Opinion
No. 10-08-00267-CV
Order issued and filed August 5, 2009. DO NOT PUBLISH.
Appealed from the 361st District Court, Brazos County, Texas, Trial Court No. 07-001876-CV-361. Appeal abated for mediation.
Before Chief Justice GRAY, Justice REYNA, and Justice DAVIS.
ABATEMENT ORDER FOR MEDIATION
The Legislature has provided for the resolution of disputes through alternative dispute resolution (ADR) procedures. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. REM. CODE ANN. §§ 154.001-154.073 (Vernon 2005). The policy behind ADR is stated in the statute: "It is the policy of this state to encourage the peaceable resolution of disputes . . . and the early settlement of pending litigation through voluntary settlement procedures." Id. § 154.002 (Vernon 2005). Mediation is a form of ADR. Mediation is a mandatory but non-binding settlement conference, conducted with the assistance of a mediator. Mediation is private, confidential, and privileged. We find that this proceeding is appropriate for mediation. See id. § 154.021(a) (Vernon 2005); 10TH TEX. APP. (WACO) LOC. R. 9. Accordingly, we order the parties to participate in mediation. We strongly recommend the inclusion of the Intervenors, Christi Drier and Danielle Cordaway (and any other party in the trial court proceeding) in the mediation process as well. The parties are ordered to confer and attempt to agree upon a mediator. Within fourteen days after the date of this Order, appellants are ordered to file a notice with the Clerk of this Court which either identifies the agreed-upon mediator or states that the parties are unable to agree upon a mediator. If the notice states that the parties are unable to agree upon a mediator, this Court will assign a mediator. Mediation must occur within thirty days after the date the above-referenced notice agreeing to a mediator is filed or, if no mediator is agreed upon, within thirty days after the date of the order assigning a mediator. No less than seven calendar days before the first scheduled mediation session, each party must provide the mediator and all other parties with an information sheet setting forth the party's positions about the issues that need to be resolved. At or before the first session, all parties must produce all information necessary for the mediator to understand the issues presented. The mediator may require any party to supplement the information required by this Order. Named parties must be present during the entire mediation process. Immediately after mediation, the mediator must advise this Court, in writing, only that the case did or did not settle, and the amount of the mediator's fee paid by each party. The mediator's fees will be taxed as costs. Unless the mediator agrees to mediate without fee, the mediator must negotiate a reasonable fee with the parties, and each party must pay a proportionate share of the agreed-upon fee directly to the mediator. Failure or refusal to attend the mediation as scheduled and to actively participate therein may result in the imposition of sanctions, as permitted by law. Any objection to this Order must be filed with this Court and served upon all parties within ten days after the date of this Order, or it is waived. We abate this proceeding for mediation.