Mediation is a process where a neutral person meets with the parties and encourages and facilitates an agreement between the parties. It is an informal process with the objective of helping the parties reach a voluntary agreement. The parties have complete decision making authority. The mediator may assist the parties to identify issues, foster joint problem-solving and explore settlement alternatives. Small Claims Mediators are citizens who volunteer their time and talent and have been trained by the Florida Supreme Court's Dispute Resolution Center to be certified to mediate in county courts in Florida.
Mediators are professionals and most have years of experience in mediating disputes.
Mediators do not provide legal or personal advice Each party must have authority and complete discretion to negotiate a complete settlement of the case without asking any other person The mediator wil explain the purpose for mediation and the procedures and rules of conduct during the mediation conference The mediator will usually meet privately with each party. Small Claims pretrial hearings take place on Friday mornings. Cases filed by attorneys are heard at 9 a.m. and all of the other cases are heard at 10 a.m. Up to 70 cases can be scheduled for the same time and the hearings take place in a courtroom Plan to be 15 minutes early and allow time to find a parking space and find the courtroom. If you are not in the courtroom when your case is called, the case may be dismissed if you filed the claim, or a judgment may be entered against you if you are the party who was sued. The judge calls up each case in order and asks the defendant whether the claim is admitted or denied.