In federal court—under Rule 68 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure—and in many states, there is an offer of judgment or offer of settlement procedure in which a party defending against a claim (defendant) may make an offer of judgment, or either party may make an offer of settlement.

If the party that receives the offer rejects it and does not win a better result at trial, the party who rejected the offer may be required to pay the offering party’s attorney fees and costs incurred after the offer was made.

An offer of judgment is an offer to allow a judgment to be taken against the party offering the judgment. An offer of judgment admits to liability and damages for a specific amount. An offer of settlement is similar but is in the form of an agreement or contract for settlement rather than a judgment from the court for the offered amount.

Laws vary from state to state and a state’s offer of judgment or offer of settlement procedure is usually located in its rules of civil procedure of code of civil procedure (statutes).

Under Rule 68 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a defendant in a federal court case can make an 'offer of judgment,' which is an offer to allow a judgment against them for a specified amount, effectively admitting liability and agreeing to pay that amount. Similarly, either party in a case can make an 'offer of settlement,' which is a proposal to resolve the dispute through an agreement rather than a court judgment. In Florida, the state counterpart to this federal rule is found in the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure. If the offeree rejects the offer and fails to obtain a more favorable judgment, they may be required to pay the offeror's attorney fees and costs from the date of the offer. This rule encourages parties to settle disputes before incurring the additional expense of a trial and can be a strategic tool in litigation. However, the specifics of how these offers work, including the timing and the consequences of rejection, can vary by jurisdiction, so it is important to consult the relevant state statutes and rules of civil procedure for precise guidance.