Mediation On-Line A Newsletter from ADR Resources http://adrr.com/adr9/054.htm Volume 5, No. 7 (May-June 2002) From: smarsh@adrr.com Subscribe

Greetings:

To fit my vacation schedule, etc., I am combining the May and June newsletters. Things have been very busy and I've had some unforseen bites out of my schedule (e.g. it took several hours to discover that when Rachel got into some heart medicine, she spit it out instead of swallowing it -- though several people now realize that at a toddler friendly party, medicine stashed at floor level is not "toddler proof" just because it is in a zip lock bag).

The Recommended Books of the Month:

Well, it still hasn't been released by the publisher, but I'd recommend the second edition of Planet Law School by Atticus Falcon.  I'd also recommend http://www.campus-adr.org/CMHER/Newsletter.html -- must read stuff.  Free too!

Interesting new Mediation & ADR (and other) web sites:

• Dispute resolution professionals are at heart consultants.  A good website embracing that approach is at http://workknowledge.imanage.com.
• The London Area Mediators Association (LAMA) web site is at http://www.lama.on.ca and has been completely revamped.
• I just had coffee (well, neither of us drank coffee, but you know what I mean) with a former student who is now consulting in South America.  Impressive websites such as http://www.mediacioneducativa.com.ar/ (Mediation Education Argentina) really show just how far out in the lead some countries are.
• http://www.mediacioneducativa.com.ar/english/plan.htm is a subpage in English translation about the scholastic mediation initiative that has been promulgated and that is in effect.  Impressive.
• An important essay (incorporating research) for any mediator who mediates court-annexed cases is at http://rider.wharton.upenn.edu/~waldfogj/repeat1.pdf
• A website that features an alternative view on going to law school is at http://members.aol.com/alicebeard/thoughts/thomas.html (some links work, some don't, this page works and links to many other pages that do).
• http://www.triune.ca/rcc1.htm is the page for Triune's Resolving Conflict Creatively in the School Community "NEGOTIATION" & "MEDIATION" (52 min.) (part of a series, available in the series or seperately).  
• Es necesaria la Ley de Mediación en Venezuela? and Considerasiones Y Análisis De La Normativa Vigente En Latinoamérica Sobre Los Medios Alternativos De Resolución De Conflictos have both been added to http://adrr.com/camara.  Two new and important essays.
• http://www.hostex.com for inexpensive web space hosting.
• http://www.cils.net/menu.htm is the International Legal Studies website.
• http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/adr/index.html is the EEOC's new web page on ADR.
• http://www.profittechnologies.com/ needs to display their ADR offerings a little better, but ADR happens to be dear to their hearts.  An interesting consulting group, they discount the ADR part of what they do because John believes in it.
• http://www.law.yale.edu/yls/pdf/cen-afdnpaper.pdf evaluates the federal REDRESS program.
• http://home.t-online.de/home/Perspectus/index.htm is on an instrument for conflict facilitators, coaches and individuals to diagnose the level of awareness in social interactions, particularly conflicts, and to identify learning needs. It is intented tobe used as a learning device in courses and workshops, as a tool in coaching situations and as an self-help instrument.
  

Educational Programs / News and Book Reviews/Books/Periodicals:

I was distressed to see this year's "top 5" (and the top 15) for law school dispute resolution programs.

Last year, this was the list:

1. University of Missouri–Columbia
2. Pepperdine University (CA)
3. Harvard University (MA)
4. Ohio State University
5. (tie) Hamline University (MN)
5. Willamette University (OR)

This year, this is the list:

1. Harvard University (MA)
2. Pepperdine University (CA)
3. Ohio State University (Moritz)
4. University of Missouri-Columbia
5. Hamline University (MN)

While I disagree with Missouri as to the "whyfor"  they are the best, I still believe that they have by far the best program in the nation.  For them to drop from number one to number four reflects some serious methodology problems with USNews. I'm glad to see Hamline still in the top five (and really expect them to move up) but Willamette should have remained there as well.  Well, take these things with more than a grain of salt.

Conflict Studies: The New Generation of Ideas ~ October 24-26, 2002.  Proposals and CVs must be one page each, contain the author’s name and contact information in the upper left side of the document. Please submit one copy electronically to disres@umb.edu. They request that you attach the documents as an MSWord file or as a rich text file (rtf)

Current Issues:

At a Law Day event with Sen. Russ Feingold and Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Public Citizen unveiled its report on arbitration costs. This comprehensive 84-page report attacks the position that "arbitration is cheaper than litigation."  The executive summary will be posted on their website, www.arbitrationwatch.org.  They are selling copies  of the entire report at $50.00 each to raise some much needed revenue.  They make some good points.  E.g. For instance, an $80,000 consumer claim brought in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill., would cost $221, versus $11,625 at National Arbitration Forum (NAF), a 5,260 percent difference.  The American Arbitration Association (AAA) would charge the plaintiff up to $6,650, and Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services (JAMS) would charge up to $7,950, amounting to a 3,009 percent and 3,597 percent difference in cost.

This is a big issue, and one that will continue to grow in importance.

Also, I got the following e-mail from someone I trust.  I'll pass it along:

Dear FAN members -- We hear a tremendous amount about resolving disputes over the internet or using cyberspace to facilitate resolution of conflicts that also use a face-to-face ADR component. Fact is, we know almost nothing about this developing area! I urge you to take this opportunity to meet and speak with Steve Abernathy of Square Trade. Contact Andrew Colsky immediately via the internet or at 202-268-3991. Don't be left in the dark on how you can incorporate the cyber-world into your ADR program

Submissions to adrr.com:

As always, I am interested in any submissions or articles anyone would like to have posted on the web -- and I am glad to be able to point them out in this newsletter.  I prefer to post material as you have written it, with no editorial changes by myself.  SMarsh@adrr.com is the best e-mail address to use to reach me, though I sometimes am not able to check my e-mail for 3 or 4 days.

With my best regards, I remain,

Sincerely yours,

Stephen Marsh
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