Models for Use of Mediation in e-Discovery

1 See Roselle L. Wissler, Court-Connected Settlement Procedures: Mediation And Judicial Settlement Conferences, 26 Ohio St. J. on Dispute Resol. 271, 274 (2011) (lawyers tend to view mediation with court staff mediators “more favorably than mediation with volunteer mediators”). 

See Jay E. Grenig & Jeffrey S. Kinsler, Handbook Of Federal Civil Disclosure: E-Discovery And Records § 4.19 (2013) (noting that cooperative approaches represent a “significant attempt to do something about the rapidly escalating costs of civil litigation”); Carole Basri & Mary Mack (editors), eDiscovery For Corporate Counsel, Foreword (2013) (noting “paradigm shift” in e-discovery process, toward cooperation); Daniel B. Garrie & Edwin A. Machuca, E-Discovery Mediation And The Art Of Keyword Search, 13 Cardozo J. Conflict Resol. 467, 472 (2012) (effective e-discovery requires that “attorneys share their understanding of the case and the technology with opposing counsel”); See The Sedona Conference Cooperation Proclamation, 10 Sedona Conf. J. 331 (2009); The Sedona Conference, The Case For Cooperation, 10 Sedona Conf. J. 339, 361 (2009) (prisoner’s dilemma may break down where “actors involved must repeatedly face the same or similar decisions” and each side “must evaluate the risk of the other side responding with similar conduct during a subsequent ‘round’”). 

2 See Hon. David J. Waxse, Cooperation—What Is It And Why Do It?, 18 Richmond J. L. & Tech. 8 (2012) (despite Sedona Cooperation Proclamation and “numerous [judicial] opinions,” it appears that “cooperation is not being used enough”); Hon. Nora Barry Fischer & Richard N. Lettieri, Creating The Criteria And The Process For Selection Of E-Discovery Special Masters In Federal Court, 58:2 The Fed. Lawyer 36, 37 (2011) (where not addressed early, ESI issues “often come up later in the proceedings, causing unnecessary delays and expensive e-discovery motions”); Kathleen P. Browe, A Critique Of The Civility Movement: Why Rambo Will Not Go Away, 77 Marquette L. Rev. 751, 756 (1994) (lack of cooperation “backs up already overloaded trial dockets,” affecting the “efficiency of the entire judicial process,” and leading to “a decline in public respect for the legal profession”). 

3 See generally Hon. Frank H. Easterbrook, Discovery as Abuse, 69 B.U. L. Rev. 635, 638 (1989) (judges can do little about discovery abuse when parties control the discovery process themselves); John Setear, The Barrister And The Bomb: The Dynamics Of Cooperation, Nuclear Deterrence And Discovery Abuse, 69 B.U. L. Rev. 569 (1989).

4            See generally Steven C. Bennett, Mediation As A Means To Improve E-Discovery Cooperation, 23:2 Albany Law J. of Sci. & Technol. ___ (forthcoming 2014).

5 See Kyle Beardsley, Using The Right Tool For The Job: Mediator Leverage And Conflict Resolution, 2 Penn State J. of L. & Int’l Affairs 57, 57-58 (2013) (noting that mediation may include functions such as “mere hosting of talks, substantive participation in the negotiations, shuttle diplomacy, or heavy-handed involvement;” mediators must “tailor the level of leverage” applied to “needs of the situation”); see also Thomas Stipanowich & J. Ryan Lamare, Living With ADR: Evolving Perceptions And Use Of Mediation, Arbitration And Conflict Management In Fortune 1,000 Corporations, Pepperdine Law Paper No. 2013/16, www.ssrn.com (2013) (noting “diverse array” of dispute resolution options, including mediation, mini-trial, fact-finding, court-annexed non-binding arbitration, and early neutral evaluation); Peter Salem, The Emergence Of Triage In Family Court Services: The Beginning Of The End For Mandatory Mediation?, 47 Fam. Ct. Rev. 371 (2009) (noting “dozens” of dispute resolution processes, including psycho-educational programs, collaborative law, mediation, judicially moderated settlement conferences, and high conflict interventions); Stephanie Smith & Janet Martinez, An Analytic Framework For Dispute Systems Design, 14 Harv. Negot. L. Rev. 1401, 1406 (2009) (suggesting use of multiple processes for dispute resolution, with ability of parties to “loop” back or forward, as necessary, to different systems). 

6 See Susan Nauss Exon, The Effects That Mediator Styles Impose On Neutrality And Impartiality Requirements Of Mediation, 42 U. San Fran. L. Rev. 577, 578 (2008) (most agree that mediation involves “a neutral and impartial third party who assists others in resolving a dispute,” but mediation involves “varying styles, techniques, and orientations”); Kyle C. Beardsley, David M. Quinn, Bidisha Biswas & Jonathan Wilkenfeld, Mediation Style And Crisis Outcomes, 50 J. Conflict Resol. 58 (2006) (noting facilitation, formulation and manipulation as among alternative “styles” of mediator activity).

7 See ABA, Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators, Preamble, www.americanbar.org  (2005) (mediation is “a process in which an impartial third party facilitates communication and negotiation and promotes voluntary decision-making by the parties;” mediation “serves various purposes, including providing the opportunity for parties to define and clarify issues, understand different perspectives, identify interests, explore and assess possible solutions, and reach mutually satisfactory agreements”). 

8 See Stephanie Smith & Janet Martinez, An Analytic Framework For Dispute Systems Design, 14 Harv. Negot. L. Rev. 1401, 1408 (2009) (design of system depends on “goals,” which may include efficiency, fairness, satisfaction and other factors); Cathy A. Constantino & Christina Sickles-Merchant, Designing Conflict Management Systems (1996) (system design requires consideration of whether ADR is appropriate, choice of process appropriate to particular problem, and making sure participants have necessary knowledge and skill to use ADR system). 

9 This is not to suggest that the spectrum of processes necessarily must flow from “easiest” to “hardest” cases.  Simple dispute resolution techniques often work well in some of the most complicated disputes; and the reverse is also true.  See William Ury, Getting Disputes Resolved: Designing Systems To Cut The Costs Of Conflict (1988) (ease of dispute resolution depends on focus on interests, or rights, or power—in ascending order—to determine degree of difficulty in resolving dispute).  

10 See Dwight Golann, Variations In Mediation: How—And Why—Legal Mediators Change Styles In The Course Of A Case, 2000 J. of Disp. Resol. 41, 45 (2000) (presenting “grid” of mediation practices, from facilitative to evaluative); see also Leonard L. Riskin, Decisionmaking In Mediation: The New Old Grid And The New New Grid System, 79 Notre Dame L. Rev. 1 (2003) (noting various types of mediation, including evaluative, facilitative and transformative systems); Leonard L. Riskin, Understanding Mediators’ Orientations, Strategies, And Techniques: A Grid For The Perplexed, 1 Harv. Negot. L. Rev. 7 (1996). 

11 See Mikki Tomlinson, Attacking eDiscovery Ignorance In 2013, www.ediscoveryjournal.com (Nov. 29, 2012) (suggesting that poor cooperation efforts in e-discovery “oftentimes boils down to eDiscovery ignorance”); John M. Barkett, The 7th Circuit E-Discovery Pilot Project: What We Might Learn And Why It Matters To Every Litigant In America, ABA Section Of Litigation News, www.apps.americanbar.org/litigation/litigationnews (Dec. 2011) (“Without better education, e-discovery may not be managed fairly or frugally, and certainly not quickly.”).

12 See Patricia Kutza, New San Francisco Forum Promotes E-Discovery Mediation, www.law.com (Oct. 23, 2013) (mediators can serve as “an antidote for the lack of e-discovery training in law schools”); Daniel B. Garrie & Salvatore Scibetta, We Need Mediation In E-Discovery, www.law360.com (June 5, 2013) (mediator serves as “listener and translator;” to “translate the technical underpinnings of each party’s systems into actionable discovery efforts that both parties can comprehend”); Daniel B. Garrie & Edwin A. Machuca, E-Discovery Mediation And The Art Of Keyword Search, 13 Cardozo J. Conflict Resol. 467, 469 (2012) (“technically proficient” neutral may be required where parties and courts are unfamiliar with “latest methods” of searching for and processing electronic information); David Cohen & Claire Covington, E-Discovery: Liaisons Are Key To Discovery Success, www.insidecounsel.com (Aug. 7, 2012) (subject matter experts necessary “given that most lawyers and judges have little training in the technical issues surrounding ESI”); Hon. Nora Barry Fischer & Richard N. Lettieri, Creating The Criteria And The Process For Selection Of E-Discovery Special Masters In Federal Court, 58:2 The Fed. Lawyer 36 (2011) (Rule 26(f) conferences have “generally remained ineffective where counsel “lack the technical skill and experience necessary to facilitate effective resolution” of ESI issues); see also Richard N. Lettieri, What Is E-Mediation, And Why Might I Want To Recommend It To My Client?, www.mediationwp.org (2010) (counsel “unfamiliar with ESI” may benefit from use of mediator). 

13 See Robert B. Yegge, Divorce Litigants Without Lawyers, Judges Jnl. 8, 13 (Spr. 1994) (telephone hotline system can be used on “as-needed” basis to provide information not available from workshops and other public education).  Similar systems are often set up as ethics hotlines.  See Bruce A. Green, Bar Association Ethics Committees: Are They Broken?, 30 Hofstra L. Rev. 731, 737 (2002) (noting bar ethics committees that “field questions over the telephone, including, in some cases, via an ‘ethics hotline’”); see also Kimberlee K. Kovach, New Wine Requires New Wineskins: Transforming Lawyer Ethics For Effective Representation In A Non-Adversarial Approach To Problem-Solving, 28 Fordham Urban L.J. 935, 942 (2001) (noting that “nearly every bar association has a committee or program focused on the civility of lawyers”).

14 See Jacqueline Nolan-Haley, Lawyers, Clients And Mediation, 73 Notre Dame L. Rev. 1369, 1373 (1998) (“Many lawyers simply lack a basic understanding of the mediation process, the premises and values which drive it, and the creative outcomes which are possible.”). 

15 See Leonard L. Riskin & Nancy Welsh, Is That All There Is?  “The Problem” In Court-Oriented Mediation, 15 Geo. Mason L. Rev. 15, 85 (2008) (noting system where review of ADR materials, together with certification of lawyer review with clients, is mandatory).

16 Traditionally in European systems, ombudsman programs have focused on government agencies, rather than courts.  See Diana Douse, Mediation And Other Alternatives To Court, www.parliament.uk (June 6, 2013) (noting use of ombudsman as “independent and impartial means of resolving certain disputes outside the courts;” the ombudsman may deal with “complaints” regarding “public bodies and private sector services”); Stephanie Smith & Janet Martinez, An Analytic Framework For Dispute Systems Design, 14 Harv. Negot. L. Rev. 1401, 1447 (2009) (ombudsman system involves “[a] third party within an organization who deals with conflicts on a confidential basis and gives disputants information on how to resolve the problem at issue”).  Courts in the U.S., however, have begun to experiment with such programs.  See Michele Bertran, Judiciary Ombudsman: Solving Problems In The Courts, 29 Fordham Urban L.J. 2099, 2108 (2002) (New Jersey program offers public information, including “educational literature, videos and a website,” and citizen assistance, including “investigation and resolution of complaints”); Robert B. Yegge, Divorce Litigants Without Lawyers, Judges Jnl. 8, 10 (Spr. 1994) (noting use of courthouse ombudsmen, who “distribute self-help form packets,” and conduct workshops to give instruction to groups of litigants).  The mediation functions described here generally fit the concept of an ombudsman.  See Martin A. Frey, Alternative Methods Of Dispute Resolution 5, 12 (2003) (“third party” assistance in dispute resolution may include “ombuds” system; such a system can help parties take “corrective action” before problems become “much more difficult to address”); Karl Slaikeu & Ralph Hasson, Controlling The Costs Of Conflict: How To Design A System For Your Organization 94 (1998) (ombudsman provides a “neutral, confidential, readily available resource (usually available in person, by telephone, email, or some other direct means) to assist parties in self-help, troubleshooting (via coaching), informal shuttle diplomacy, and sometimes convening of the parties to help them select from options such as informal mediation or other higher resources”); Shirley A. Wiegand, A Just And Lasting Peace: Supplanting Mediation With The Ombuds Model, 12 Ohio St. J. on Disp. Resol. 95 (1996) (ombud system embodies mediation, with additional capabilities).  As a neutral third party, moreover, an ombudsman could help reinforce a culture of civility within the e-discovery process.  Cf. Michele Bertran, Judiciary Ombudsman: Solving Problems In The Courts, 29 Fordham Urban L.J. 2099, 2103 (2002) (ombudsman investigations may include questions of “discourteous behavior or incivility”). 

17 See John M. Lande, The Movement Toward Early Case Handling In Courts And Private Dispute Resolution, 24 Ohio St. J. on Disp. Resol. 81, 82 (2008) (“parties may not feel ready to settle, or even work together, right away”); Phillip M. Armstrong, Why We Still Litigate, 8 Pepperdine Disp. Resol. L.J. 379, 380-81 (2008) (noting that culture, ego, emotion and other barriers may prevent parties from settling disputes outside court proceedings); Craig A. McEwen, Employing The Law To Increase The Use Of Mediation And To Encourage Direct And Early Negotiations, 13 Ohio St. J. on Disp. Resol. 831, 838 (1998) (reviewing factors that may inhibit parties from using mediation early in litigation process); Robert A. Baruch Bush, What Do We Need A Mediator For?  Mediation’s “Value-Added” For Negotiators, 12 Ohio St. J. on Disp. Resol. 1, 6 (1996) (noting barriers to negotiation that mediation can help manage).

18 See Peter Salem, The Emergence Of Triage In Family Court Services: The Beginning Of The End For Mandatory Mediation?, 47 Fam. Ct. Rev. 371, 372 (2009) (suggesting use of “triage,” where “most appropriate” form of ADR service can be identified “on the front end” of a case, to reduce burden, provide more effective services, and more efficiently use scarce court resources). 

19 See Ralph C. Losey, Lawyers Behaving Badly: Understanding Unprofessional Conduct In E-Discovery, 60 Mercer L. Rev. 983, 1002 (2009) (discovery abuses often happen because “attorneys do not understand the complex technologies involved,” and “acting out of ignorance and fear, they do not cooperate”).

20 See Mike Hamilton, E-Discovery Court Pilot Programs: E-Discovery Templates That Legal Teams Should Utilize, www.exterro.com (Feb. 23, 2012) (neutral can “provide the necessary skill and expertise to help expedite the e-discovery process by quickly identifying practical and fair solutions”); Daniel B. Garrie & Edwin A. Machuca, E-Discovery Mediation And The Art Of Keyword Search, 13 Cardozo J. Conflict Resol. 467, 474 (2012) (neutral may assist where parties have failed to “secur[e] legal counsel with the requisite technological acumen”).

21 See Peter Salem, The Emergence Of Triage In Family Court Services: The Beginning Of The End For Mandatory Mediation?, 47 Fam. Ct. Rev. 371, 380 (2009) (triage system would involve initial screening or interviews by neutral who could help identify the service that will “best meet the needs” of the parties); Bruce L. Mann, Smoothing Some Wrinkles In Online Dispute Resolution, Int’l J. of Law & Info. Tech. 83 (2008) (introducing concept of “expert-peer online assessment” of disputes as means to resolve conflicts). 

22 See Stephen F. Gates, Ten Essential Elements Of An Effective Dispute Resolution Program, 8 Pepperdine Disp.Resol. L.J. 397, 398 (2008) (“Much of the cost of litigation is a function of cycle time from case inception to final resolution, and all steps in the management process should be focused on reducing this cycle time.”). 

23 See John M. Lande, The Movement Toward Early Case Handling In Courts And Private Dispute Resolution, 24 Ohio St. J. on Disp. Resol. 81, 91 (2008) (noting use of systems for “early screening of cases” to provide “early warning of potential case management problems, even before developing a scheduling order”) (quotation omitted).  Such a system might also operate through a “differential” case management system, helping to designate cases as “expedited, standard, [or] complex,” for example.  See id. at 94; see also Frank E. Sander & Lukasz Rozdeiczer, Matching Cases And Dispute Resolution Procedures: Detailed Analysis Leading To A Mediation-Centered Approach, 11 Harv. Negot. L. Rev. 1 (2006) (proposing framework for matching cases to ADR processes); Frank E.A. Sander & Stephen B. Goldberg, Fitting The Forum To The Fuss: A User-Friendly Guide To Selecting An ADR Procedure, 10 Negot. J. 49 (1994).   

24 See William J. McLean, Beware Masters In E-Discovery, www.law.com (Aug. 21, 2008) (noting potential circumstances where “no amount of cajoling could stop the tactical flood of discovery motions”); see also FAQ: How Do I Know When To Use E-Mediation Versus A Special Master?, www.acesin.com (2011) (“if there is such [a] breakdown in communication that the parties cannot even agree that the sky is blue, then more likely the parties need a special master to act as referee and ‘make the calls’”).

25 See Nancy A. Welsh, The Thinning Vision Of Self-Determination In Court-Connected Mediation: The Inevitable Price Of Institutionalization?, 6 Harv. Negot. L. Rev. 1, 16 (2001) (noting importance of “self-determination” as central element of mediation).

26 See Susan Nauss Exon, The Effects That Mediator Styles Impose On Neutrality And Impartiality Requirements Of Mediation, 42 U. San Fran. L. Rev. 577, 591 (2008) (facilitator “encourages party attendance, facilitates communication, poses questions to uncover the parties’ underlying needs and interests, helps educate the parties by assisting them to understand the other’s needs and interests, and otherwise attempts to provide a comfortable forum in which the parties can develop their own creative solutions to a problem”).

27 See Hon. Nora Barry Fischer & Richard N. Lettieri, Creating The Criteria And The Process For Selection Of E-Discovery Special Masters In Federal Court, 58:2 The Fed. Lawyer 36, 37 (2011) (suggesting use of “facilitator” to lead discussions on ESI issues, where attorneys are unable or unwilling to proceed with e-discovery conference).

28 See Daniel B. Garrie, Redefining The Discovery Terrain: The Need For Mediation In E-Discovery, Part III, www.lawandforensics.com (Nov. 28, 2013) (function of mediator to “facilitate cooperation” and “open” dialogue); Patricia Kutza, New San Francisco Forum Promotes E-Discovery Mediation, www.law.com (Oct. 23, 2013) (mediators can “primarily work on getting the dialogue going,” versus “shuttle diplomacy” of conventional settlement negotiations) (quoting Michael Carbone). 

29 See Allison O. Skinner, The Role Of Mediation For ESI Disputes, The Alabama Lawyer at 425, 426, www.alabar.org (Nov. 2009) (“Often, discovery battles can result in an exchange of potentially inflammatory correspondence that may be used as an exhibit to [a] motion to compel or motion for protective order. . . . Mediating the e-discovery dispute allows the litigants to make proposals confidentially.”) Ron Kilgard, Discovery Masters: When They Help—And When They Don’t, Arizona Attorney at 30, 34, www.azbar.org (Apr. 2004) (“the mere fact of having to discuss these issues in person with the master present, and not in angry faxes and e-mails written late at night, has a taming effect on the lawyers”); see also John M. Lande, The Movement Toward Early Case Handling In Courts And Private Dispute Resolution, 24 Ohio St. J. on Disp. Resol. 81, 92 (2008) (facilitator may help with “reduction of partisan psychology; prevention of conflict escalation; and creation of a mandatory event that overcomes logistical barriers to negotiation”); Angela Garcia, Dispute Resolution Without Disputing: How The Interactional Organization Of Mediation Hearings Minimizes Argument, 56 Sociological Rev. 818 (1991) (noting that mediation “constrains the presentation of accusations and denials” in negotiation). 

30 See Kenneth J. Withers, E-Discovery In Commercial Litigation: Finding A Way Out Of Purgatory, 2 J. of Ct. Innov. 13, 22 (2009) (suggesting that, “if you can get the IT people from both parties together in a room, they will often solve problems that the lawyers thought were insurmountable”); Peter S. Vogel, E-Neutrals, E-Mediation And Special Masters: An Introductory Guide, www.lexology.com (July 2, 2012) (suggesting that mediator require parties to indicate who will attend mediation sessions to provide “technical support” concerning ESI issues).  The mediator may also remind parties that all mediation discussions are confidential.  See Allison Skinner & Peter Vogel, E-Mediation Can Simplify E-Discovery Disputes, www.law.com (Sept. 23, 2013) (mediators may work with IT personnel to educate them about their role in the e-discovery process, and use “confidential caucus” to communicate ideas, without an inquiry being “misinterpreted as a weakness”); Mary Mack, Litigation Prenups, E-Discovery ADR And The Campaign For Proportionality, www.metrocorpcounsel.com (May 3, 2010) (“There is a great advantage in having the ‘meet and confer’ take place under the cloak of mediation.  It keeps the discussion and the written offers to compromise confidential.  Mediation also provides a cloak of confidentiality for the IT people.  This makes it possible for the IT people to talk more openly because they are not on the record.”). 

31 One very simple task for a mediator would consist of identifying immediate areas of agreement between the parties.  See Allison O. Skinner, How To Prepare An E-Mediation Statement For Resolving E-Discovery Disputes, DRI E-Discovery Connection Newsletter, www.dri.org (2011) (using pre-mediation submissions, mediator can identify“ areas of mutuality” that can be “readily disposed of,” so that parties may thereafter focus on solutions to “more challenging issues”).  Indeed, online systems have been developed to facilitate these kinds of basic agreements.  See Noam Ebner, Bryan Hanson & Arthur Pearlstein, ODR In North America, in Mohamed S. Abdel Wahab, Ethan Katsh & Daniel Rainey (eds.), Online Dispute Resolution: Theory and Practice: A Treatise on Technology and Dispute Resolution 459 (2012) (describing online system where parties “inform the platform of their real preferences and priorities, beyond what they are willing to share with the opposite party,” where software can “conduct an analysis of the agreement to see if it maximizes each party’s gains”).  One can imagine adaptation of such processes to the e-discoveryfield.

32 See Robert A. Cole, E-Discovery Increases Possibility Of Mediated Resolutions, www.law.com (Oct. 3, 2012) (agenda for conducting e-discovery mediation may include crafting agreements on preservation and collection protocols, including sampling and search techniques).

33 See Craig Ball, Musings On Meet And Confer, www.craigball.com (2007) (noting phenomenon of “drive-by event with no substantive exchange of information”); Michael Collyard, E-Discovery: Avoiding Drive By “Meet & Confers,” www.insidecounsel.com (Sept. 13, 2011); see also Emery G. Lee III & Thomas E. Willging, Federal Judicial Center, Case-Based Civil Rules Survey: Preliminary Report to the Judicial Conference Advisory Committee on Civil Rules 15 (2009) (FJC study indicates that only half of attorney respondents included discussion of ESI in Rule 26(f) conferences, and only one in five court-ordered discovery plans included provisions relating to ESI).

34 See Peter S. Vogel, The Role Of e-Mediation In Resolving ESI Disputes,  www.disputingblog.com (Oct. 29, 2012) (noting that “most meet and confers are ineffective;” mediator, may act with “court sanctioned checklist” of issues to discuss); Ronald J. Hedges, The Sedona Conference Points The Way Toward Control Of The Costs And Burden Of E-Discovery, 59 Fed. Lawyer. 46, 47 (2012) (suggesting use of mediators and court-appointed experts to assist in “good faith” process of “meet and confer”); Zachary Parkins, Why The Appointment Of Special Masters In All Large Electronic Discovery Disputes Is Vital To The Process Of American Civil Justice, www.americanjournalofmediation.com (2011) (suggesting role for mediator where parties do not prepare for Rule 26(f) conference “in an effective way”).

35 See Allison O. Skinner, Alternative Dispute Resolution Expands Into Pre-Trial Practice: An Introduction To The Role Of E-Neutrals, 13 Cardozo J. of Conflict Resol. 113, 125 (2011) (goal of mediation to created a mediated e-discovery plan); see also Allison Skinner & Peter Vogel, E-Mediation Can Simplify E-Discovery Disputes, www.law.com (Sept. 23, 2013) (typically, litigants would agree to e-mediation at outset of case, to develop a discovery plan; with the mediator thereafter available to help “break any impasse that may arise”); Robert Hilson, Neutrals May Ease Anxiety Over Florida’s New E-Discovery Rules, www.aceds.org (Apr. 26, 2012) (neutrals can help “shape discovery plans”) (quoting Lawrence Kolin, mediator); Peter S. Vogel, Use E-Mediation And Special Masters In E-Discovery Matters, www.law.com (July 5, 2010) (“E-mediation is most effective when initiated at the beginning of litigation, at the outset of discovery. . . . [I]f the parties can agree to the initial [mediated e-discovery plan], this will reduce the number of disputes presented to the trial court.”).

36 See Daniel B. Garrie & Siddartha Rao, Using Technology Experts For Electronic Discovery, 38 Litig. 13 (2012) (mediator can “expedite” agreement on search terms, and avoid potential that parties might later “complain” about terms used)

37 See Robert A. Cole, E-Discovery Increases Possibility Of Mediated Resolutions, www.law.com (Oct. 3, 2012) (parties may “[c]reate a method for resolving any disputes that may arise over the mediated plan”).

38 See Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(c)(1) (requiring party moving for protective order to certify “good faith” effort to confer “in an effort to resolve the dispute without court action”); 37(a) (requiring party moving to compel to certify “good faith” effort to confer “in an effort to obtain [disclosure] without court action.”).

39 See Nicola Faith Sharpe, Corporate Cooperation Through Cost-Sharing, 16 Mich. Telecomm. & Tech. L. Rev. 109, 134-35 (2009) (suggesting that “meet-and-confer requirements will simply play out as the rest of the game does,” unless “rules that support cooperation as a favorable strategy” include “penalties” that counter a “strategy of abuse”).

40 See Allison O. Skinner, Alternative Dispute Resolution Expands Into Pre-Trial Practice: An Introduction To The Role Of E-Neutrals, 13 Cardozo J. of Conflict Resol. 113, 128 (2011) (“[A]n e-mediation conducted in good faith demonstrates [that] the parties have met their Rule 26 obligations.”); Peter S. Vogel, The Role Of e-Mediation In Resolving ESI Disputes,  www.disputingblog.com (Oct. 29, 2012) (mediator could “certify to the court that the parties met and conferred in good faith on the enumerated ESI issues”); see also Mary Mack, Litigation Prenups, E-Discovery ADR And The Campaign For Proportionality, www.metrocorpcounsel.com (May 3, 2010) (suggesting that court could “direct all e-discovery disputes to e-mediation before involving the judge,” which would permit a party to “explain in a setting without the judge why the issue arose in the first place and what was being done to rectify it”).

41 A dispute review board (which could be a single individual) would aim to identify e-discovery problems as they arise, and resolve them before they escalate.  See Peter Vogel, Use eMediation To Save Time And Money, www.law.com (Sept. 2, 2013) (suggesting that use of mediation “as early in the case as possible” permits mediator to “address eDiscovery matters when they first arise”).  Construction-related dispute review boards serve similar purposes.  See Ming-Lee Chong & Heap-Yih Chong, Dispute Review Board: Concept And Introduction To Developing Countries, 2 Intersci. Mgmt. Rev. 6, 6-7 (2010) (dispute resolution boards, first conceived in the 1950s, have been implemented in virtually all construction areas); id. at 7 (board typically created at outset of project, with periodic status meetings and site visits; if conflicts arise, the board can provide “informal” opinions to help resolve disputes); Stephanie Smith & Janet Martinez, An Analytic Framework For Dispute Systems Design, 14 Harv. Negot. L. Rev. 1401, 1445 (2009) (dispute resolution board generally formed at start of construction project, and “meets regularly to follow work progress and to provide guidance to the parties on differences before they become disputes”).  The purpose of a dispute review board is “create an atmosphere of trust and cooperation,” James Denning, More Than An Underground Success, 63 Civ. Engl. 42 (1993), with the aim of preventing disputes from escalating.  See Colleen A. Libbey, Working Together While “Waltzing In A Mine”: Successful Government Construction Contract Dispute Resolution With Partnering And Dispute Review Boards, 15 Ohio St. J. on Disp. Resol. 825 (2000); see also Kathleen M.J. Harmon, Effectiveness Of Dispute Review Boards, 129 J. of Construction Eng. & Mgmt. 674 (2003) (statistics suggesting high levels of success with dispute review boards, resolving disputes before project completion).

42 See Allison O. Skinner, Alternative Dispute Resolution Expands Into Pre-Trial Practice: An Introduction To The Role Of E-Neutrals, 13 Cardozo J. of Conflict Resol. 113, 127 (2011) (parties may use mediator on “issue-by-issue” basis, “as needed,” where mediator is “familiar with pre-trial activities” in the case and able to address specific issues as they arise).

43 See Hon. W. Royal Furgeson, Jr., Karl Bayer & Elizabeth L. Graham, E-Discovery And The Use Of Special Masters, www.karlbayer.com (2011) (even if not all disputes are resolved, mediation process “provides parties with a better understanding of the key disputes which must be presented to the court”); Allison O. Skinner, The Role Of Mediation For ESI Disputes, The Alabama Lawyer at 425, www.alabar.org (Nov. 2009) (even if not all conflicts are resolved, mediation permits parties to “illuminate the key disputes to be presented to the court,” without “inflammatory” communications); Ralph C. Losey, Lawyers Behaving Badly: Understanding Unprofessional Conduct In E-Discovery, 60 Mercer L. Rev. 983, 997 (2009) (cooperation means “refinement of disputes and avoidance when possible;” some discovery disputes “may still arise,” but “the issues presented for adjudication will be much more focused and refined”). 

44 See Lela P. Love, The Top Ten Reasons Why Mediators Should Not Evaluate, 24 Fla. St. U. L. Rev. 680 (1997) (analyzing why evaluations do not comport with mediator’s essential role); Kimberlee K. Kovach & Lela P. Love, Evaluative Mediation Is An Oxymoron, 14 Alternatives to High Cost Litig. 31 (1996).

45 Some commentators suggest that some degree of evaluation is inherent in the mediation process.  See Ellen A. Waldman, The Evaluative-Facilitative Debate In Mediation: Applying The Lens Of Therapeutic Jurisprudence, 82 Marquette L. Rev. 155, 157 (1998) (“much of what goes by the name of mediation today involves some evaluative activity by the mediator;” to construct a definition that excludes “most of what the practitioner and lay communities understand to be mediation” would “spawn needless confusion”); Jeffrey W. Stempel, Identifying Real Dichotomies Underlying The False Dichotomy: Twenty-First Century Mediation In An Eclectic Regime, 2000 J. Disp. Resol. 371, 377 (2000) (noting “continuum,” from facilitative to evaluative, for forms of mediation, based on “key determinants” of needs of parties, based on their past and current relations, and other factors). 

46 See Thomas Stipanowich & J. Ryan Lamare, Living With ADR: Evolving Perceptions And Use Of Mediation, Arbitration And Conflict Management In Fortune 1,000 Corporations, Pepperdine Law Paper No. 2013/16, www.ssrn.com (2013) (noting that, in “lawyered” cases, mode of mediation where “sooner or later, there is some kind of evaluation by a mediator with [a] background as a legal advocate or judge—predominates”); Benjamin F. Tennille, Lee Applebaum & Anne Tucker Nees, Getting To Yes In Specialized Courts: The Unique Role Of ADR In Business Court Cases, 11 Pepperdine Disp. Resol. L.J. 35, 48 (2010) (mediation may combine “evaluative and facilitative practices, to get the best results”); Robert B. Moberly, Mediator Gag Rules: Is It Ethical For Mediators To Evaluate Or Advise?, 38 S. Tex. L. Rev. 669, 675 (1997) (suggesting that “mediator evaluation can assist the parties in their self-determination efforts”).

47 See Daniel B. Garrie, Redefining The Discovery Terrain: The Need For Mediation In E-Discovery, Part II, www.lawandforensics.com (Nov. 28, 2013) (mediator may help “educate each party” about the “reality” of their demands); Stephanie Smith & Janet Martinez, An Analytic Framework For Dispute Systems Design, 14 Harv. Negot. L. Rev. 1401, 1444 (2009) (neutral case evaluation involves lawyer who “provides an advisory opinion to the parties as to their respective case strengths, weaknesses, and value”); Brian Jarren, The Future Of Mediation: A Sociological Perspective, 2009 J. of Dispute Resol. 49, 50 (2009) (mediator can serve as “agent of reality” when parties reach impasse); Martin A. Frey, Alternative Methods Of Dispute Resolution 12 (2003) (neutral evaluation “provides the parties and their attorneys with the opportunity to visualize the case from a third party’s perspective;” by having “preview of what might happen,” parties achieve a “clearer understanding” of settlement issues).

48 See Stephen F. Gates, Ten Essential Elements Of An Effective Dispute Resolution Program, 8 Pepperdine Disp.Resol. L.J. 397, 400 (2008) (evaluator may be “very helpful in eliminating the ‘emotional attachment’ that a party may develop in its case and lead to serious negotiations”); Julie MacFarlane, Culture Change?  A Tale Of Two Cities And Mandatory Court-Connected Mediation, 2002 J. Disp. Resol. 241, 266 (2002) (mediator may provide parties with “reality check,” useful in negotiation); see also John M. Lande, The Movement Toward Early Case Handling In Courts And Private Dispute Resolution, 24 Ohio St. J. on Disp. Resol. 81, 99 (2008); Wayne D. Brazil, Early Neutral Evaluation Or Mediation?  When Might ENE Deliver More Value?, 14 Disp. Resol. Mag. 10 (2007). 

49 See Leonard L. Riskin & Nancy Welsh, Is That All There Is?  “The Problem” In Court-Oriented Mediation, 15 Geo. Mason L. Rev. 15, 26 n.45 (2008) (noting that, in some forms of mediation, it is “common” to have a separate stage where the mediator conducts a “conflict analysis,” and reports to the parties “what the conflict is”) (quotations omitted).

50 See Daniel B. Garrie & Siddartha Rao, Using Technology Experts For Electronic Discovery, 38 Litig. 13 (2012) (suggesting that, in some cases, “[c]ooperative efforts and the expeditious selection of keywords are hampered” by “adversarial zeal” of attorneys).

51 See Daniel B. Garrie & Siddartha Rao, Using Technology Experts For Electronic Discovery, 38 Litig. 13 (2012) (mediator may conduct search, or may simply “ensure that appropriate documents are produced at a reasonable price respective to the underlying issue”); Marian Riedy, Suman Beros & Kim Sperduto, Mediated Investigative E-Discovery, 2010 Fed. Cts. L. Rev. 79, 91 (2010) (outlining process for neutral with skills of “trained digital investigator” to “search and retrieve relevant information,” in a manner similar to an “in-house expert,” but with both parties sharing the expense). 

52 See Marian Riedy, Suman Beros & Kim Sperduto, Mediated Investigative E-Discovery, 2010 Fed. Cts. L. Rev. 79, 98-99 (2010) (system proposed would prevent mediator from producing information if party does not agree to produce). 

53 See Marian Riedy, Suman Beros & Kim Sperduto, Mediated Investigative E-Discovery, 2010 Fed. Cts. L. Rev. 79, 90 (2010) (suggesting that “standard” mediation process does not suffice, “because the mediator is only aware of the information the parties voluntarily disclose”).

54 See Allison O. Skinner, Alternative Dispute Resolution Expands Into Pre-Trial Practice: An Introduction To The Role Of E-Neutrals, 13 Cardozo J. of Conflict Resol. 113, 128 n.69 (2011) (rejecting notion that “mediated investigative e-discovery” is actual mediation, given that mediator may lack neutrality after conducting investigation). 

55 See Jacqueline Nolan-Haley, Lawyers, Clients And Mediation, 73 Notre Dame L. Rev. 1369, 1371 (1998) (“[Mediation]  is an informal process based on principles of individual sovereignty and self-determination.”). 

56 See Thomas Stipanowich & J. Ryan Lamare, Living With ADR: Evolving Perceptions And Use Of Mediation, Arbitration And Conflict Management In Fortune 1,000 Corporations, Pepperdine Law Paper No. 2013/16, www.ssrn.com (2013) (in survey, 87% of respondents report some use of mediation); Jennifer Reynolds, The Lawyer With The ADR Tattoo, 14 Cardozo J. Conflict Resol. 395, 397 (2013) (“even the most traditional lawyers use ADR techniques and processes all the time, from client counseling to negotiation to mediation to arbitration”); Richard S. Weil, Mediation In A Litigation Culture: The Surprising Growth Of Mediation In New York, 17 Disp. Resol. Mag. 8, 9 (2011) (in survey of litigators, 90% expressed a positive view of mediation). 

67 See Roselle L. Wissler, Court-Connected Settlement Procedures: Mediation And Judicial Settlement Conferences, 26 Ohio St. J. on Dispute Resol. 271, 272 (2011) (noting that judicial settlement conferences and court-connected mediation have become “commonplace” parts of court systems); Carrie Menkel-Meadow, Ethics In ADR: The Many “Cs” Of Professional Responsibility And Dispute Resolution, 28 Fordham Urban L.J. 979, 990 (2001) (“Virtually every state and federal court requires some form of ADR at least to be considered by the lawyers in a litigation matter, and, increasingly, transactions and contracts contain ADR clauses.”). 

58 See Thomas Stipanowich & J. Ryan Lamare, Living With ADR: Evolving Perceptions And Use Of Mediation, Arbitration And Conflict Management In Fortune 1,000 Corporations, Pepperdine Law Paper No. 2013/16, www.ssrn.com (2013) (noting extensive use of mediation in commercial, employment and personal injury disputes); Thomas J. Stipanowich, ADR And The “Vanishing Trial”: The Growth And Impact Of “Alternative Dispute Resolution,” 1 J. of Empirical Leg. Studies 843, 848-49 (2004) (“By far the predominant process choice [in ADR] is mediation, with its much-touted potential benefits of flexibility, party control, confidentiality, relatively low cost, and minor risk.”).

59 See Simeon H. Baum, Mediation And Discovery, in Daniel B. Garrie & Yoav M. Griver (eds.), Dispute Resolution And e-Discovery § 3.1 at 51 (2012) (unique features of mediation include “freedom and creativity that infuses” the process). 

60 See Brian Jarren, The Future Of Mediation: A Sociological Perspective, 2009 J. of Dispute Resol. 49, 64 (2009) (courts still “experimenting” with mediation as an aspect of case management). 

61 See Michael Heise, Why ADR Programs Aren’t More Appealing: An Empirical Perspective, www.scholarship.law.cornell.edu (2008) (noting “mixed” evidence on effectiveness of ADR programs); see also Simeon H. Baum, Mediation And Discovery, in Daniel B. Garrie & Yoav M. Griver (eds.), Dispute Resolution And e-Discovery § 3.5 at 72 (2012) (“Mediation is no panacea.”).   

62 See Bruce L. Mann, Smoothing Some Wrinkles In Online Dispute Resolution, Int’l J. of Law & Info. Tech. 83, 89 (2008) (suggesting that online dispute resolution processes “can play various roles in consensus building”); Ethan Katsh, Online Dispute Resolution:  Some Implications For The Emergence Of Law In Cyberspace, 10 Lex Electronica No. 3, www.lex-electronica.org (2006) (describing online system that allows software to “clarify and highlight both the parties’ disagreements and their desired solutions;” suggesting that system can help by “assisting the parties to identify common interests”); Joseph W. Goodman, The Pros And Cons Of Online Dispute Resolution: An Assessment Of Cyber-Mediation Websites, 2003 Duke L. & Tech. Rev. 4 (2003) (noting potential for use of “traditional” dispute resolution mechanisms, supplemented by online technologies, which may include “fully automated” systems, or systems that include a human neutral). 

63 See Noam Ebner, Bryan Hanson & Arthur Pearlstein, ODR In North America, in Mohamed S. Abdel Wahab, Ethan Katsh & Daniel Rainey (eds.), Online Dispute Resolution: Theory and Practice: A Treatise on Technology and Dispute Resolution 454 (2012) (no court-annexed online dispute resolution systems currently); see also Julio Cesar Betancourt & Elina Zlatanska, Online Dispute Resolution (ODR): What Is It, And Is It The Way Forward?, 79 Arbitration 256, 263 (2013) (“still too early to predict” future of online dispute resolution).

64 One of the earliest references to mediation of e-discovery disputes is less than five years old.  See Allison O. Skinner, The Role Of Mediation For ESI Disputes, The Alabama Lawyer at 425, www.alabar.org (Nov. 2009).

65 See John Lande, Using Dispute System Design Methods To Promote Good-Faith Participation In Court-Connected Mediation Programs, 50 UCLA L. Rev. 71 (2002) (noting that “some lawyers use mediation to make misleading statements, ‘smoke the other side out,’ gain leverage for later negotiations, drag out litigation, increase opponents’ costs, and generally wear down the opposition”); see also Kimberlee K. Kovach, The Vanishing Trial: Land Mine On The Mediation Landscape Or Opportunity For Evolution: Ruminations On The Future Of Mediation Practice, 7 Cardozo J. of Confl. Resol. 27, 29 (2005) (noting that mediation can become a “curse” of “hoops to jump through” in litigation, rather than a “process expansion” leading to dispute resolution).

66 See generally Karl Slaikeu & Ralph H. Hasson, Controlling The Costs Of Conflict: How To Design A System For Your Organization (2012). 

67 See Thomas J. Stipanowich, The Multi-Door Contract And Other Possibilities, 13 Ohio St. J. Disp. Resol. 303 (1998); Judith Resnik, Many Doors?  Closing Doors?  Alternative Dispute Resolution And Adjudication, 10 Ohio St. J. on Disp. Resol. 211 (1995).

68 See Mike Hamilton, E-Discovery Court Pilot Programs: E-Discovery Templates That Legal Teams Should Utilize, www.exterro.com (Feb. 23, 2012); see also Daniel Garrie Instructs 7th Circuit’s Pilot e-Mediation Program, www.lawandforensics.com (May 14, 2013) (“first of its kind” program to train mediators, who “agreed to volunteer their time for cases with heavy discovery loads, but comparatively small monetary returns”); Principles Relating To The Discovery Of Electronically Stored Information, www.ediscoverypilot.com (Aug. 1, 2010).