When the defendant recovers judgment on his or her counterclaim for betterments, execution shall not issue thereon until four months from its rendition. The writ of possession in the action of ejectment shall be further stayed for the same time, unless the plaintiff in the action pays to the defendant therein or to the clerk of the court to the use of the defendant the full amount of the judgment on the counterclaim for betterments. In that case, a writ of possession may immediately issue. (Amended 1971, No. 185 (Adj. Sess.), § 134, eff. March 29, 1972.)