Business Law and the Legal Environment 7th Edition by Jeffrey Beatty,Susan Samuelson

Exercise 2

When a Tom Cat Bakery delivery van struck Elizabeth Nadel, she suffered significant injuries, Nadel filed suit. Before the trial, Tom Cat's attorney offered a $100,000 settlement, which Nadel refused. While the jury was deliberating, the bakery's lawyer again offered Nadel the $100,000 settlement. She decided to think about it during lunch. Later that day, the jury sent a note to the judge. The bakery owner told her lawyer that if the note indicated the jury had reached a verdict, he should revoke the settlement offer. Back in the courtroom, the bakery's lawyer said, "If the note is a verdict, my client wants to take the verdict." Nadel's lawyer then said, "My client will take the settlement." The trial court judge allowed the forewoman to read the verdict, which awarded Nadel-nothing. Did Nadel's lawyer accept the settlement offer in time?