It was an honor to moderate and sponsor today's Federal Bar Association CLE presentation with our three spectacular West Palm Beach Division US Magistrate Judges: Hon. William Matthewman, Hon. Bruce Reinhart, and Hon. Ryon McCabe. The presentation provided a great opportunity for attorneys to learn about important issues surrounding settlement of federal lawsuits, and most importantly to hear directly from the three federal Magistrate Judges serving in West Palm Beach. The session began with a review of the statutes, rules, and individual Judges’ practices that impact mediation and settlement ..read more

Selecting the best mediator for your case can have a big impact on whether or not you reach a settlement.  Here are some important considerations to keep in mind when choosing a mediator: 1.     Consider the temperaments of the decision makers.  Mediation is an interpersonal process where human dynamics are often at the heart of the dispute, even in business cases.  When selecting a mediator, it's essential to carefully evaluate the temperaments and perspectives of all individuals attending the mediation, including yourself.  The mediator's approach sho ..read more

Just about every successful mediation ends with a settlement agreement.  (Sometimes, a mediation can be considered a success even if it concludes without a settlement, but that’s a topic for a future blog post.)  Here are some general guidelines on settlement agreements to keep in mind: 1.     Get It In Writing Many jurisdictions require parties to reduce their mediation settlement agreement to writing, but even when there’s no legal requirement it’s always a very good idea.  Having a written record of what was agreed during mediation can help ensure everyone ..read more

Just about every successful mediation ends with a settlement agreement.  (Sometimes, a mediation can be considered a success even if it concludes without a settlement, but that’s a topic for a future blog post.)  Here are some general guidelines on settlement agreements to keep in mind: 1.     Get It In Writing Many jurisdictions require parties to reduce their mediation settlement agreement to writing, but even when there’s no legal requirement it’s always a very good idea.  Having a written record of what was agreed during mediation can help ensure all part ..read more

Excited to share that we are adding value to our legal community by providing Bar accredited CLE courses on mediation strategy and pro-tips at the offices of some great law firms. I’ve had recent lunch and learn sessions at Holland & Knight and Carlton Fields, with upcoming presentations at the offices of Gunster, Greenberg Traurig, and Atherton Galardi Mullen & Reeder. Contact us to arrange for a free CLE presentation at your firm or organization. Also, we still have some limited availability for mediation sessions this summer, but dates are going fast. With many people plan ..read more

So nice of our Craig S. Bernard American Inn of Court to highlight me as a new member. To all the litigators out there, I highly recommend you consider joining your local Inn of Court - it's a great way to promote professionalism, stay connected to fellow lawyers, and help mentor the next generation. https://csbinnofcourt.wordpress.com/2023/02/15/inn-troducing-jim-baldinger/?fbclid=IwAR2eiQnz7MT0KLIEqCv4a55-xbYpVGpRettd7PVvx0ErVn95E1qw6wK9qpI ..read more

Here’s some mediation information to start your week. Have you ever heard of the National Mediation Board? It’s a small independent federal government agency established in 1934 to to maintain the flow of interstate commerce by providing mediation, arbitration, and legal services to employees and management of railroads and airlines. NMB mediators help resolve labor collective bargaining contract disputes, NMB arbitrators handle thousands of grievance procedures annually, and their Office of Legal Affairs issues rulings on matters related to organization and representation of employees. The N ..read more

Happy Mediation Week! The American Bar Association and courts around the country declared this week - the third week in October - as Mediation Week, an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the benefits of mediation to resolve disputes and reduce the case load burden on our court systems. In Florida, Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz issued a proclamation in honor of Mediation Week, specifically recognizing that “many businesses use mediation to resolve their disputes with individuals and other businesses in an amicable and fair manner,” and “mediation is an important facet for the dispensation o ..read more

Check out this fascinating article about the potential of artificial intelligence to settle legal disputes in the future. In the meantime, use a professional mediator with some all-natural intelligence to resolve business litigation disputes. https://www.osborneclarke.com/insights/ai-future-dispute-resolution-computer-says-no?fbclid=IwAR3auTfEbc7dOTPv7rgRomoZqrMKLIX_Wllk-SQubKSOD8pCfXC0kT5dBB4 #SettleSmart #BaldingerMediation ..read more

Happy Mediation Week! The American Bar Association and courts around the country declared this week - the third week in October - as Mediation Week, an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the benefits of mediation to resolve disputes and reduce the case load burden on our court systems. In Florida, Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz issued a proclamation in honor of Mediation Week, specifically recognizing that “many businesses use mediation to resolve their disputes with individuals and other businesses in an amicable and fair manner,” and “mediation is an important facet for the dispensation o ..read more