The Circuit Court for Baltimore City has two alternative dispute
resolution programs for the civil non-domestic docket. They are the
pre-trial settlement conferences which are scheduled in most civil cases
30 days before trial and a Court Mediation Program.
Court Mediation Program.
Mediation is an informal and confidential process where a
neutral person, a mediator, assists people in a dispute by encouraging
communication, allowing the opportunity for both sides to be heard,
identifying each person's needs and, if possible, helping the
participants reach an agreement that satisfies everyone's needs.
Mediators do not give legal advice, render judgments or force any
participant to reach an agreement. Mediation provides people with the
opportunity to participate in the outcome of their dispute. More than
one-half of the Court's cases that are referred to mediation are
resolved during the mediation conference. Studies indicate that when a
case is referred to mediation, the parties and the courts save both time
and money. Often, cases resolved through mediation spend less time in
the court system and involve fewer discovery motions.
Pre-Trial Settlement Conference.
In most civil cases scheduled for trial, a mandatory
settlement conference is held 30 days before trial. The conference is
set before either a judge or volunteer settlement attorney at a
courthouse location. The court's scheduling orders require that all
counsel, their clients and insurance representatives must attend the
pretrial settlement conference in person. For requests by a party or
representative to excuse personal attendance in favor of telephone
participation, the following procedures should be used:
All requests to excuse personal attendance must be made in writing,
by motion or letter filed with the clerk.
All requests should be filed not later than twenty-one (21) days
before the conference or provide good cause for later filing. It is
helpful if a copy is submitted to Ronna Jablow, ADR Program Coordinator
(Room 401, Courthouse East; Fax No. 410-333-1383).
Where a pretrial conference is scheduled before an active judge of
the court, the decision whether to approve the request for telephone
participation instead of personal attendance will be made by the judge
before whom the pretrial conference is set.
Where a pretrial conference is scheduled before a voluntary
settlement attorney or a retired judge, the decision whether to approve
the request will be made by the ADR supervising judge.
If a request is approved, that approval applies only for the date on
which the pretrial conference is scheduled at the time of the request.
If the pretrial conference is rescheduled for any reason, a renewed
request must be submitted for consideration according to the procedures
set forth above.
If a person is excused from personal
attendance, counsel will be informed about the “Courtcall” procedure for
that person’s required participation by telephone at the time of the
approval.
If you have any questions about mediation, please
contact:
Ronna K. Jablow
Mediation Coordinator Circuit
Court for Baltimore City
111 N. Calvert Street Room
401
Courthouse East
Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 396-7374
Email
Ronna.Jablow@courts.state.md.uss
Newsletter:
Newsletter: ADR in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City -
June 2012
Newsletter: ADR in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City -
June 2011
Newsletter: ADR in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City
- Dec 2011
Forms:
Civil Mediation Instructions
Civil Mediation Instructions for Motor Tort
Cases
Civil Mediation Instructions for Medical Malpractice
Cases
Confidential Mediation Conference Statement
ADR Data Sheet
Attorney Evaluation of Mediator
Roster of Approved Mediators for Health Care
Malpractice
FAQs About the Baltimore City Circuit Court Civil
Mediation Program
