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Welcome

Note
Please check for court files in the tray in the mediator waiting room if you are waiting for a case.

Juvenile Restitution

• October 31, 2000
• November 21, 2000

Proposal to Amend Small Claims Rules

Trial Procedures - Refresher

1. We are no longer setting trials.  The Judicial Assistants in room 370 give the parties the date.
   
2. When you have a case to go to trial, complete the trial agreement except for the section giving the trial date and time.  Complete the attorney information (only if the attorney is there) and witnesses. Be very careful on "issues in dispute."  Let the parties decide what the issues are.  Be very general - like "back rent and damages." Don’t go into any details or explanations. If you are unsure, let us do it.  The parties should print their names and phone numbers at the bottom.  Do not let them sign it.
   
3. Leave the people in the room, and find Linda, Kathy or Dave, whomever you see first.  We will go to your room or tell you to bring them up if we need you to take another case right away.  We have to review the trial agreement form and check for various problems. If appropriate, we will send the parties to room 370.

Dates To Remember

• October 31, 2000 - 11:45am meeting for juvenile restitution mediators in mediation room 5.

• November 1-7, 2000 - Mediation week in Florida
  
• November 2, 2000 - "Who wants to be super mediator contest" brush up on your court and mediation knowledge to compete. Meeting on the 23^rd floor of the courthouse 8:30-11:15am.
  
• November 3, 2000 - Mediation Association. An organizational association meeting was held on October 2, 2000 for the new mediator group. President will be Ealnor Hamilton, Vice President Rosalee Serros and Secretary/Treasurer will be Jane Winegard until May 31, 2001 when new elections will be held. The association will be a platform for mediator concerns, sponsor advance training and professional growth and increase communication between mediators, staff and judges. No dues. It will begin with orange county volunteer civil mediators. Osceola and Seminole may be asked to join later. They need suggestions for a name for the group.

  The first accomplishments of the association were:

  1. A bulletin board was placed on the wall in the mediator waiting room. Only county mediation relevant information will be posted there. All mediators should check the board when he/she arrives for procedure changes or other news.
     
  2. It was verified that each mediator has his/her own bin.
     
  3. For the future when critiquing law students and other mediators.
     
     1. After april, 2001 circuit and family mediators will no longer be co-mediating with county mediators. They will have different requirements and will not involve us.
        

     2. It is to our benefit to continue to assist law students to become mediators and believe in mediation. Becoming certified is not part of their class, so if they are here to become certified, they are expressing an interest in volunteering at our office.

     3. We are circulating a sign up sheet for those who want to participate in the observations and co-mediations. Remember that each of you is required to allow two per year to remain certified. You can also count up to two hours of critiquing as CME credits.

  4. The next general meeting for the association will be held on November 3^rd at noon in room 5

• January 22, 2001 - Harbour House will be conducting an advanced domestic violence training. For those of you who have had the basic training, you are invited to join us for the morning. Even in County Civil Court we see domestic violence, and we recommend that each of you be aware of how to deal with it.