RULE 20
OFFER OF JUDGMENT; CONSEQUENCES OF NON-ACCEPTANCE

(a) Offer of Judgment. No later than ten (10) days prior to trial, either party may serve upon the adverse party an offer to allow judgment to be taken against the party for the money or property or to the effect specified in the offer with costs accrued to the date of the offer. If, within ten (10) days after service of the offer, or at least five (5) days prior to the trial date, whichever date is earlier, the adverse party serves written notice that the offer is accepted, either party may then file the offer and notice of acceptance together with proof of service, and the court shall enter judgment. An offer that is not accepted shall be deemed rejected and evidence of the offer is not admissible except in a proceeding to determine costs.

(b) Consequences of Non-Acceptance. If an offer of judgment is not accepted and the offeror obtains a verdict or determination at least as favorable as the rejected offer, the offeror shall recover from the offeree: (1) any administrative, filing, or other court costs from the date of the offer until the entry of the judgment; (2) if the offeror is a plaintiff, eight percent interest computed on the amount of the verdict or award from the date of the offer to the entry of judgment; or (3) if the offeror is a defendant, reduction from the judgment or award of eight percent interest computed on the amount of the verdict or award from the date of the offer to the entry of the judgment.

(c) This rule shall not abrogate the contractual rights of any party concerning the recovery of attorney's fees or other monies in accordance with the provision of any written contract between the parties to the action.