Ed Ahrens, Jr., Esq. writes monthly thought provoking Editorials on mediation. These views are Ed's and do not necessarily reflect those of Florida Mediation Group. Okay, we mediators are not comedians, and we don t claim to be. But a joke is a joke, folks, and, if it gets a laugh, funny things can happen on the way to the forum. We know there is concern for the clock and its impact on the cost of a mediation proceeding.
Mediators are sensitive to that.
We gain nothing in the long run by extending a proceeding longer than necessary. Honestly, we do try to be as efficient as we can be. We realize time is money for attorneys and adjusters. That said, however, the mediator s goal is to help parties settle their differences, and they have certain techniques they use when negotiations seem to be breaking down. One technique is levity.