After trial the judicial authority shall examine the record to determine whether the plaintiff made an offer of compromise which the defendant failed to accept. If the judicial authority ascertains from the record that the plaintiff has recovered an amount equal to or greater than the sum certain specified in that plaintiff’s offer of compromise, the judicial authority shall add to the amount so recovered 8 percent annual interest on said amount. In the case of a counterclaim plaintiff under General Statutes § 8-132, the judicial authority shall add to the amount so recovered 8 percent annual interest on the difference between the amount so recovered and the sum certain specified in the counterclaim plaintiff’s offer of compromise. Any such interest shall be computed as provided in General Statutes § 52-192a. The judicial authority may award reasonable attorney’s fees in an amount not to exceed $350 and shall render judgment accordingly. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to abrogate the contractual rights of any party concerning the recovery of attorney’s fees in accordance with the provisions of any written contract between the parties to the action.
Section 17-18.—Judgment where Plaintiff Recovers an Amount Equal to or Greater than Offer
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceAfter trial, if the plaintiff recovered at least as much as the sum in the plaintiff's unaccepted offer of compromise, the court must add 8 percent annual interest to the recovery and may award attorney's fees up to $350.
Full Text of Section 17-18
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 350.) (Amended June 26, 2006, to take effect Jan. 1, 2007; amended June 30, 2008, to take effect Jan. 1, 2009.)
Plain-English Summary
This section supplies the payoff for a plaintiff whose offer of compromise the defendant failed to accept. After trial, the judicial authority checks the record to see whether the plaintiff made an offer of compromise that went unaccepted. If the plaintiff recovered an amount equal to or greater than the sum certain in that offer, the court adds 8 percent annual interest on the amount recovered. For a counterclaim plaintiff proceeding under General Statutes § 8-132, the interest instead runs on the difference between the amount recovered and the sum certain specified in the counterclaim plaintiff’s offer. The interest is computed as set out in General Statutes § 52-192a.
The court may also award reasonable attorney’s fees, capped at $350, and must enter judgment accordingly. As with the related sections on offers of compromise, this rule does not override any contractual right the parties may have to recover attorney’s fees under a written contract between them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much interest does a defendant owe for not accepting a plaintiff's offer of compromise?
The judicial authority adds 8 percent annual interest on the amount recovered, computed as provided in General Statutes § 52-192a, once it is shown the plaintiff recovered at least the sum certain specified in the unaccepted offer.
Does the interest apply automatically after trial?
The judicial authority examines the record after trial to determine whether the plaintiff made an offer of compromise the defendant did not accept and whether the recovery equals or exceeds that offer; if so, the interest is added and judgment entered accordingly.
How is the interest calculated for a counterclaim plaintiff?
For a counterclaim plaintiff under General Statutes § 8-132, the 8 percent annual interest runs on the difference between the amount recovered and the sum certain specified in that counterclaim plaintiff’s offer, rather than on the full recovery.
Can the court also award attorney's fees under this section?
Yes, the judicial authority may award reasonable attorney’s fees up to $350, without disturbing any separate contractual right to fees between the parties.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 17-18). 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: 8 percent interest offer of compromise Connecticutoffer of compromise interest penaltyjudgment interest plaintiff offer of compromise52-192a interest calculationattorney fees offer of compromise judgment