Last Week’s Impasse

December 17, 2007

An impasse had developed, the mediation was grid locked.

As many had before him, the mediator hesitated outside the door and sucked in as much oxygen as he could from the stuffy hallway before turning the knob to the defense breakout room.

They were an unhappy bunch. The tiredness showed.

The room smelt. Funny, the mediator thought, how the parties always tire long before the mediator. Maybe because it’s their money he mused.They looked up at him, expecting some simple break-through moment. There was none.

But what he had to say was simple.

‘We need more money… it’s the last time I’ll ask, promise’

The female defense lawyer responded with a hurt smirk ‘If you want to see my underwear I need to know there’s a proposal of marriage coming’

There was and she nailed it.

Thanks for the punch line Peter J. MacKeigan, Q.C

Geoff Sharp

Geoff Sharp is a Commercial Mediator from Wellington, New Zealand. Geoff works in the Asia Pacific region, including New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand and Pacific Islands. He is a mediator resolving business problems. He is a fellow of the International Academy of Mediators and mediates complex and hotly debated litigation covering… MORE >