July 28, 2019
Two of the primary approaches to mediation are facilitative and evaluative. Under the facilitative approach, the mediator orchestrates a process that facilitates communication between the parties concerning their respective interests and concerns. The mediator typically refrains, however, from sharing an opinion concerning the strengths or weaknesses of either side’s positions...
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Tags:July 25, 2019
Register for our Webinar: if you enjoy this blog post, be sure to register for our webinar on November 17, 2020: “How Mediation Can Add Value to the Estate Planning Process.” We have previously discussed how mediation can add value in the estate planning and family business contexts by helping..
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July 22, 2019
A recent Ninth Circuit decision addresses an interesting question in the context of an insurance dispute: can a failed mediation trigger the start of a statute of limitations? See Gallahan v. Philadelphia Indem. Ins. Co., No. 18-35057, 2019 WL 2595502, at *1 (9th Cir. June 25, 2019). On February 5,..
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July 18, 2019
We have previously advocated that employers use mediation preemptively to quietly resolve discrimination claims and other workplace disputes before they escalate into litigation. The fact pattern described in a recent Seventh Circuit decision validates that recommendation. See Fields v. Bd. of Educ. of City of Chicago, No. 17-3136, 2019 WL..
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Tags:July 17, 2019
In this latest post on applying Talmudic principles in mediation, we will explore a Talmudic insight that can be used to manage high conflict personalities in mediation (the Talmud being an ancient Jewish legal text compiled around 500 C.E. that is a primary source of Jewish law and philosophy). The..
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Tags:July 15, 2019
Traditionally, mediators have helped parties resolve disputes already in litigation. Some of our recent blog posts, however, have discussed how mediators can help nip disputes in the bud before they escalate into litigation in contexts such as estate planning, family businesses, and the workplace. The idea being that lawyers should..
Tags:July 11, 2019
To deter parties from taking frivolous positions in connection with contractual relationships, agreements often contain fee shifting provisions that entitle a prevailing party to recover reasonable attorneys’ fees in any litigation arising under the agreement. The downside of fee shifting provisions, of course, is that they may deter parties from..
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Tags:July 10, 2019
Participants in mediations will be familiar with bracketing — a technique widely used by mediators to bridge seemingly insurmountable gaps between what one side is offering and the other side is demanding. Why bracketing works offers a fascinating glimpse into the psychology of negotiation and mediation. Let’s assume a plaintiff..
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Tags:July 8, 2019
A recent article (link below) in the Richmond Times-Dispatch by Karen Michael discussed efforts by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to encourage mediation after receiving a charge of discrimination. The article cited several benefits to employers who engage in mediation of discrimination complaints through the EEOC’s program. The article..
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Tags:July 7, 2019
We have previously blogged about applying Talmudic principles in mediation (the Talmud being an ancient Jewish legal text compiled around 500 C.E. that is a primary source of Jewish law and philosophy). This post will explore application of the Talmudic principle known in Hebrew as dan l’kaf zechut, or judging..
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