In any action on contract, or seeking the recovery of money damages, whether or not other relief is sought, the defendant may not later than thirty days before the commencement of jury selection in a jury trial or before the commencement of evidence in a court trial file with the clerk of the court a written offer of compromise signed by the defendant or the defendant’s attorney, directed to the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s attorney, offering to settle the claim underlying the action for a sum certain. (See General Statutes § 52-193 and annotations.)
Section 17-11.Offer of Compromise by Defendant; How Made
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceAllows a defendant in a contract or money-damages action to file a written offer of compromise, at least thirty days before jury selection or trial begins, offering to settle the claim for a specific sum.
Full Text of Section 17-11
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 342.) (Amended June 24, 2002, to take effect Jan. 1, 2003; amended June 26, 2006, to take effect Jan. 1, 2007.)
Plain-English Summary
In any Connecticut action on a contract or seeking money damages — even if the plaintiff seeks other relief too — the defendant may file a written offer of compromise with the clerk of the court. The offer must be signed by the defendant or the defendant’s attorney, directed to the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s attorney, and must offer to settle the underlying claim for a sum certain.
Timing matters: the defendant must file the offer no later than thirty days before jury selection begins in a jury trial, or before evidence begins in a court trial. Filing after that point is not permitted under this section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of Connecticut cases allow a defendant’s offer of compromise?
Actions on contract or seeking money damages, even when the plaintiff also seeks other relief.
How late can a defendant file an offer of compromise?
No later than thirty days before jury selection begins in a jury trial, or before evidence begins in a court trial.
Who must sign the offer of compromise?
The defendant or the defendant’s attorney, and it must be directed to the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s attorney.
What must the offer of compromise state?
An offer to settle the claim underlying the action for a sum certain — a specific dollar amount, not a range or formula.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 17-11). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: offer of compromise Connecticutdefendant settlement offer CT civil casethirty day offer of compromise deadlineGeneral Statutes 52-193Practice Book 17-11