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### Order filed June 8, 2021

In The



## Fourteenth Court of Appeals

____________ 

### NO. 14

- 21

- 00146

- CV

____________ 

### SUZANNE S. MUNDY, AS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF JEAN LOUISE SWINDELL ; J. ROBERT SWINDELL ;

AND ROY MUNDY , Appellant s

V.

ENE, IN C. , Appellee

On Appeal from the 434th Judicial District Court

Fort Bend County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 18

- DCV

- 251265

ABATEMENT ORDER

We have determined that this case is appropriate for referral to mediation, an alternative dispute resolution pr oc ess. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §§

154.021

— .073

. Mediation is a forum in which an impartial person, the mediator, facilitates communication between parties to promote reconciliation or settlement.

Id. § 154.023(a). Any communication relating to t he subject matter of the appeal made by a participant in the mediation proceeding is confidential. See Tex. Civ.
Prac. & Rem. Code § 154.053. After mediation, the parties shall advise the court whether the case settled, or whether any further negotiation e fforts are planned.

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### The court ORDERS the appeal ABATED for a period of sixty days and refers the underlying dispute to mediation. Any party may file a written objection

to this order with the clerk of this court within 10 days of the date of this orde r

. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 154.022. If this court finds that there is a reasonable basis for the objection, the objection shall be sustained and the appeal

reinstated on this court’s active docket. See id.

The court ORDERS that the mediation b e held within 60 days of the date of

this order. The court ORDERS that all parties or their representatives with full settlement authority shall attend the mediation process, with their counsel of

record. The court FURTHER ORDERS that within 48 hours of co mpletion of the mediation, the parties shall advise the court in writing whether the case settled.

If mediation fully resolves the issues in the case, the court ORDERS the parties to file a motion to dismiss the appeal, other dispositive motion, or a mot io n for additional time to file the dispositive motion, within 10 days of the conclusion

of the mediation

.

The court ORDERS the appellate timetable in this case suspended for 60 days from the date of this order.

The appeal is ABATED , treated as a closed ca se, and removed from this

court ’ s active docket for a period of sixty days. The appeal will be reinstated on

this court ’ s active docket after sixty days. Any party may file a motion stating grounds for reinstating the appeal before the end of the sixty

- d ay period.

Any party may also file a motion to dismiss the appeal or other dispositive motion at any time. Any party may file a motion to extend the abatement period for completion of mediation or to finalize a settlement.

PER CURIAM

Panel Consists of Chief Justice Christopher and Justices Zimmerer and Hassan

.

### 3 RULES FOR MEDIATION

i. Definition of Mediation. Mediation is a process under which an impartial person, the mediator, facilitates communication between the parties to promote reconcilia tion,

se ttlement or understanding among them. The mediator may suggest ways of resolving the disputes, but may not impose his own judgment on the issues for that of the parties.

ii. Agreement of Parties. Whenever the parties have agreed to mediation they sha ll be de emed to have made these rules, as amended and in effect as of the date of the submission of the dispute, a part of their agreement to mediate.

iii. Consent to Mediator. The parties consent to the appointment of the individual named as mediator in their case. The Mediator shall act as an advocate for resolution and shall use his best efforts to assist the parties in reaching a mutually acceptable settlement.

iv. Conditions Precedent to Serving As Mediator. The mediator shall not serve as a mediator in any dispute in which he has any financial or personal interest in the result of the mediation. Prior to accepting an appointment, the Mediator shall disclose any circumstances likely to create a presumption of bias or prevent a prompt meeting with the parties . In th e event that the parties disagree as to whether the Mediator shall serve, the Mediator shall not serve.

v. Authority of the Mediator. The Mediator does not have the authority to decide any issue for the parties, but will attempt to facilitate the vol untary r esolution of the dispute by the parties. The Mediator is authorized to conduct joint and separate meetings with the parties and to offer suggestions to assist the parties achieve settlement. If necessary, the Mediator may also obtain expert advic e concer ning technical aspects of the dispute, provided that the parties agree and assume the expenses of obtaining such advice. Arrangements for obtaining such advice shall be made by the Mediator or the parties, as the Mediator shall determine.

vi. Commitme nt to Pa rticipate in Good Faith. While no one is asked to commit to settle their case in advance of mediation, all parties commit to participate in the proceedings in good faith with the intention to settle, if at all possible.

vii. Parties Responsible for Neg otiating Their Own Settlement. The parties understand that the Mediator will not and cannot impose a settlement in their case and agree that they are responsible for negotiating a settlement acceptable to them. The Mediator, as an advocate for settlement , will u se every effort to facilitate the negotiations of the parties. The Mediator does not warrant or represent that settlement will result from the mediation
process.

viii. Authority of Representatives. PARTY REPRESENTATIVES MUST HAVE AUTHORITY TO SETTLE AN D ALL PE RSONS NECESSARY TO THE DECISION TO SETTLE SHALL BE PRESENT. The names and addresses of such persons shall be communicated in writing to all parties and to the Mediator prior to the mediation.

ix. Time and Place of Mediation. The Mediator shall fix th e time o f each mediation session. The mediation shall be held at the office of the Mediator, or at any other convenient location agreeable to the Mediator and the parties, as the Mediator shall

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determine.

x. Identification of Matters in Dispute. Prior to th e first scheduled mediation session, each party shall provide the Mediator with confidential information in the form requested by the Mediator setting forth its position with regard to the issues that need to be resolved.

A t or before the first session, t he parti es will be expected to produce all information reasonably required for the Mediator to understand the issues presented. The Mediator may require any party to supplement such information.

xi. Privacy. Mediation sessions are private. The parties and their re presentatives may attend mediation sessions. Other persons may attend only with the permission of the parties and with the consent of the Mediator.

xii. Confidentiality. Confidential information disclosed to a Mediator by the parties or by witnesses i n the co urse of the mediation shall not be divulged by the Mediator. All records, reports or other documents received by a mediator while serving in that capacity shall be confidential. The Mediator shall not be compelled to divulge such records or to
te stify in regard to the mediation in any adversary proceeding or judicial forum. Any party that violates this agreement shall pay all fees and expenses of the Mediator and other parties, including reasonable attorney's fees incurred in opposing the efforts to comp el testimony or records from the Mediator.

The parties shall maintain the confidentiality of the mediation and shall not relay on, or introduce as evidence in any arbitral, judicial, or other proceeding: a) views expressed or suggestions made by another party with respect to a possible settlement of the dispute; b) admissions made by another party in the course of the mediation proceedings; c) proposals made or views expressed by the Mediator; or d) the fact that another party had or had not indic ated wil lingness to accept a proposal for settlement made by the Mediator.

xiii. No Stenographic Record. There shall be no stenographic record made of the mediation
process.

xiv. No Service of Process at or near the Site of the Mediation Session. No subpoenas,

summ ons, com plaints, citations, writs or other process may be served upon any person at or near the site of any mediation session upon any person entering, attending or leaving the session.

xv. Termination of Mediation. The mediation shall be terminated: a) by th e execut ion of a settlement agreement by the parties; b) by declaration of the Mediator to the effect that further efforts at mediation are no longer worthwhile; or c) after the completion of one full mediation session, by a written declaration of a party or parti es to the effect that the mediation proceedings are terminated.

xvi. Exclusion of Liability. The Mediator is not a necessary or proper party in judicial proceedings relating to the mediation. Neither Mediator nor any law firm employing Mediator shall be liabl e to any party for any act or omission in connection with any mediation conducted under these rules.

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xvii. Interpretation and Application of Rules. The Mediator shall interpret and apply these rules.

xviii. Fees and Expenses. The Mediator's daily fee shall be agreed upon prior to mediation and shall be paid in advance of each mediation day. The expenses of witnesses for either side shall be paid by the party producing such witnesses. All other expenses of the mediation, including fees and expenses of the Med iator, a nd the expenses of any witness and the cost of any proofs or expert advice produced at the direct request of the Mediator, shall be borne equally by the parties unless they agree otherwise.

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### Fourteenth Court of Appeals

MEDIATORS REPORT

Date:

________ ____________________ Christopher A. Prine, Clerk 301 Fannin, Room 245 Houston, TX 77002

Re: Appellate number:
Case style:

In compliance with this court’s order dated ________________________________, I conducted a mediation

proceeding in this ca se on _____________________________.
The mediation [ did / did not ] result in a [ full / partial ] resolution of the matters in dispute. To my

knowledge, further negotiation efforts [ are / are not ] planned.

The parties and mediator hav e agreed that the mediator shall be paid as follows:

$_______________________ paid by ______________________ $_______________________ paid by ______________________ $_______________________ paid by ______________________ $_______________________ paid by __

________ ____________

Mediator:
Address:

Telephone

E

- Mail Address

Return immediately after mediation to: 14th Court of Appeals; 301 Fannin, Room 245, Houston, Texas 77002 (713) 274

- 2800