Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Law Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

University of Missouri School of Law

2007

Mediation

Articles 1 - 6 of 6

Full-Text Articles in Law

Mediation, Improvisations, And All That Jazz, John W. Cooley Jul 2007

Mediation, Improvisations, And All That Jazz, John W. Cooley

Journal of Dispute Resolution

In the present article, we will be exploring the subject of improvisation generally from the perspective of mediation and jazz as performance arts; the roles of the jazz musician, the mediator, and the mediation advocate as creative problem solvers; the elements of jazz in mediation; and the collective conversation in jazz as compared with the collective conversation in mediation.


Sacrificing Settlement Agreements In The Name Of Mediation Confidentiality: The California Supreme Court's Narrow Holding Has Harsh Consequence, Laura J. Bettenhausen Jul 2007

Sacrificing Settlement Agreements In The Name Of Mediation Confidentiality: The California Supreme Court's Narrow Holding Has Harsh Consequence, Laura J. Bettenhausen

Journal of Dispute Resolution

Confidentiality is regarded as one of the primary benefits of mediation. For parties who wish to avoid the public eye, mediation is often preferable to court. However, when parties reach some form of a settlement agreement during mediation, and subsequently disagree as to the terms of that agreement, the parties may find themselves in court. In court, the issue of whether the settlement agreement is admissible arises. In Fair v. Bakhtiari, the California Supreme Court addressed the question of whether an arbitration provision listed in a settlement agreement renders the agreement admissible under the California Evidence Code. The court emphasized …


Mediator As Cook: Mediation Metaphors At The Movies, The, Jennifer L. Schulz Jul 2007

Mediator As Cook: Mediation Metaphors At The Movies, The, Jennifer L. Schulz

Journal of Dispute Resolution

In this article I will explore the vitality of the metaphor of the mediator as cook by tracing it through other food and conflict resolution related films. In so doing, I hope to achieve two things: first, to continue to insist that non-adversarial processes like mediation be included in the study of Law & Film, and second, to show that the metaphor suggested for mediators based on one film, resonates in other films and suggests new insights about mediator style and practice. Through a Law & Film analysis of two films, Soul Food and Mostly Martha, I will argue that …


Listening To Experienced Users, John M. Lande Apr 2007

Listening To Experienced Users, John M. Lande

Faculty Publications

In response to concerns about poor-quality mediation services in commercial cases, the Section of Dispute Resolution recently established a Task Force to develop realistic proposals to increase the quality and use of commercial mediation. As an initial step, the Task Force on Improving Mediation Quality conducted focus groups with experienced mediation users. This article summarizes key findings from the initial sets of focus groups. We found that focus group participants have nuanced understandings of the mediation process, their role in it, and the qualities they want in a mediator. In general, focus group participants want better access to information about …


Following The Script: An Empirical Analysis Of Court-Ordered Mediation Of Medical Malpractice Cases, Ralph Peeples, Catherine Harris, Thomas Metzloff Jan 2007

Following The Script: An Empirical Analysis Of Court-Ordered Mediation Of Medical Malpractice Cases, Ralph Peeples, Catherine Harris, Thomas Metzloff

Journal of Dispute Resolution

Court-ordered mediation of civil cases has become an accepted part of the litigation process in a number of states and in some federal courts.' The widespread growth of court-ordered mediation is not difficult to explain. First of all, the process appears to produce settlements, although because most cases settle anyway, it is difficult to say that court-ordered mediation reduces trial rates. It does, however, at least provide a structured opportunity for settlement discussions, if the parties are so inclined. Second, court-ordered mediation is a process usually paid for by the parties themselves. From the courts' perspective, it is not a …


When Lawyers Move Their Lips: Attorney Truthfulness In Mediation And A Modest Proposal, Don Peters Jan 2007

When Lawyers Move Their Lips: Attorney Truthfulness In Mediation And A Modest Proposal, Don Peters

Journal of Dispute Resolution

This article examines whether the punch line that you can tell when lawyers are lying by confirming that their lips are moving applies to their conduct when negotiating in mediations. General surveys of lawyer honesty suggest that this perception probably does apply to the way lawyers negotiate in mediations. Only 20% of people surveyed in a 1993 American Bar Association poll described the legal profession as honest, and that number fell to 14% in a 1998 Gallup poll.' A more recent poll revealed that one-third of the American public believes that lawyers are less truthful than most people.