Civil actions: settlement offers.

Existing law, in a civil action to be resolved by trial or arbitration, authorizes a party to serve an offer in writing on any other party to the action to allow judgment to be taken or an award to be entered in accordance with the terms and conditions stated at the time. Existing law shifts specified postoffer costs to a plaintiff who does not accept a defendant's offer if the plaintiff fails to obtain a more favorable judgment or award. Existing law also authorizes a court or arbitrator to order a party who does not accept the opposing party's offer and fails to obtain a more favorable judgment or award to cover the postoffer costs for the services of expert witnesses, as specified. Existing law exempts certain actions from those provisions, including any labor arbitration filed pursuant to a memorandum of understanding under the Ralph C. Dills Act. This bill would also exempt from those provisions any action to enforce the California Public Records Act.