Mediation

Mediator's Role:

A Mediator is a third-party neutral who acts to encourage and facilitate resolution of a dispute. A Mediator's role is to reduce obstacles to communication, assist in the identification of issues and exploration of alternatives, and otherwise facilitate voluntary agreements resolving the dispute. The ultimate decision-making authority rests solely with the parties.

Virtual Mediation:

Mediations are offered by virtual platform (zoom), and the parties may access the meeting (using the zoom invitation provided) by phone, tablet, laptop or at a desktop. With the exception of the attorney (or their staff), parties should be alone in the room when attending mediation, no third person should be with them without prior consent from the other side, and no minor children should be in the room. In person mediations are no longer offered.

Initial Introductions:

Unless requested otherwise, the parties (and their attorneys) will enter their mediation in separate virtual breakout rooms, and the Mediator's opening statement will be stated separately to each side. The separation is done to keep the parties as comfortable as possible and to safeguard against any injunctions or allegations of domestic violence the Mediator may not be made aware of. At any time by full consent of all, the parties may be brought together if preferred.

Payment:

The mediation fee is $150.00 per hour, with a 3-hour ($450.00) minimum mediation charge per session. If you book a full day for mediation, the minimum charge is $500.00. It is assumed the parties are sharing the mediation costs unless stated otherwise in the Notice of Mediation. Payment is expected at the conclusion of each scheduled mediation by debit or credit card, and payment is taken through Clio, which offers advanced securities, and no information is stored. Mediation time is rounded up to the nearest half hour. If for any reason, the client is unable to pay their portion of the mediation fees,
their attorney is expected to pay on their client's behalf.

Review of Documents:

Attorneys, please feel free to forward any summary, documents, or pleadings you would like the Mediator to review prior to mediation or any proposed agreements you would like us to work from, and I will do my best to review prior to our time of mediation. There is no charge for any prior review. Realize, the Mediator's role is neutral and she has no authority, and the review of documents is solely to better understand the parties' issues and positions. Prior to mediation, the parties should direct any questions they may have directly to their attorney and not directly to the Mediator, if represented.

Notice of Mediation:

Please include in your Notice of Mediation my hourly rates charged ($150.00 per hour with a $450.00 minimum per session) and how the fees will be apportioned between the parties and please include language that payment is to be paid at the conclusion of mediation. Kindly forward me a courtesy copy of the parties' Notice of Mediation at time same is filed, not only to understand the apportionment of fees, but to have a caption of the case so I can draft a Mediation Result Report.

Cancellation/Rescheduling:

If for any reason, you need to reschedule or cancel the mediation, there is no fee or charge. Simply email and let me know as soon as you know the mediation needs to be rescheduled or cancelled, and respectfully, do not delay notifying the Mediator.

Scheduling Future Mediations:

You may schedule your mediation directly on my website (dadecitylegal@gmail.com). Once the Mediator receives the request, she will confirm the mediation is scheduled and provide in the confirming email basic information for a client's review (optional the attorney forward) as well as a Zoom Invitation for your Notice of Mediation. The calendar on the Mediator's website offers 3 scheduling times: 9:00 am to 12:30 pm; 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm, or all day (9:00 am to 5:00 pm). Alternate start and stop times are available. For alternate times, simply schedule the mediation for the closest block of time desired, and email the requested time change.