Civil Mediation

Mediation:

• The Court provides trained mediators who can assist you in settling your case before trial.
• Mediators do not decide the outcome of a case.
• All agreements reached in mediation are voluntary.

See also information on: Medical Malpractice, Landlord & Tenant and Small Claims mediation.

How should I prepare for mediation?

Mediation is a process which require you to complete several steps. Details, including the responsibilities of participants, are explained below.

If you are represented by an attorney, they will handle steps 1-5, below.

1. Notice of the mediation date will be mailed to you approximately 60 days prior to mediation by the court.
2. All participants are responsible for submitting a Confidential Settlement Statement. Additionally, participants represented by counsel are required to submit a Mediation Readiness Certificate. Click here to download the forms packet that includes the Confidential Settlement Statement, Mediation Readiness Certificate, mediation procedures and forms completion instructions. (Residential Foreclosure cases should use the Residential Foreclosure Confidential Settlement Statement, available here.)
3. All mediations are being held remotely unless an in-person mediation is requested and agreed to by the participants.
4. If your mediation is rescheduled, you should fill out a new Confidential Settlement Statement or a new Residential Foreclosure Confidential Settlement Statement.
5. Multi-Door will send a scheduling email to all participants 7 to 10 business days before the mediation date. The email will include information about the remote mediation process and instructions on how to participate. You will also get the link to join the virtual mediation and the contact information of your mediator and case manager.
6. Your mediator will call you approximately 5 to 7 days before the mediation to discuss your view of the case, the status of any negotiations, and any obstacles to settlement.
7. Mediation sessions generally last 3 hours. (Residential Foreclosure cases generally last 45 minutes.) Follow-up sessions may be scheduled if both participants agree they are needed and could be helpful.
8. If you reach an agreement in mediation, it will be filed directly with the court.
9. If no agreement is reached in mediation, Court staff will set a pre-trial date.
    

Can I Request an In-person Mediation?

You may ask for an in-person mediation. All participants must agree to an in-person mediation. To make a request you must submit an Application to Appear In Person within 24 hours of receiving the mediation scheduling email sent by your case manager. The case manager will follow up with the requesting party(s) within 24 hours of the request.

Residential Foreclosure Mediation:

Residential Foreclosure cases are scheduled for mediation during initial hearings and status conferences with the Judge. You will receive a special mediation order with the mediation date and instructions for filing your Confidential Settlement Statement. Mediations are scheduled between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for 45-minute blocks of time.

Case Evaluation:

An evaluator helps parties identify the issues on which they disagree and provides an opinion on the likelihood that the plaintiff will be held responsible (and ordered to pay damages), and the amount of damages likely to be ordered.