia .................................................................................................................................63 Wisconsin .......................................................................................................................................64 Wyoming........................................................................................................................................67 Alabama Under Alabama law, an Offer of Judgment is allowed by Alabama Rule of Civil Procedure 68, which provides: At any time more than fifteen (15) days before the trial begins, a party defending against a claim may serve upon the adverse party an offer to allow judgment to be taken against the defending party for the money or property or to the effect specified in the offer, with costs then accrued. If within ten (10) days after the service of the offer, the adverse party serves written notice that the offer is accepted, either party may then file the offer and notice of acceptance together with proof of service thereof and thereupon the clerk shall enter judgment. An offer not accepted shall be deemed withdrawn and evidence thereof is not admissible except in a proceeding to determine costs. If the judgment finally obtained by the offeree is not more favorable than the offer, the offeree must pay the costs incurred after the making of the offer. The fact that an offer is made but not accepted does not preclude a subsequent offer. When the liability of one party to another has been determined by verdict or order or judgment, but the amount or extent of the liability remains to be determined by further proceedings, the party adjudged liable may make an offer of judgment, which shall have the same effect as an offer made before trial if it is served within a reasonable time, not less than ten (10) days, prior to the commencement of hearings to determine the amount or extent of liability. Ala. R. Civ. P. 68. In general, Alabama applies contract principles to the enforcement of Rule 68. See, e.g., Auburn Engineers, Inc. v. Downtown Properties, 675 So. 2d 415 (Ala. 1996). Alabama does not include attorney fees as “costs”. Atkinson v. Long, 559 So. 2d 55 (Ala. Civ. App. 1990). However, Alabama has not yet addressed the rule adopted by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding Federal Rule 68 which provides that for purposes of Rule 68, the term “costs” includes attorney fees if the underlying claim is based on a statute which awards fees and specifically defines them as costs. See, Marek v. Chesny, 473 U.S. 1 (1985). Although Offers of Judgment in Alabama often include a provision excluding generally