PUBLICATIONS

Don’t Read This Paper [If You’re Content with the Status Quo] – Re-Thinking Personal Injury and Insurance Mediation Processes

This paper offers a new approach for counsel and their clients who are not afraid to break from tradition. It emphasizes the need to respect the intelligence of those of opposing interest and employs a path-breaking model of identifying a zone of agreement for settlement without formally presenting offers.

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Mediation Guide: The Insurance Claims Professional Perspective

Tips and insights for insurance claims professionals to make the most out of any mediation with a fresh perspective on what appears to be a recurring and frustrating issue among insurance professionals involved in mediations.

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Views From the COVID Bomb Shelter – A Statistical Analysis

Cooper Mediation performed a statistical analysis to examine settlement rates for approximately one year of mediations leading into the pandemic and one year under the pandemic. What happened to settlement rates under Zoom? Did mediations take longer under Zoom or does it just feel that way? What are the lessons or takeaways?

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Mediation Cancellations – A New Perspective On an Old Problem

Many of my mediation colleagues have noticed an increase in the frequency of cancellation of mediations. Mediation cancellations invariably lead to cancellation accounts which mediators do not like to render and clients do not like to receive. The answers or explanations as to why these mediation sessions are being cancelled before take off are likely many, complicated and complex.

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Redefining and Revisiting Success at Mediation

A productive mediation is the result of efforts made early and often by all concerned. Plaintiff counsel, defence counsel, insurance claims professionals, and other key players at mediation are involved in a symbiotic relationship each having an important role to play. Communications before and at mediation will help to minimize the costs and efforts expended in advance of and at mediation while still giving the decision-makers the greatest opportunity to make an informed and sensible decision.

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Stop Compromising At Mediation

Consider substituting the phrase “thoughtful negotiations” for “compromise” as an attainable goal and a worthy objective at mediation. Thoughtful negotiations should lead the participants to a mediation to consider their words and actions, both before and at mediation, from a variety of perspectives and having regard for the impact and effect those words and actions will have on those involved at mediation.

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Personal Injury Mediation 101: A Plaintiff’s Guide

Plaintiff’s in personal injury matters are often first time claimants and new to mediation. This paper is intended for Plaintiff lawyers to give to their clients in order to address some of the questions they may have about mediation.

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Friction at Mediation

This paper explores how mediation has the ability to convert the heated temperature of the dispute into an enduring settlement agreement.

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Personal Injury Mediation: Understanding Potential Stumbling Blocks – A New Lawyer’s Guide

This paper explains how personal injury insurance mediations are position-based, some of the common stumbling blocks in negotiations and why mediated settlements are still often seen as preferable to going to court.

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Personal Injury Mediation: Strategies for Breaking Through Negotiation Barriers – A New Lawyer’s Guide

This paper explores how to set yourself up for success during mediation and tips on breaking through negotiation barriers.

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How To Get The Most Out Of Your Roster Mediator

This article provides 13 tips to get the most out of your roster mediator.

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Top Mistakes at Mediation

This paper reviews the top mistakes when setting up for success at mediation.

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Top Mistakes and How to Avoid Them (Plaintiff)

This paper delves into some mistakes when setting up for success at mediation and ways to avoid them, from the plaintiff perspective.

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Top Mistakes and How to Avoid Them (Defence)

This paper delves into some mistakes when setting up for success at mediation and ways to avoid them, from the defence perspective.

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Top 10 Do’s and Don’ts for Effective Mediation

This paper reviews some do’s and don’ts to get the most of mediation.

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Not All Mediation Memoranda and Opening Remarks are Created Equally [nor should they be]

This paper examines the objectives of mediation memoranda and opening remarks. It also makes suggestions regarding the content of written and oral presentations and the tone in which they are delivered.

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Failed Mediations – Making Lemonade Out of Lemons

This paper reviews some benefits gained from any attempt at mediation, including a “failed mediation.”

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The Problem – Ineffective, Unproductive, Counterproductive or Cancelled Mediations

This paper reviews reasons mediations may be cancelled or may lead to less than favourable results.

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Why do People Not Negotiate in Advance of Mediation

This paper discusses reasons why settlement discussions in advance of mediation occur all too infrequently.

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Best Practices for Preparing for and Conducting a Mediation On Behalf of a Defendant or Insurer

This paper provides 10 tips to prepare for and conducting a mediation on behalf of a defendant or insurer.

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Best Practices for Preparing a Mediation Memorandum On Behalf of a Defendant or Insurer

This paper reviews the tried and true method to preparing and writing a great mediation memorandum on behalf of a defendant or insurer.

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Best Practices for Preparing for and Conducting a Mediation On Behalf of a Plaintiff

This paper provides 10 tips to prepare for and conducting a mediation on behalf of a plaintiff.

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Best Practices for Preparing a Mediation Memorandum On Behalf of a Plaintiff

This paper reviews the tried and true method to preparing and writing a great mediation memorandum on behalf of a plaintiff.

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Tips before and at Mediation  – An Insurance Company Primer

This paper provides tips, thoughts and strategies for before and at a mediation.

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Mediation Musings [a statistical analysis of mediation of personal injury disputes]

This paper describes the power and persuasion of numbers as a form of communication in a mediation.

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