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Mediation Video Contest
The American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution invites you to participate in our first ever Mediation Video Contest on YouTube?. We seek creative, thoughtful, original three-minute videos that demonstrate the mediation process and benefits of mediation. The goal of the competition is to further public understanding of mediation and to promote the use of mediation as a way to resolve disputes. The video need not address only legal disputes.
Eligibility
The Contest is open to everyone. Employees of the American Bar Association and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate.
Prizes
First Place - $1000 prize
Second Place - $500 prize
The winners will be contacted via e-mail by February 28, 2010. The winners will also be announced on February 28, 2010 on the ABA Dispute Resolution website at http://www.abanet.org/dispute. The First and Second Place winning videos will be featured at the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Spring Conference in April 2010, with over 1,000 attendees. The videos of the winners as well as any Honorable Mentions will be linked from the Section website. The Section may also post links to the video submissions that help promote and further the public understanding of mediation.
Judging Criteria
Submissions will be judged by a committee of ABA Section of Dispute Resolution members and ABA staff. The ABA shall have sole authority and discretion to select winning videos. The judges will evaluate entries using the following criteria:
* Effectiveness in achieving purpose and goal of the video
* Overall quality of presentation
* Overall appeal to diverse audience
* Overall production quality (including lighting, focus, sound, graphics)
* Originality, Creativity and Adherence to Contest Rules
For more information and to read the contest rules, click here.
Foreclosure Mediation In Ohio
February 2009
By Jacqueline Hagerott
In 2007, foreclosure filings exceeded criminal filings in Ohio Common Pleas Courts with little hope that there would soon be a decline in the number of families facing the loss of their largest investment. As the trend emerged, Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer proposed that courts manage the increased number of filings through a mediation program specifically designed to address foreclosure.
Moyer told reporters "Mediation will assist courts in managing the explosion of foreclosure cases on their dockets for a more efficient administration of justice while assisting Ohio's most vulnerable homeowners facing the prospect of losing their homes. I am calling on all judges in Ohio who have jurisdiction over foreclosure cases to utilize the model in their courtroom by modifying it to meet the needs and resources of their communities."
Less than a year after announcing the availability of a mediation model program for Ohio courts to use in home foreclosure cases, mediation is available for foreclosure cases in all of 88 counties. Each county is accomplishing this in different ways by using full-time staff, independent contractors and/or volunteers to act as mediators. Borrowers are encouraged to contact their local court by accessing contact information for each county on the Dispute Resolution Section's Web site to find out how to request mediation for their foreclosure case as soon as they receive notice of the case.
Developed by the Supreme Court's Dispute Resolution Section, the first-of-its-kind model in the nation provides local courts with step-by-step directions to launch foreclosure mediation programs. This Model is designed for courts to modify documents and forms based on local needs, resources and community, while balancing the needs of all stakeholders. It follows the rules of civil procedure, consistent with all other civil cases, while giving borrowers the same access to mediation that has been available in the state for other case types for more than a decade.
Ohio has learned that mutually beneficial agreements that are both commercially reasonable and sustainable over time are difficult to achieve. However, mediation has proven successful in resolving cases by creating a transition for borrowers to find alternate housing and avail themselves of other resources to manage a difficult situation. It is important to note that some foreclosure cases need to be resolved through litigation.
One of the most successful factors being used in many cases are HUD certified housing counselors who assist the borrowers in completing, compiling, and providing the lender/servicer with financial and other necessary information before the mediation that is necessary to reach an agreement. The result is an efficient and effective use of state allocated resources because all parties are fully prepared for the mediation session, thereby minimizing the requirement for an additional session due to a lack of information.
Some local courts are also conducting pre-mediation conference calls to ensure that all necessary information has been exchanged prior to the mediation and to confirm attendance on the scheduled date. Additionally, courts have found success in allowing the lender/servicer to designate an individual with authority to settle the case such as an attorney to participate in the mediation session. They have also found success by having a representative present in the mediation with the lender/servicer that has the authority to settle the case available by phone for the duration of the mediation session. In some cases they actually participate in the mediation via conference call and in others the representative calls them when necessary. This method is beneficial because it minimizes the cost of fees incurred by the lender/servicer through travel expenses that may be charged to the homeowner, especially when the lender/servicer is located in another state or country. It is also beneficial because the lender/servicer has access to all of the necessary information whether in the office or computer system that they may need to finalize a settlement. The determination is made on a case-by-case basis since phone participation by a lender/servicer is not appropriate in all cases.
Training is also a critical contributor to the success of the mediation in Ohio, with a minimum of 18 hours of training recommended for foreclosure cases and provided at no cost to attendees by the Supreme Court. The Dispute Resolution Section maintains a directory of foreclosure mediators, organized by county, who have completed these requirements. Ongoing advanced trainings and roundtables to share best practices and network are sponsored by the Dispute Resolution Section on an ongoing basis.
Ohio has served as a national leader in this effort and helped numerous states start similar foreclosure mediation programs. Starting in January 2009 Ohio organized a multi-state group of ADR professionals by creating online forums for the group to meet monthly in which other states can work together as they build programs. Members of the group are able to connect with judges and professionals in other states which include court and non-court organizations.
The Foreclosure Mediation Program Model was the first of its kind in the nation. In addition, more than 20 state agencies, legal aid societies and housing organizations in Ohio have combined efforts since March in a coordinated, unified foreclosure prevention effort called Save the Dream.
Please visit this link for more information on the Ohio Court's foreclosure mediation initiative: www.supremecourtofohio/dispute_resolution/foreclosure or Foreclosure Mediation in Ohio: What You Need to Know at: http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/dispute_resolution/foreclosure/FAQ.asp. For further information on foreclosure mediation initiatives in other states please visit http://www.abanet.org/dispute/mediation/resources.html.
Jacqueline Hagerott is the Manager of The Supreme Court of Ohio's Dispute Resolution Section.
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