OH SB52

Requests the Ohio Supreme Court amend Rule 68 of the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure to specify procedures for offers of judgment in civil cases.

Requires offers of judgment be made more than ten days before trial begins, with opposing parties having ten days to accept in writing before judgment is entered by the clerk.

Provides that unaccepted offers are withdrawn and inadmissible as evidence except in cost determination proceedings, but do not prevent later offers.

Requires the party rejecting an offer to pay all costs incurred after the offer was made if the final judgment obtained is not more favorable than the unaccepted offer.

Requests the Supreme Court consider extending similar cost-shifting provisions to settlement demands made by plaintiffs, where the defendant must pay post-demand costs if the verdict equals or exceeds the plaintiff's demand.