Oregon Statutes 35.300 – Offer of compromise
(1) After the filing of a condemnation action, a condemner may serve an offer of compromise on the defendant in the action. An offer of compromise must be served on the defendant not later than 10 days before the trial of the action. The offer of compromise must identify the amount offered as just compensation for the property and as compensable damages to remaining property of the defendant. The offer of compromise must also indicate whether the offer includes any amount for costs and disbursements, attorney fees and expenses and, if so, the amounts included for costs and disbursements, attorney fees and expenses. If the defendant accepts the amount offered as just compensation for the property and as compensable damages to remaining property of the defendant, the defendant shall file with the court an acceptance signed by the defendant or the defendant’s attorney. The acceptance must be filed not more than three days after the time the offer was served on the defendant. A copy of the offer must be attached to the acceptance.
Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 35.300
- Condemner: means the state, any city, county, school district, municipal or public corporation, political subdivision or any instrumentality or any agency thereof or a private corporation that has the power to exercise the right of eminent domain. See Oregon Statutes 35.215
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Property: means real or personal property or any interest therein of any kind or nature that is subject to condemnation. See Oregon Statutes 35.215
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(2) If an offer of compromise under this section does not specifically include amounts for costs and disbursements, attorney fees and expenses, upon acceptance of the offer the court shall give judgment to the defendant for the amount offered as just compensation for the property and as compensable damages to remaining property of the defendant and, in addition, for costs and disbursements, attorney fees and expenses that are determined by the court to have been incurred before service of the offer on the defendant.
(3) If an offer of compromise under this section specifically includes amounts for costs and disbursements, attorney fees and expenses, the defendant may accept all amounts offered, or may accept only that portion of the offer identified as just compensation for the property and as compensable damages to remaining property of the defendant. If the defendant accepts only that portion of the offer identified as just compensation for the property and as compensable damages to remaining property of the defendant, the defendant is entitled to an award for costs and disbursements, attorney fees and expenses incurred by the defendant before service of the offer on the defendant. The court shall determine the amount of costs and disbursements, attorney fees and expenses to be awarded to the defendant after acceptance of the offer is filed under subsection (1) of this section.
(4) If an offer of compromise is not accepted within the time allowed under subsection (1) of this section, the offer is withdrawn and may not be given in evidence at trial. If the defendant fails to obtain a judgment more favorable than the offer:
(a) The defendant may not recover prevailing party fees or costs and disbursements, attorney fees and expenses that were incurred on and after service of the offer;
(b) Unless the parties agree otherwise, the court shall give judgment to the defendant for costs and disbursements, attorney fees and expenses that were incurred by the defendant before service of the offer; and
(c) The court shall give judgment to the condemner for the condemner’s costs and disbursements, other than prevailing party fees, incurred by the condemner on and after service of the offer.
(5) For the purpose of determining whether the defendant has failed to obtain a judgment more favorable than an offer of compromise that specifically includes amounts for costs and disbursements, attorney fees and expenses, the court shall first determine the amount of costs and disbursements, attorney fees and expenses incurred by the defendant before service of the offer on the defendant. The court shall add that amount to the amounts awarded under the judgment as just compensation for the property and as compensable damages to remaining property of the defendant. If the sum of those amounts is equal to or less than the total amount specified in the offer of compromise, the defendant has not obtained a judgment more favorable than the offer of compromise.
(6) For the purposes of this section, ‘expenses’ has the meaning given that term in ORS § 35.335. [2009 c.530 § 5]