Editor’s note: This article describes a hypothetical situation.
Bob has had it with adversaries who act in bad faith in court-ordered mediation and get away with it. Last week, Bob and his client went to a court-ordered mediation session. Bob’s client, the plaintiff in a commercial dispute, sought seven-figure damages arising out of the defendant’s “shocking” and “ill-considered” breach of contract. (Bob’s words.) Bob had counseled his client, before the mediation, that “you have to compromise; that is what mediation is all about.” However, Bob assured his client, “There is no good reason why we shouldn’t be able to settle this case for at least $1 million.”
