If the defendant makes a partial admission, what happens?

• A. The partial admission can be accepted as full and final satisfaction of the whole claim and judgment will be entered in that sum; may be immediate payment or instalments.
• B. The case is automatically dismissed.
• C. The court will set aside the admission and require a trial.
• D. The plaintiff must accept full liability.

Answer: (A)

When a defendant concedes part of what is claimed, the claimant has the option to treat that admission as full and final settlement of the entire claim. If the claimant accepts, the court will enter judgment for the sum admitted as final satisfaction of the whole claim, and payment can be made either immediately or by instalments. This lets the matter be resolved without a trial on the remaining amounts. If the claimant does not accept the partial admission, the case continues on the remaining issues, rather than being automatically dismissed or the admission being set aside.