FAQs

WHAT IS MEDIATION AND WHY IS IT A PREFERRED WAY TO SETTLE DISPUTES?

Mediation is the most cost-effective, time-saving, efficient way to resolve many types of disputes – between business partners, merchants and customers, brokers and clients, real estate transactions, employment disputes, landlord and tenant, just to name a few.

Mediation is a process whereby a professionally trained neutral facilitates the negotiations between parties to help them settle a dispute they could not settle themselves. The meetings are voluntary and held in a confidential, private setting, either jointly with the mediator, or separately in private caucuses.

No one is bound by the negotiations unless an agreement is reached and signed by all the parties. Parties can bring their lawyers, attend by themselves, or bring a friend or family member. It is less stressful than litigation and can resolve the dispute, sometimes within one day or less, often with a better result that would otherwise be available in court.

HOW DO I SUBMIT A CASE?
  1. Select a Mediator from Our Mediator List, or ask us to select a Mediator for you.
  2. Submit Your Case (Done via the website).
  3. Pay $150 Administrative Fee per Party prior to being assigned a mediator.
  4. Get a Reduced Rate Mediation, if an agreement to mediate can be confirmed with the opposing party or counsel.

HOW REDUCED RATE MEDIATION WORKS: Each party to the mediation is required to pay an administrative fee of $150 directly to MCLA. The mediator’s fee is paid directly to the mediator at the rate of $300 per hour for a minimum of 3 hours, split equally among the parties. Any additional fees and costs that might become due for time after three hours are payable directly to the mediator. The mediator may charge a rate up to $499 per hour for all time after the first 3 hours. The fee is usually divided equally among the parties unless they agree otherwise.

WHAT IS THE LA SUPERIOR COURT VENDOR RESOURCE LIST FOR MEDIATION?

The Court has a program to provide professional quality low-cost mediations by independent providers who are experienced, trained, and certified lawyer-mediators. Information about the program is on the Court’s website at http://www.lacourt.org/division/civil/CI0109.aspx

WHY CHOOSE A MEDIATOR FROM THE MCLA’S PANEL?

All panel Vendor Resource mediators have been carefully selected and meet the highest standards for mediating civil cases. They have at least 10 years of good standing with the State Bar of California and have practiced various specialized areas of law over long careers.

All panel mediators have extensive training in mediation and experience mediating litigated cases. They have committed to act with the highest ethical standards of the mediation profession and to serve as neutrals with no conflict of interest in all cases. They satisfy required continuing education for mediators. 

DOES MCLA CHARGE A FEE?

MCLA charges an administrative fee of $150 per party, payable in advance of being assigned a mediator and directly to MCLA by credit card or check.  We will send each party a link by email to pay by credit card. 

HOW MUCH DO MEDIATORS ON MCLA’S RESOURCE LIST CHARGE FOR MEDIATION?

Mediators on MCLA’s panel have agreed to accept cases on the following terms:

$900 for the first 3 hours, divided equally among parties or in accordance with the agreement of the parties. There is no charge for customary preparation. Any time after the initial 3 hours will be charged at a reduced rate set by the mediator, not to exceed $499 per hour.

The mediator fee is payable directly to the mediator who will provide the parties with a mediation and confidentiality agreement and fee agreement, and any other necessary information.

WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP OF MEDIATORS TO MCLA?

Mediators are independent contractors; not agents or employees of MCLA or the Court. They are paid by litigants, not MCLA or the Court.

CAN I COMMENT ON HOW WELL THE MEDIATOR PERFORMED?

Yes. MCLA will provide each party with a Client Satisfaction Survey upon closure of the mediation. We invite and request that you complete it for quality assurance and to help us continue to improve.

ARE MEDIATIONS VOLUNTARY AND CONFIDENTIAL?

Yes, mediations are voluntary and confidential under California law. The mediator will provide litigants with a Confidentiality Agreement and Fee Agreement to be signed by all participants before the start of the mediation and may provide additional documents or instructions.

HOW IS A MEDIATOR SELECTED WHO CAN MEDIATE MY CASE?

You can find a court-eligible qualified mediator with the right credentials and areas of expertise, under the “Mediators” tab on our website. Litigants may ask us to appoint a qualified neutral based on the type of case you have.

Please indicate on the submission form that you are an LA Superior Court resource list litigant and request the discounted fee. Also, inform the mediator whether you are an attorney or an unrepresented litigant.

DOES THE COURT, OR DO THE TAXPAYERS OR MEDIATORS PAY FOR MCLA’S SERVICES?

No. MCLA receives no compensation from the Court or mediators and no taxpayer money. MCLA depends entirely on the small administrative fees paid by litigants of $150 per party and on private and public donations. Donations from the public are welcomed.

ARE FEES REDUCED OR WAIVED IF A LITIGANT CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY?

Discretionary fee reduction or waiver:

A reduction or waiver of MCLA’s administrative fee may be available to parties who can demonstrate a need for fee reduction and are under financial hardship. The mediator’s fee may also be reduced based on showing need and the agreement of the mediator. (Mediators are not required to reduce their fee, but may offer to do so in appropriate cases at their discretion.) You may submit your fee waiver request to info@mediationla.org and we will let you know if you qualify.

Court Fee Waiver: MCLA will waive its administrative fee for any party who has received a current fee waiver from the Court (Form FW-001). MCLA will seek to assign a mediator who will may also waive the mediator’s fee for the qualifying party. You should submit your request and a copy of your court fee waiver to info@mediationla.org.

Request for a Discretionary Fee Waiver: For a party who can demonstrate a material need, but does not have a fee waiver from the court, you may submit a fee waiver reduction request (Form MCLA-FW-001) to MCLA at info@mediationla.org and MCLA will decide whether (or not) that party qualifies for a waiver or reduction. If a fee waiver or reduction is approved by MCLA, MCLA will adjust its administrative fee appropriately. Additionally, MCLA will seek to assign a mediator who may waive or reduce a proportionate share of the mediator fee.

WHO DO I CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A DONATION?
WHY WAS THE MEDIATION CENTER OF LOS ANGELES SELECTED BY THE COURT TO PROVIDE MEDIATION SERVICES TO LITIGANTS AS ONE OF THE RESOURCE LIST VENDORS?

MCLA submitted a proposal to offer mediation services in response to the Court’s Request for Proposal (RFP) and after going through an extensive review process, MCLA was selected by the court as one of a few vendors for the new Civil Mediation Vendor Resource List.

WHY WAS THE MEDIATION CENTER OF LOS ANGELES FORMED?

For budgetary reasons and in response to termination of the LA Superior Court ADR program in 2013, MCLA was established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable corporation to educate the public about the benefits of resolving disputes through mediation, and provide professional quality, affordable mediation services to all litigants.

MCLA’s mission is to help people with legal disputes throughout the County of Los Angeles and beyond save the expense of litigation by early resolution of cases and to help reduce court congestion and the heavy cost of litigation on the Courts.

HOW DO I PAY?

MCLA administrative fee:

The initiating party will pay their administrative fee of $150 when they submit the case.  All other parties will be notified via email to pay their administrative fee using a link.

Mediator’s fee:

The mediator’s fee is paid directly to the mediator.  Once a mediator is assigned, they will reach out to all parties with instructions on how to pay.


REFUND POLICY

Refund policy for MCLA administrative fees only – The administrative fee is non-refundable. However, if no MCLA mediator is available to mediate the case within ninety (90) days of the date of submission through no fault of the parties, a full refund will be issued to all parties.

What is the “Referral Program”?

The Referral Program is limited to cases referred by a judge or the Los Angeles Superior Court. The court’s ADR office provides a Notice of Referral and Minute Order to all parties. The Referral Program has a designated website, www.Referral-MCLA.org. If you are unsure if your case is a Referral Program case, please email us at www.info@mediationla.org and we will be able to point you in the right direction.

What is MCLA’s Mailing Address

MCLA will accept check payments to the following address:

3579 E. Foothill Blvd. #744

Pasadena, CA 91107

Checks must include an invoice #, case name or number, and the paying party’s information.

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