ASK THE JUDGE TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE
You can ask the judge in the case or another judge in the courthouse to conduct a Mandatory Settlement Conference in the case. Some judges may be interested in conducting a judicial settlement conference with the parties and attorneys present. It is best to have this conference early in the case before the parties incur the expense of preparing for a bench or jury trial. A judicial settlement conference can be conducted at any stage of the case, and even during the trial itself. Judges would rather spend an hour conducting a settlement conference than have a trial that could last for several hours or days if it is a jury trial. It is my experience that robed judges have more influence in conducting a judicial settlement
conference and can push the tenant to come to an agreement with reasonable terms. Judicial settlement conferences may be more effective than having an attorney mediate the case. Judges can meet with both sides separately to conduct “shuttle diplomacy,” and narrow the issues. In addition, a judicial settlement conference is typically less costly than private mediation.
A JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE IS TYPICALLY LESS COSTLY THAN PRIVATE MEDIATION.
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