Mediators waive their fees for fire-related pro bono mediation

To help prevent delays in the rebuilding of Los Angeles, four leading mediation provider organizations, JAMS, ADR Services, Inc., Judicate West and ARC have agreed to waive their administrative fees for any of their neutrals who have offered to do pro bono mediations to accelerate the settlement of disputes growing out of the recent fires.

Kimberly Taylor, President and CEO of JAMS, Alan Brutman, President and CEO of Judicate West, Lucie Barron, President and CEO of ADR Services Inc. and Nicole Bethurum-Jimenez, CEO of ARC jointly issued the following statement.

"As companies with deep roots in Southern California, we stand with the community during this time of devastation and recovery.

"We are proud that many of our neutrals are offering their services pro bono to help navigate the rebuilding process, and we are committed to supporting these efforts by waiving all administrative fees for pro bono mediations.

"We recognize that restoring the region will involve complex legal challenges, and we are dedicated to extending our resources to those impacted. By working alongside our panelists, we hope to amplify their efforts and provide meaningful support to the community."

The response of the organizations and of many of individual neutrals to do pro bono work on fire disputes began following the publication in the Daily Journal of a column on the "Great London Fire Court," a specialized court mediation program established by parliament in 1666 that quickly resolved disputes after the London fires of that year to prevent delay in rebuilding. The most distinguished English Judges of the time served on the Fire Court without compensation. (See Howard B. Miller, "Los Angeles and the Great London Fire Court").

All counsel seeking pro bono mediation should contact the providers directly, as they would in any mediation. This information will be distributed as widely as possible to bar associations and lawyer organizations.