Was A Terror Suspect, Now A Mediator [Plus More News]

Was a Terror Suspect, Now A Mediator

Pakistan is using ex-terror suspect Hyarbyar Marri as a mediator between the terror outfit which kidnapped UN official John Solecki and the government to get the American citizen released.

Marri, recently acquitted of terrorism charges in the UK, was approached by Pakistan’s Interior Ministry to use his influence with the kidnappers, Dawn reports. Full story [here]

Mediation and Arbitration Helps in Construction Disputes
When it comes to profitability, a lot can be said for the way a company manages information. That’s been the overall theme of the Construction Specification Institute’s three-part webinar series, “Maintaining Profitability in Your Construction Business,” which concluded this afternoon. Bill Dexter, a risk-management consultant and trainer, Mary Jones, a California attorney specializing in alternate dispute resolution and Marge Mellody, a mediator specializing in real estate-related disputes, continued that focus when they discussed dispute resolutions during today’s session.

Full story [here]

Mediation Fails

For those that think mediations are always resolved successfully:

NEWARK — Mediation has failed in a civil suit between a local contractor, the Board of Education for the Licking County Joint Vocational School District and others, but another avenue to avoid a lengthy trial still might be available.

Attorneys for all sides met with a mediator Friday, but because no settlement was reached, the prospect of a month-long jury trial beginning April 28 looks increasingly likely.

The case will have spent three years on Common Pleas Judge Thomas Marcelain’s docket by then.

Full story [here]

Internet Mediation- Cybersquatting Hits Record

The number of cybersquatting complaints reached a record in 2008, the World Intellectual Property Association reported Monday.
Geneva-based WIPO, which is charged with resolving such disputes, said there were 2,329 complaints filed with the WIPO Administration and Mediation Center last year. That’s an 8 percent increase from the year prior.

And the numbers are likely to skyrocket as the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is expected to launch new top-domain spaces by year’s end.

Full article [here]

SafeKiwi- Promoting Mediation in New Zealand

“LEADR NZ is pleased to be involved in the new SafeKiwi™ internet-based ‘escrow’ financial service, launched yesterday by Christchurch businessman Mike Pero. An escrow account, like SafeKiwi™, is a legal arrangement in which one party deposits funds under the supervision of a neutral third party, until the terms of an agreement have been met and the funds can be released. SafeKiwi™ (www.safekiwi.co.nz) is marketing the service to companies, corporates, individuals and government departments and, in particular, expects the service to be popular with small businesses and sub-contractors.

SafeKiwi™ will use the Public Trust as its custodian. Carol Powell, chair of LEADR NZ, says she is delighted that SafeKiwi™ is promoting mediation as the first option for resolving disputes that may arise between parties to the service.

                       

Jeff Thompson

Jeff Thompson, Ph.D., is a professor at Lipscomb University, researcher, mediator, and trainer. He is also involved in crisis and hostage negotiation as well as a law enforcement detective. His research includes law enforcement crisis and hostage negotiation in terrorist incidents. He received his doctorate from Griffith University Law School… MORE >