IndyBar: Pre-Suit Mediation: A Courtroom Detour

Time and money are two of the biggest drawbacks to trials. Clients become frustrated with the delays and expense of taking a case to court, and attorneys have to put a lot of effort into the formal procedures of doing so. Pre-suit mediation is a solution that many legal professionals overlook when it comes to their clients’ cases, which prompted the IndyBar ADR Section to host a CLE program on the topic on Oct. 28.

“Pre-suit mediation can be an effective way to get cases resolved without the delay and expense involved in litigation,” said Teresa Todd of Teresa L. Todd Law Office, one of the program’s speakers. “Most cases eventually get settled, and clients are happier with the same result if they obtain that result sooner rather than later. … However, many seminars focus on trial skills rather than negotiating skills or ‘settlement skills.’”

At this seminar, Ms. Todd, along with several other experienced litigators and mediators, will explain the benefits of pre-suit mediation, how to select cases for pre-suit mediation, what information is needed for successful pre-suit mediation and more.

“The program will include observations from both the plaintiff and defense perspective, as well as the mediator’s perspective regarding what ‘the other side’ finds effective and ineffective with regard to getting cases settled at mediation – and what ‘drives the other side crazy,’” Todd said. “That is, what mediators wish the lawyers would and wouldn’t do, and what plaintiff’s counsel and defense counsel wish the other would and wouldn’t do.”

These observations will be followed by an hour of “words of wisdom” for an additional CLE credit. The speakers will give invaluable insight based on their own mediation experiences and share important and practical advice for those currently practicing.

It’s a double-header CLE that will enhance your pre-suit mediation skills and your practice. Register today for both sessions at indybar.org/events.•