GOLDEN RULE
OFFEROR IS NEVER PUNISHED FOR MAKING A BAD OFFER (e.g. overpitched)
Part 36 exam Q
make sure you know who made the offer (or the whole thing goes wrong)
WHAT IS PART 36?
offer of settlement with financial incentives (in contrast to informal offers to settle)
REALLY IMPORTANT TACTICAL WEAPON to encourage other side to settle
what financial incentives?
best time to make offer
ONE - just before trial (before expensive pre-trial expenses)
TWO - (slightly blind offer) right at the start
what happens after settlement?
if court is involved (i.e. proceedings commenced) –> let the court know
if court not involved (i.e. settlement before issuing CF) –> no need to let court know
- parties could be negotiating in 6 year limitation period without issuing CF
RATIONALE BEHIND PART 36
Part 36 makes it attractive to make an offer to settle
if parties make a sensible proposal to settle actions, they should get some benefit if they are not accepted when they are
party dragged to trial having tried to be reasonable should be compensated
unreasonable party should be penalised
how to make the offer?
MUST comply with rules in Part 36
interest?
without prejudice?
YES CPR 36.16(1)
- but best practice is to head it ‘without prejudice except as to costs’
changing an offer?
IF offerree has not accepted (served notice of acceptance)
IF WITHIN RELEVANT PERIOD
pros of part 36
cons of part 36
how to accept
Case will be stayed (or part covered by accepted offer) and not continue to trial
Acceptance outside provisions of Part 36, while still valid, has no benefit of Part 36 provisions
C is punished if
unreasonable to reject
D punished if
unreasoanble to reject
C punished under CPR 36.17(3) bc awarded same or less than D’s offer
C gets damages but for costs:
CPR 44.2 starting point, C won so C recovers costs BUT C started ‘wasting time’ from date relevant period ended
CPR 36.17(3)
“Split costs order” if court considers it just - C must pay d’s costs and interest on those costs after the day relevant period ended