Source: https://www.jackgoetz.com/mediation/mediation-confidentiality/
Timestamp: 2018-12-15 08:03:07
Document Index: 356299179

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1116', '§ 1117', '§ 1118', '§ 1119', '§ 1120', '§ 1121', '§ 1122', '§ 1123', '§ 1124', '§ 1125', '§ 1126', '§ 1127', '§ 1128']

Dr. Jack R. Goetz, Esq. - Mediation Confidentiality
California law provides protection for the confidentiality of the mediation session and limited admissibility of anything developed for or during the mediation. The relevant Evidence Code sections are reproduced below and will become part of the Mediation Agreement we will use for our time together.
Furthermore, in litigated cases, counsel for both sides often have an "unspoken" concern about mediation. One such concern is the belief that opposing counsel will attempt to use the mediation for "discovery" purposes, particularly when the mediation is held before discovery is completed. Proper use of a caucus in which parties meet with the mediator outside of the presence of the opposing party and counsel can eliminate those concerns. Anything said to the mediator in caucus remains confidential unless you otherwise authorize the mediator to disclose.
Confidentiality Code Sections 1115-1128 of the California Evidence Code.
(a) "Mediation" means a process in which a neutral person or persons facilitate communication between the
disputants to assist them in reaching a mutually acceptable agreement.
§ 1116. Limitations on Chapter.
(a) Nothing in this chapter expands or limits a court's authority to order participation in a dispute resolution
proceeding. Nothing in this chapter authorizes or affects the enforceability of a contract clause in which parties agree to the use of mediation.
§ 1117. Applicability.
§ 1118. Requirements for Oral Agreement.
§ 1119. Admissibility, Confidentiality of Information Disclosed.
§ 1120. Limitations on Admissibility Restrictions.
§ 1121. Restrictions on Use of Mediator's Reports, Assessments, Evaluations, Recommendations, Findings.
Neither a mediator nor anyone else may submit to a court or other adjudicative body, and a court or other
adjudicative body may not consider, any report, assessment, evaluation, recommendation, or finding of any kind by the mediator concerning a mediation conducted by the mediator, other than a report that is mandated by court rule or other law and that states only whether an agreement was reached, unless all parties to the mediation expressly agree otherwise in writing, or orally in accordance with Section 1118.
§ 1122. Admissibility of Communications or Writings.
(2) The communication, document, or writing was prepared by or on behalf of fewer than all the mediation
participants, those participants expressly agree in writing, or orally in accordance with Section 1118, to its
disclosure, and the communication, document, or writing does not disclose anything said or done or any admission made in the course of the mediation.
§ 1123. Admissibility of Written Settlement Agreement.
(c) All parties to the agreement expressly agree in writing, or orally in accordance with Section 1118, to its
§ 1124. Admissibility Of Oral Agreement.
(b) The agreement is in accordance with subdivisions (a), (b), and (d) of Section 1118, and all parties to the
agreement expressly agree, in writing or orally in accordance with Section 1118, to disclosure of the agreement.
§ 1125. When Mediation "Ends".
§ 1126. Inadmissibility Status Continues After End of Mediation.
§ 1127. Awards of Fees and Costs to Mediator if Court Determines Sought Material Inadmissible.
§ 1128. Effect of Reference to Past Mediation in Future Proceedings.