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### Order filed June 3 , 2021

.

In The



## Fourteenth Court of Appeals

____________ 

### NO. 14

- 21

- 00074

- CV

____________ 

### ASTON SOLAR, LLC AND ASTON HOLDINGS, INC. , Appellant s

V.

SUNNOVA ENERGY CORPORATION , Appellee

On Appeal from the 125th District Court

Harri s County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 2020

- 52979

ABATEMENT ORDER

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

154.021

— .073

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

Id. § 154.023(a). Any communication relating to the subject matter of the appeal made by a participant in the mediation proce e ding 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 efforts are planned.

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

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

. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 154.022. If this court finds that the r e 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 be held within 60 days of the date of

this order. The court ORDERS that all p arties 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 completion of the mediation, the parties shall advise the court in writing w h ether 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 motion for additional time to file the dispositive motion, within 10 days of th e 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 case, 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

- day period.

Any party may also file a motion to dismiss the appeal or othe r 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 Justices Bourliot, Poissant, and Wilson ( J. Wilson would not refer case to mediation)

.

### 3 RULES FOR MEDIATION

i. Definitio n of Mediation. Mediation is a process under which an impartial person, the mediator, facilitates communication between the parties to promote reconciliation, settlement or understanding among them. The media tor 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 shall be deemed to have made these rules, as amended and in effect as of the date of the submission of th e dis pute, 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 resolu tion and shall use his best efforts to assist the p arties 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 intere st in the result of the mediation. Prior to a ccept ing an appointment, the Mediator shall disclose any circumstances likely to create a presumption of bias or prevent a prompt meeting with the parties. In the event that the parties disagree as to whether the Mediator shall serve, the Mediator shall n ot se rve.

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 voluntary resolution of the dispute by the parties. The Me diator is authorized to conduct joint and sepa rate meetings with the parties and to offer suggestions to assist the parties achieve settlement. If necessary, the Mediator may also obtain expert advice concerning technical aspects of the dispute, provided that the parties agree and assume the expenses of o btaining such advice. Arrangements for obtaining such advice shall be made by the Mediator or the parties, as the Mediator shall determine.

vi. Commitment to Participate in Good Faith. While no one is asked to commit to settle their case in advance of m ediat ion, all parties commit to participate in the proceedings in good faith with the intention to settle, if at all possible.

vii. Parties Responsible for Negotiating Their Own Settlement. The parties understand
t hat the Mediator will not and cannot impose a settl ement in their case and agree that they are responsible for negotiating a settlement acceptable to them. The Mediator, as an advocate for settlement, will use every effort to facilitate the negotiations o f the parties. The Mediator does not warrant or re present that settlement will result from the mediation
process.

viii. Authority of Representatives. PARTY REPRESENTATIVES MUST HAVE AUTHORITY TO SETTLE AND ALL PERSONS NECESSARY TO THE DECISION TO SETTLE SHALL BE PRESENT. The names and addresses of such
p erson s 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 the time of each mediation session. The mediation shall b e held at the office of the Mediator, or at an y oth er 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 the first scheduled mediation session, each party shall pr ovide the Mediator with confidential informati on 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, the parties will be expected to produce all information

r easonably required for the Mediator to underst and t he issues presented. The Mediator may require any party to supplement such information.

xi. Privacy. Mediation sessions are private. The parties and their representatives may attend mediation sessions. Ot her persons may attend only with the permissio n of the parties and with the consent of the Mediator.

xii. Confidentiality. Confidential information disclosed to a Mediator by the parties or by witnesses in the course of the mediation shall not be divulged by t he Mediator. All records, reports or other do cumen ts received by a mediator while serving in that capacity shall be confidential. The Mediator shall not be compelled to divulge such records or to testify in regard to the mediation in any adversary procee ding or judicial forum. Any party that violat es th is agreement shall pay all fees and expenses of the Mediator and other parties, including reasonable attorney's fees incurred in opposing the efforts to compel 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 t he dispute; b) admissions made by another part y 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 indicated willingness to accept a proposal for settlement mad e by the Mediator.

xiii. No Stenographic Record. Th ere s hall 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, summons, complaints, citations, writs or other process may b e served upon any person at or near the site o f any mediation session upon any person entering, attending or leaving the session.

xv. Termination of Mediation. The mediation shall be terminated: a) by the execution 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 parties to the effect that the mediation proceedings are terminated.

xvi. Exclusion of Liability. The M ediat or is not a necessary or proper party in judicial proceedings relating to the mediation. Neither Mediator nor any law firm employing Mediator shall be liable to any party for any act or omission in connec tion 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 adv ance of each mediation day. The expenses of w itnes ses for either side shall be paid by the party producing such witnesses. All other expenses of the mediation, including fees and expenses of the Mediator, and the expenses of any witness and the cost of a ny proofs or expert advice produced at the dir ect r equest 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, Cler k 301 Fannin, Room 245 Houston, TX 77002

Re : App ellate number:
Case style:

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

proceeding in this case on _____________________________.

The mediati on [ did / did not ] result in a [ full / pa rtial ] resolution of the matters in dispute. To my

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

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

$__

_____________________ paid by ________________

______ $_______________________ paid by ______________________ $_______________________ paid by ______________________ $_______________________ paid by ______________________

Mediator:
Address:

Telephone

E

- Mail Address

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

- 2800