Upon entry of a verdict against a public entity in excess of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in an action for personal injury or wrongful death, the public entity may, within the time set in Section 659 of the Code of Civil Procedure, request in writing a mandatory settlement conference for the purpose of discussing available methods by which the judgment shall be satisfied. The court shall then set a date for the conference. The request may be noticed with any motions pursuant to Sections 984 and 985 of the Government Code or Section 659 of the Code of Civil Procedure. At the conference the parties shall negotiate in good faith and shall review and consider structured payment plans presented by either party. The conference shall not occur until after determination of any motion for a new trial, motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, motion for remittitur and motion for additur, but shall occur before hearing on any motions pursuant to Sections 984 and 985.
The Judicial Council shall adopt rules providing for a reasonable extension of the time for filing the notice of appeal from a judgment on the verdict to permit a request for the mandatory settlement conference and the mandatory settlement conference itself.
(Added by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1204, Sec. 2.)