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.
Settlement Program.
In most civil cases scheduled for trial, a mandatory settlement conference
is held 30 days before trial. The conferences is set before
either a judge or volunteer settlement attorney at a courthouse location.
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.
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
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
