As a consequence of the absence of uniform adoption of the Uniform Mediation Act, the confidentiality of mediation communications in various jurisdictions often cannot be assured. Thanks to Alan Waxman, President and CEO of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR), for bringing to our attention the most recent contributions to this confusion.
Things remain, as noted, un-uniform. In the Southern District a court has compelled mediator testimony to establish whether the mediator gave permission to a party and counsel to be excused from in-person attendance at a court-ordered mediation. Usherson v Bandshell Artist Management (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 9, 2019). On the other hand, the Fifth Circuit recently held that allegedly threatening statements made during mediation were inadmissible in an action to set aside a mediated settlement on the ground that the plaintiff had been coerced. Areizaga v. ADW Corp., 796 Fed. Appx. 205 (5th Cir. 2020).
