272Payment into Court by more than one defendant

### 272 Payment into Court by more than one defendant > > (1)  Any one or more of several defendants sued jointly or in the alternative may pay money into Court under [rule 268](#GS268@EN) . > > > (2)  If one or more, but not all, of several defendants sued jointly or in the alternative pay money into Court – > > > > > > (a) the defendant or defendants by whom the payment is made are to give notice of the payment to the other defendant or defendants; and > > > > > > > (b) within 14 days after receiving the notice or before the commencement of the trial, whichever is the earlier, the plaintiff may accept the whole sum or any one or more of the sums specified in the notice in satisfaction of the claim, or in satisfaction of the cause of any action to which the money relates. > > > (3)  If the plaintiff accepts a payment, he or she is to give notice in writing of that acceptance to each defendant who joined in making the payment. > > > (4)  On acceptance of a payment, all further proceedings in the action or in respect of each specified cause of action to which the money relates are stayed. > > > (5)  Any money accepted is not to be paid out except under an order of the Court or a judge dealing with the whole costs of the action or each specified cause of action. > > > (6)  If money is paid into Court in an action for defamation by one or more, but not all, of several defendants – > > > > > > (a) the plaintiff, within 14 days after the receipt of a notice of the money paid into Court, may elect to accept the sum paid into Court in satisfaction of the claim against the defendant or defendants making the payment; and > > > > > > > (b) the plaintiff may continue with the action against any other defendant or defendants, but the sum paid into Court and any interest is to be set off against any damages awarded to the plaintiff against the defendant or defendants against whom the action is continued. > > > (7)  The plaintiff is to give notice in writing of acceptance under [subrule (6)(a)](#GS272@Gs6@Hpa@EN) to all defendants. > > > (8)  On giving notice, the plaintiff is entitled, except as otherwise provided by these rules or in the case of a person under disability subject to [rule 299](#GS299@EN) , to receive payment of – > > > > > > (a) any sum of money accepted in satisfaction of the claim or in satisfaction of the cause of action to which the money relates; and > > > > > > > (b) any interest earned on the money since its payment into Court. > > > (9)  The costs of the plaintiff as against a defendant whose payment into Court was accepted are to be in the discretion of the Court or a judge.