Guzman

Appellant, Marie Guzman, was laid off by her employer, respondent, Visalia Community Bank, as part of a “reduction in force.” Thereafter, appellant filed a complaint alleging that respondent, through its president and chief executive officer, had engaged in sexual discrimination and had created a hostile work environment.

This appeal challenges the trial court’s orders that granted summary judgment in respondent’s favor and denied appellant’s request to enforce respondent’s Code of Civil Procedure section 998 offer to compromise. We conclude that the trial court erred in refusing to enforce respondent’s section 998 offer to compromise. Therefore, the issues regarding the validity of the summary judgment have been rendered moot.

Statement of the Case and Facts

Since the substance of the underlying lawsuit is not relevant to our resolution of this appeal, the factual recitation is limited to the events surrounding the section 998 offer to compromise.

In an effort to settle the case, the parties appeared before a retired judge in March 1996. Respondent offered appellant $60,000, which appellant immediately rejected.

On May 2, 1996, respondent filed a motion for summary…