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Tax Mediation Information Package Form. This is a District Of Columbia form and can be use in Superior Court Statewide.
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Tags: Tax Mediation Information Package, District Of Columbia Statewide, Superior Court
Superior Court of the District of Columbia
Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division
500 Indiana Avenue, NW, JM Level, Moultrie Annex
Washington, D.C. 20001
Phone (202) 879-1478
Fax (202)879-4619
Tax Mediation Information Package
The attached Confidential Settlement Statement (CSS)
and Settlement Offer Form must be completed and
forwarded to the Multi-Door Dispute Resolution
Division.
You must also forward a copy of the
Settlement Offer Form to the Office of the Corporation
Counsel 60 days prior to your scheduled mediation
conference. NO EXCEPTIONS!
A party who fails to file the CSS Statement and
Settlement Offer on time may be ordered to appear
and show cause why sanctions should not be
imposed. (Please remember that the CSS should be forwarded only to the MultiDoor
Division.)
Unless otherwise specified, all tax mediations are
held in Building A, 515 - 5th Street, N.W., Room 112,
Washington, D.C. The Program Officer will notify you Of
the date and time of your mediation. Should you have
any questions, please feel free to contact the Program
Officer at the above-referenced telephone number.
Revised 6198
2001 © American LegalNet, Inc.
Tax Mediation Procedures
and
Confidential Settlement Statement
Extensive experience throughout the country has shown that a high percentage of Civil cases
referred to mediation is amicably settled without the need for an expensive and timeconsuming trial. The likelihood of settlement is enhanced when all parties meet face-to-face
for discussions in the presence of a neutral party. The Court has therefore instituted these
procedures to be followed whenever the Court orders a case to mediation. Parties and counsel
are cautioned that sanctions mav be imposed on those who do not comply
I. SCHEDULING AND ATTENDANCE
1. All parties and their attorneys must appear at the mediation conference set by
the Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division in accordance with the Order entered
in the case. A notice scheduling this case before a particular mediator will be sent
to counsel and/or parties approximately 30 days before the scheduled conference
date. Counsel/parties may contact the Tax Program Officer at (202) 879-1478 with
questions regarding the mediation and/or the Confidential Settlement Statement.
2. Any party or attorney who believes that he or she has been incorrectly notified to
appear for mediation must contact the Civil Clerk’s Office and provide the
appropriate documentation. Where no such action is taken, the party or counsel
will be required to fully participate in the mediation or case evaluation.
3. Corporations, partnerships and other business or governmental entities must
bring an officer, partner or other individual with settlement authority to the
mediation or case evaluation conference, unless previously excused by the Judge,
mediator or neutral evaluator. If counsel appears without such an individual,
counsel must have full settlement authority.
4. If settlement must be approved by a person not present at the conference,
counsel is personally responsible for having that person available by telephone
during the session.
5. A party residing outside the local metropolitan area, who has been excused from
attending by the Judge or Mediator, can be available by long distance collect
telephone call. Counsel must advise the Multi-Door Division prior to the
mediation conference of any such arrangement and provide the name of the
individual party who will be available by telephone.
Revised l/99
2001 © American LegalNet, Inc.
Mediation Procedures and
Confidential Settlement Statement Form
Page Two
II. Conference Procedures
1. Prior to the conference, each party must complete the attached Confidential
Settlement Statement (CSS) and file it with the Multi-Door Dispute Resolution
Division, JM Annex, 500 Indiana Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001. This
form must be filed by the “CSS Return” date indicated on the scheduling notice.
DO NOT SEND COPIES OF THE CONFIDENTIAL STATEMENT
TO THE CLERK, THE ASSIGNED JUDGE, OR TO THE OTHER
PARTIES.
A party who fails to file the Statement on time may be ordered to appear and show
cause why sanctions should not be imposed. Counsel may file one settlement
statement for all parties he or she represents, provided that all those parties are
clearly and expressly indicated on the statement.
2. If the case settles prior to the conference, the original and one copy of the
praecipe or document disposing of the case should be filed with the clerk’s office. A
copy must also be sent to the Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division in lieu of a
Confidential Settlement Statement. Counsel must be certain to inform the MultiDoor Division of settlements occurring prior to the mediation conference.
3. The mediation sessions is confidential. The participants will be asked to sign the
attached “Statement of Understanding” at the beginning of the session confirming
their understanding of the session’s confidential nature. All proceedings at the
mediation, including any statement made by any party, attorney or other
participant, are privileged. They may not be construed as an admission against
interest and nothing said at such sessions may be used in court in connection with
the case or any other litigation. No party is bound by anything said or done at the
mediation conference unless a settlement is reached and a settlement praecipe is
filed with the Court.
4. The mediator will meet initially with all the parties and counsel. He or she may
then meet with each side privately as necessary to clarify important issues and to
allow parties to reveal in confidence the factors viewed as critical to settlement.
Through a series of meetings with the parties, individually and together, the
mediator will try to facilitate an agreement that will satisfy the interests of all
concerned.
Revised l/99
2001 © American LegalNet, Inc.