The Retreat is for all Section members, so I hope to see a lot of you there! (As a matter of fact, attending the Retreat in 2018 was how I got involved in the Section—and how I came to make so many friends in the ADR community—so this event holds a special place in my heart!)

In October, we’ll also be hosting a series of Mediation Mixers throughout the state during ABA Mediation Week (October 16–21). I hope you all are able to find a mixer near you that you can attend. It’s a great way to meet other section members in an informal setting and get to know other people who practice ADR!

And, of course, we have lots of CLEs throughout the rest of September and October that you can attend, too. I hope that our variety of events this fall help you to learn more about ADR and meet some wonderful colleagues! I know I’m excited to meet new section members and spend some quality time with you all. 

Best Wishes,

Christy L. Foley, 2023–2024 Chair

ADR Section of The Florida Bar

cfoley@theclflaw.com

MEAC 2023-002: During a Zoom mediation, a party records (audio and video) joint session without getting permission from the other side. The mediator is told about this recording during caucus. The mediator asked what his ethical duties were in this situation, since Florida is a 2-party consent state for recordings. MEAC said that the mediator was permitted, but not required, to disclose the fact that a crime had been committed to either the other party in the mediation and/or law enforcement. However, because a crime was committed during the course of the mediation, the mediator was required to terminate the mediation. 

Please note: Due to disruptions caused by Hurricane Idalia, the ADR Section's CLE Committee opted to postpone two seminars. The new dates are listed below. Also, the October Arbitrator's Forum has been postponed to November 14.

• September 21: Mediation: Holding the Calm, the Secret to Resolving Conflict and Defusing Tension by Hesha Abrams and Patrick Russell. 10–10:50 AM live Zoom webinar. 1 CLE.
• September 22-23: ADR Section Retreat, Margaritaville Resort Orlando—open to all ADR Section members.
• October 6: Mediator's Forum—free and open to all. 8–9 AM on Zoom.
• October 6: Business of Mediation: Making It Work by Chris Shulman. 12–12:50 PM live Zoom webinar. 1 CLE/CME, 1 Technology credit pending approval. Registration opens soon.
• October 12: Employment Dispute Resolution: The Case for Mediation by Lori Adelson. 12–1 PM live Zoom webinar. 1 CLE/CME, 1 Labor & Employment.
• October 17 [NEW DATE]: Trust Me, I'm a Mediator: Building Trust and Positioning Parties for Settling Disputes by Gena Abel-Barnes and Megan Moschell. 12–1 PM live Zoom webinar 1 CLE/CME, .5 Mental Health & Wellness, and 1 Marital & Family Law credit pending approval. Registration opens soon.
• November 9 [NEW DATE]: Mediate Like Your Livelihood Depends Upon It – Because It Does! 12–1:15 PM live Zoom webinar. 1.5 CLE, .5 of which may be applied toward Ethics; 1.5 Civil Trial
• November 14: Arbitrator's Forum—free and open to all. 8–9 AM on Zoom.
• September 19–23, 2024: ADR Section History & Civil Rights Trip

Presentations at the Annual Dispute Resolution Conference

The virtual 2023 Florida Dispute Resolution Conference was August 4, and we are very proud that the ADR Section was well-represented among the presenters. Here's a shout-out to the Section members who were involved: Harold Oehler, Ana Cristina Maldonado, Shari Elessar, Meah Tell, Lester Langer, Aaron Weiss, Christina Magee, John Salmon, Gary Rosner, and Kiki Grossman. And, ADR Section Chair Christy Foley presented the Ethics Plenary, an update on recent MEAC opinions. Learn more here.

Section Members Present on Artificial Intelligence

On September 7, ADR Section Executive Council members emeriti Michelle Jernigan and Lawrence Kolin, along with current and former section chairs Christy Foley and Christina Magee, gave a technology CLE on the pros and cons of AI in the legal field and ethical issues associated with the use of AI in mediation. A replay is available here.

Their panel is "What is Going On In the Other Room? What You Need to Know and Plan for in a First-Party Mediation Case." It's scheduled for Wednesday January 31 from 2–3:45 PM. Get details and register here.

• Full Registration ($250): Includes Friday evening dinner reception (casual attire), Saturday morning breakfast, Saturday morning CLE (business casual attire), and—for Executive Council members only—a Saturday boxed lunch.
• Guest for Friday Reception and Dinner ($100): Includes Friday evening dinner reception only.
• Escapology ($30 pp; tickets must be reserved through the ADR Section's annual retreat registration): Choose a Batman or 7 Deadly Sins theme at Orlando’s premier escape room adventure.
• 9/23 CLE (9 AM–12 PM; included with full registration): "Advanced Tips & Tricks for Handling Employment Law, Construction Law, and Family Law Mediations" by Karen Evans-Putney, Ido Alexander, and Damary Stokes. Live (in-person only) at the Margaritaville Resort Orlando. Course number and CLE credit pending approval. This course will be helpful for mediators who want to learn creative techniques for effectively handling different types of cases—employment law, construction law, and family law.

We offer a welcoming environment where our state’s community of mediators can explore the nuances of our shared interests in ADR topics, share ideas along a broad spectrum of mediators, ask questions, and learn about our craft.

Topics will be announced in advance. At the end of each forum, we’ll ask mediators who attended to let us know their ideas for future topics.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6234095288

Meeting ID: 623 409 5288

One tap mobile: +13052241968,,6234095288#

Online CLE: The Florida Bar's InReach catalog contains the ADR Section's full line of CLE programming. See what's coming up or download online seminars and downloadable audio 24/7. Click here to go directly to the sort for ADR-themed courses.