Q: Under what conditions can a person withdraw their agreement to a settlment if the defendant has not paid in a year?

A: Depends on the language in the agreement. More likely the thing to do is to "enforce" the agreement. See an attorney in person with documents for more direction...

A: Reach out to your attorney who represented you for your original settlement to discuss this matter. I do not know the particulars of your case. Since I did not represent you for the initial case, I cannot state if you have money set aside from your settlement for future treatment.

However, generally speaking, if you have settled your claim then it cannot be re-opened.

A: more info needed.

i assume you had a lawyer for your settlement...........if not shame on you.

that lawyer should go back to defense and explain your position and that they have breached the terms of the settlement by not making a timely payment...unless they explained up front that it would be a year or so to receive the money.

you either want to enforce the settlement or argue they breached it.

A: If you were represented by counsel, contact them to review the agreement you describe. When a case is settled, settlement terms are generally memorialized in a release. While the release might not specify actual timetables for payment, one year is a long time for a settled claim to remain unpaid. If you were not represented by counsel, you could arrange a consultation with a California attorney to review the release and any other agreements, correspondence, and communications, and identify your options and deadlines before which you must act to preserve your rights.

Tim Akpinar