After commencement of any civil action based upon contract or seeking the recovery of money damages, whether or not other relief is sought, the plaintiff may, not earlier than 180 days after service of process is made upon the defendant in such action but not later than thirty days before the commencement of jury selection in a jury trial or the commencement of evidence in a court trial, file with the clerk of the court a written offer of compromise signed by the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s attorney, directed to the defendant or the defendant’s attorney, offering to settle the claim underlying the action for a sum certain. For the purposes of this section, such plaintiff includes a counterclaim plaintiff under General Statutes § 8-132. The plaintiff shall give notice of such offer of compromise to the defendant’s attorney, or if the defendant is not represented by an attorney, to the defendant.
Section 17-14.Offer of Compromise by Plaintiff; How Made
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThis section lets a plaintiff in a contract or money-damages case file a written offer to settle the underlying claim for a set amount, within a defined window before trial, and requires notifying the defendant of it.
Full Text of Section 17-14
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 346.) (Amended June 24, 2002, to take effect Jan. 1, 2003; amended June 26, 2006, to take effect Jan. 1, 2007; amended June 30, 2008, to take effect Jan. 1, 2009.)
Plain-English Summary
Just as a defendant can extend an offer of compromise, this section gives the plaintiff the same tool in reverse. After starting a civil action based on contract or seeking money damages — whatever other relief is also sought — the plaintiff may file a written offer of compromise with the clerk, proposing to settle the underlying claim for a sum certain. The offer must be signed by the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s attorney and directed to the defendant or the defendant’s attorney.
Timing matters: the offer cannot be filed earlier than 180 days after service of process on the defendant, and it must be filed no later than thirty days before jury selection begins in a jury trial, or before evidence begins in a court trial. A counterclaim plaintiff proceeding under General Statutes § 8-132 counts as a plaintiff for purposes of this section. Once filed, the plaintiff must give notice of the offer to the defendant’s attorney, or directly to the defendant if unrepresented.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can a plaintiff file an offer of compromise in Connecticut?
No earlier than 180 days after service of process on the defendant, and no later than thirty days before jury selection or the start of evidence in a court trial.
Who must sign the plaintiff's offer of compromise?
The plaintiff or the plaintiff’s attorney must sign it, and it must be directed to the defendant or the defendant’s attorney.
What kinds of cases allow a plaintiff's offer of compromise?
Civil actions based on contract or seeking money damages, regardless of whether other relief is also sought.
Does a counterclaim plaintiff get to use this rule?
Yes, a counterclaim plaintiff under General Statutes § 8-132 is treated as a plaintiff for purposes of filing an offer of compromise under this section.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 17-14). 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
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