In today's isolated, virus-ridden topsy turvy world with civil trials virtually at a halt, mediation via Zoom videoconferencing enables lawyers to function and resolve cases through the mediation process.

Decades ago, though, mediation of civil trials basically did not exist. Plaintiffs lawyers either settled cases with a carrier's adjuster or with the trial judge if, and only if, that judge was inclined toward and interested in settling the case just before the trial commenced.