are proud to cosponsor todays Webinar:

The Florida Litigators

Dispute Resolution Toolbox:
Creative ADR Applications
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Our moderator, Our presenter,
Sandy Upchurch Lawrence M. Watson
Mediation Counsel Principal/Founder
Upchurch Watson Upchurch Watson
White & Max White & Max
supchurch@ lwatson@
uww-adr.com uww-adr.com
uww-adr.com uww-adr.com

Lawrence M. Watson
Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 2
The Florida Litigators
Dispute Resolution
Toolbox
Creative ADR
Applications
Lawrence M. Watson
Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 3
Agenda - DR Toolbox
Overview of Dispute Med/Arb and Arb/Med
Early Neutral Evaluation
Resolution Processes
Non-binding Arbitration
The Continuum of (Fla. Stat. 44.103)
Dispute Resolution Binding Arb./Voluntary Trial
Resolution (Fla.Stat.
Systems 44.104)
Toolbox Options Mediated Case
Management
Lawrence M. Watson
Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 4
Dispute Resolution Processes Overview
Reconciliation Systems Adjudication Systems
Consensual Mandated
Party Controlled 3rd Party Controlled
Mutual Accommodation of Prevail in Positional
Interests & Concerns Debate
Problem Solving Exercise Fault Finding Exercise

Outcome Is Outcome Is
Agreement Judgment
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 Dispute Resolution
Continuum
Lawrence M. Watson
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 ADR Toolbox Options
Arb-Med & Med-Arb
Lawrence M. Watson
Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group
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ADR Toolbox Options: Med-Arb & Arb-Med

Med-Arb
When to decide to use the process?
What do you want the decision to be?
Arb-Med
Cigar Box arbitration
Decision should be an award
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Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 8
ADR Toolbox Options
EARLY NEUTRAL EVALUATION
Lawrence M. Watson
Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 9
ADR Toolbox Options: Early Neutral Evaluation
Pre-Trial procedure
Case presentation to Neutral Evaluator
Obtain non-binding neutral evaluation of
claim/defenses leading to . . .
Potential case management benefits
Potential facilitated settlement process
Fed. District Court, N. Dist. California
Lawrence M. Watson
Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 10
 ADR Toolbox Options: Early Neutral Evaluation

ENE Operation
Select evaluator; interviews, submissions
Informal hearing
Evaluation presented
Parties accept or reject evaluation
Case management or settlement negotiations
Lawrence M. Watson
Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 11
 ADR Toolbox Options: Early Neutral Evaluation
ENE Ground Rules
Confidential
All procedural rights preserved
Case remains on trial schedule
Timing for ENE (early rather than late)
90 days after case management conference
60-90 days after court referral
Lawrence M. Watson,
Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 12
 ADR Toolbox Options: Early Neutral Evaluation

Conclusion
Informed, neutral, adjudicatory input early
in process
Credibility of evaluator critical

See www.adr.cand.uscourts.gov
Lawrence M. Watson
Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 13
 ADR Toolbox Options
NON-BINDING ARBITRATION
Fla. Stat. 44.103
Lawrence M. Watson
Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 14
ADR Toolbox Options: Non-Binding Arbitration

Agreed by parties or ordered by Court (44.103)

Parties can control process do control outcome
When Parties agree on NBA they can control;
Procedure; choice of arbitrator; timing; hearing formality
When court orders NBA:
FRCP apply; court picks arbitrator; 30 days; hearing formality
Award final unless motion for trial de novo filed
25% Rule or pay legal fees and costs
Lawrence M. Watson
Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 15
ADR Toolbox Options: Non-Binding Arbitration

Overall
Non-binding arbitration
allows peek over the
fence at possible
outcome of adjudication
Evaluation tool
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Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 16
 ADR Toolbox Options

VOLUNTARY TRIAL RESOLUTION

VOLUNTARY BINDING ARBITRATION
Fla. Stat. 44.104
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Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 17
ADR Toolbox Options: Binding Arbitration - VTR
Voluntary Binding Arbitration
Certified Arbitrator (44.106)
Fla. R.C.P. 1.830 hearing procedures
Appeal to Circuit Court (limited basis)
Voluntary Trial Resolution
5 year Fla. Bar attorney
Normal trial procedures
Appeal to DCA (no factual issues)
Lawrence M. Watson
Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 18
ADR Toolbox Options
MEDIATED CASE MANAGEMENT
Lawrence M. Watson
Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 19
ADR Toolbox Options: Mediated Case Management

Complex, multi-issue, multi-party litigation

Cost-effective, efficient case management
Set aside process debates
Focus on substantive issues
Gather information necessary
Enable settlement early, not late
Lawrence M. Watson
Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 20
 ADR Toolbox Options: Mediated Case Management

Dual Track Program

Adjudication and reconciliation
programs run concurrently.
Prioritize litigation (adjudication) tasks, to get
data for settlement (reconciliation) first.
Mediate the conduct of the lawsuit
Lawrence M. Watson
Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 21
ADR Toolbox Options: Mediated Case Management
Overview
Early in case - counsel and parties select and
meet with mediator.
Mediator/Parties negotiate overall accords on
how the lawsuit will be run.
Objective is to establish a charter that can be
converted to a stipulated Case Management
Order.
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Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 22
 ADR Toolbox Options: Mediated Case Management

Charter
Conduct of litigation controlled by facilitated
agreement
Periodic case management meetings
Chaired by Mediator
Facilitates /Records CM agreements
Mediates partial/final settlements
Reports to Court Lawrence M. Watson
Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 23
 ADR Toolbox Options: Mediated Case Management
Charter (cont.)
Confidentiality -
All communications under umbrella of mediation
confidentiality, except
Commitments regarding MCM proceedings.
Discovery taken under oath.
Termination - opt out at any time;
notice to Court and other parties.
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Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 24
ADR Toolbox Options: Mediated Case Management

Charter (cont.)
Case Management Agreements become
stipulated case management orders
Deviations after agreement only with permission of
parties or Court
Court enforces Case Management
Agreements
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Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 25
ADR Toolbox Options: Mediated Case Management

Operation
Initial Mediation session
Focus on Issue refinement what are we
really arguing about?
Develop Working Statement of Key Issues
Substantive Factual Issues
Substantive Legal Issues
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Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 26
ADR Toolbox Options: Mediated Case Management

Operation (cont.)
Prioritize the key issues - FACT and LAW
What do we really need to know to settle key issues?
Important things to know - Key issues of fact
Important things to know - Key issues of law
Devise plan to develop necessary data on key issues
Cooperative, focused, orderly, cost effective procedures

Lawrence M. Watson
Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 27
ADR Toolbox Options: Mediated Case Management

Operation (cont.)
Obtain data on key issues of fact;
Define and schedule mutually agreeable joint
discovery or investigative program.
Focus on getting only the factual information
required to settle first
Come back later for the rest
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Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 28
ADR Toolbox Options: Mediated Case Management
Operation (cont.)
Fact issue program choices
Voluntary document exchange.
Rifle-shot Rule 30(b)(6) depositions
Cooperative audits, cost validation
Joint site visits, testing, inspections
Joint expert workshops.
Joint informal witness interviews. Lawrence M. Watson
Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 29
ADR Toolbox Options: Mediated Case Management
Operation (cont.)
Obtain data on Key issue of law
Define and schedule a mutually agreeable joint
adjudicative program
Focus on getting only legal input required to
settle first
Establish critical rules of the road for
adjudication process Lawrence M. Watson
Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 30
ADR Toolbox Options: Mediated Case Management
Operation (cont.)
Legal issue program choices
Exchange briefs and mediate
Private judge hearing (binding or nonbinding)
Coordinated hearing with Special Master
Coordinated hearing with Court
Use the mediator to orchestrate program
choices Lawrence M. Watson
Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 31
ADR Toolbox Options: Mediated Case Management

Operation (cont.)
Use Mediator as intermediary between court and
parties an envoy to court
Preserve confidentiality
Scripted message in neutral terms
Focus on coordinating case resolution efforts
Insure meaningful judicial input; data needed
Create three-way team
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Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 32
ADR Toolbox Options: Mediated Case Management
Operation (cont.)
Reconciliation Track
Set target date for global mediation
Universal goal End Date
Set periodic mini-mediations with specific disputes
and specific parties
Balcony, Windows & Doors Day
Final or Contingent
Chip away at overall dispute
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Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 33
ADR Toolbox Options: Mediated Case Management

Conclusion
Everything done in MCM needs to be done to
prepare for trial.
MCM prioritizes trial preparation activities to
focus first on data needed to settle.
Gives settlement a chance to happen early.
WIN-WIN process
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Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 34
ADR Toolbox Options: Mediated Case Management
Conclusion
Requires professionalism from bar; flexibility
from bench
Cooperative not adversarial mindset
Cost effective, elegant, minimal waste
Clients love the process in the loop, de-
mystifies the legal process
MEDIATED CASE MANAGEMENT
Lawrence M. Watson
Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group 35
 Creative ADR
Applications
Thank You
Florida Bar Course # For Joining Us.
1400502N
CLE Credits Please contact Larry at
lwatson@uww-adr
General: 1.0
with questions or
Please email cklasne@uww-adr.com comments regarding
with questions about course number,
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Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group

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