Mediate to Comply with this Regulation

Ready to file that DOR?  Not so fast. If you can’t show you tried to settle, you may be wasting everyone’s time.
Mediation Shows Readiness
8 CCR §10414(d) requires that “All declarations of readiness to proceed shall state under penalty of perjury that the moving party has made a genuine, good faith effort to resolve the dispute before filing the declaration of readiness to proceed, and shall state with specificity the same on the declaration of readiness to proceed…. [emphasis added]”The way to show a genuine, good faith effort at resolution is to mediate the disputed issues.   Here’s how you meet the regulation’s requirement to state with specificity:”The parties attempted to resolve the described dispute through mediation with mediator Teddy Snyder on [date].”

How often will you need this language? Almost never. The reason is that once parties mediate their dispute, more often than not they resolve it.

Convening
Convening, the process of getting everyone to agree to a time and place to mediate, can be the trickiest part. Some practitioners remain unfamiliar with mediation. They may confuse it with arbitration. We are all afraid to try new things, sometimes even when clients tell us to. You need to communicate your readiness to resolve the issues in a setting where those issues can be fully explored and the parties are in control of the outcome. Mediating is the win-win choice.

Convening is best done by the attorneys, though the mediator can assist. If you are still trying to get the other attorney’s attention, you may indeed have to file that DOR. Once you get a response, even if it takes going to the Board, immediately suggest mediation as a way to cut to the chase, resolve the issues and avoid future unnecessary Board appearances.

New Year, New You? It’s Your Decision

“New year, new you.” How many times have we heard that one?

Yet, the same problems that vexed us in December are still there in January. You may be planning to lose weight, save money, or spend more time with family. But what are you doing about a new approach to resolve your ugliest workers compensation claims?

Start by identifying claims that are ripe for closure. Look at the injured worker’s birth date; if the injured worker has reached age 61 and isn’t already on SSDI, it’s time to get serious. Is the claim more than five years old? Are you spending time and money with frequent WCAB trips?

Workers Compensation professionals often have a to-do list which actually impedes claim closure. The content of that additional report may be completely predictable. You could settle without it. Meanwhile frustration, disputes, and expense increase.

Call me to talk about whether the time is right for mediation. There’s never a charge for that discussion.