How Does a Settlement Agreement Work? | Adam Kutner (2024)

What Is a Settlement Agreement in a Personal Injury Case?

A settlement agreement works by the parties coming to terms on a resolution of the case. The parties agree on exactly what the outcome is going to be. They put the agreement in writing, and both parties sign it. Then, the settlement agreement has the same effect as though the jury decided the case with that outcome. Next, the parties execute the judgment by following the terms of the settlement, including making payment.

How Do You Negotiate a Settlement Agreement?

You negotiate a settlement agreement by talking with the other side about how they might be willing to resolve the case. There could be factual issues that may be helpful to have evidence with you to show and discuss. The parties might review factual disagreements in-depth or only talk about options to resolve the case. To negotiate a settlement, you strategically discuss the terms on which you might be able to agree. Then, you put the settlement in writing and submit it to the court for signature.

Overall, the stronger your case and the more evidence you have to back up your claim, the better. For this reason, your personal injury lawyer should build a robust legal strategy before trying to negotiate a settlement on your behalf. Yourpersonal injury settlement amountoffer pivots around the strength of your case.

What Should Be Included in a Settlement Agreement?

What should be included in a settlement agreement is all the terms that you want to be part of the final judgment. For example, it might just state the amount that one party is going to pay to the other party. However, it might also say the timeline for payment or specify what the payment is for. There may or may not be an admission of liability.

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Once a settlement is signed, it’s difficult to reopen the judgment even if circ*mstances change in the future. That means anything that a party wants to be included in the final resolution must be in the settlement agreement.

When Is a Settlement Agreement Binding?

When a settlement agreement is binding depends on the jurisdiction that presides over the case. In some states, a settlement agreement is binding when both parties sign it. If this is the law in the jurisdiction, a settlement document can be enforceable even when it’s handwritten on notebook paper. For other jurisdictions, a settlement agreement is not binding until it’s submitted to a court and signed by a judge.

Can You Overturn a Settlement Agreement?

You can overturn a settlement agreement by demonstrating that the settlement is defective. A settlement agreement may be invalid if it’s made under fraud or duress. A mutual mistake or a misrepresentation by the other party can also be grounds to overturn a settlement agreement. However, overturning a settlement agreement isn’t easy to do. It’s up to the person who wants to have the judgment set aside to prove that there is a reason to invalidate the judgment.

Is an Offer of a Settlement Binding?

No, a settlement offer is not binding until the other side accepts it. A settlement offer is just a proposal to resolve the case. The parties have to agree on the resolution of the case mutually and prepare the appropriate documents for an offer to become binding. By itself, without agreement from the other party, a settlement offer is not binding.

The party who receives a settlement offer from the other side may accept it, reject it or make a counteroffer. If the parties can’t mutually agree on the case’s resolution, then there is nothing binding on either party, and the case proceeds to trial. When the parties memorialize their agreement as required by the law in their jurisdiction, a finalized settlement offer becomes binding.

Settlement Agreement Counteroffers

A settlement agreement counteroffer is a response to an initial settlement offer. When one party receives an offer from the other party, they have three options: they may accept it, reject it or propose something else. A counteroffer is a proposal of a different resolution. In making a counteroffer, the party essentially rejects the initial offer. Most settlement agreements are the result of offers and counteroffers.

Motion to Enforce a Settlement

Once the parties execute a settlement agreement, it becomes a judgment of the court. Then, the parties have to carry out the judgment. A question then arises of how a party should respond when the other party doesn’t take the required steps to execute a judgment. If one party has to pay the other party, the one who receives the money needs to have a recourse if the other side doesn’t pay. The party who doesn’t get paid can make a motion to enforce the settlement.

In a motion to enforce a settlement, the party states that the other side hasn’t complied with their obligations under the judgment. They ask the court to demand compliance. The other side may even be found in contempt of court with the correlating remedies available to the party who is the victim of non-compliance.

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Making a Settlement Agreement Work

There are a few things to be aware of in terms of making a settlement agreement work. The agreement must include all of the things that you want to be a part of the final judgment. It must take into account projected future losses and suffering. The judgment must spell out any details that go along with the agreement. In addition, the agreement cannot be made with misrepresentation, duress or fraud. Finally, the parties should understand when a settlement becomes final, whether it is when the parties sign a rough draft or when a judge finalizes the agreement.

Working with an experienced personal injury attorney will put you in the best strategic position to receive a fair settlement because you have a strong case. The lawyers atAdam S. Kutner, Injury Attorneys, pride ourselves on being strong legal advocates and compassionate guides for our clients. We will be by your side through every step of your case, whether negotiating a settlement agreement or taking the case to trial. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

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