MO SB37

Creates a formal settlement offer procedure for civil monetary claims where parties who reject a settlement offer and receive a significantly less favorable judgment must pay the offering party's litigation costs (court costs, fees for up to two expert witnesses, and reasonable attorney's fees)

Defines "significantly less favorable" as a claimant receiving less than 75% of the rejected offer, or a defendant being ordered to pay more than 125% of their rejected offer

Excludes class actions, shareholder derivative actions, government lawsuits, family law cases, workers' compensation claims, and small claims court from the settlement offer procedure

Requires settlement offers to be in writing, allow at least 60 days for acceptance, and cannot be made within 60 days of the offeror/offeree's appearance or within 60 days before trial

Allows courts to award costs and reasonable attorney's fees to the prevailing party when granting or denying a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, and requires the Missouri Supreme Court to submit annual reports on such dismissals by February 1st each year