Meredith Mediates by Meredith Richardson
When you’re young, the worst Valentine’s Day ever may be the day at school when everyone got a flower or a card except for you. That’s pretty bad.
When you get a little older, your worst Valentine’s Day ever may be caused by someone breaking up with you right before or even on Valentine’s Day. That’s an awful experience.
When you get older still, the court system (at least those in NH and Maine, where I practice) can help you to have the worst Valentine’s Day ever. Your divorce may be scheduled for Valentine’s Day.
Every year, I am amazed to find family divisions of the courts open for business on Valentine’s Day. Who wants to be in court with an ex- or a soon-to-be ex- on Valentine’s Day? No one. Who wants to have every Valentine’s Day be the anniversary of their divorce? Only those who 1. are lousy at remembering dates; 2. hate Valentine’s Day anyway; or 3. appreciate the irony and can laugh about it. For the rest of the population, Valentine’s Day seems to be tailor-made for an administrative court day, where only emergencies are handled, and the rest of the day the court staff can catch up on paperwork and the judges can catch up on writing orders.
Here’s my promise to you. If you mediate with me privately, away from the court system, I will never make you mediate on Valentine’s Day. Never, ever, ever. I never want to be a part of your worst Valentine’s Day ever. Do you?
JAMS ADR Blog by Chris PooleMost mediators will agree that a key to reaching a settlement is to have the right people in the room at the mediation. Unless all...
By James M. AmendNot only does Scotland vie to become a global, efficient ADR center attracting domestic and international businesses, but it also wants to improve the overall competitiveness of its legal system....
By José Antonio García ÁlvaroThis essay is a continuing work in progress, as the dynamic of mediation continues to expand into many areas. It is a work in progress as we work to broaden...
By Mary Damianakis