Purpose & Function

All Civil Cases are scheduled for an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Pre-Trial approximately 90 days after the case is filed. The date and time of the ADR Pre-Trial is established immediately when the case is filed and the Plaintiff is required to serve this information with the Summons and Complaint on all Defendants. The purpose of the ADR Pre-Trial is to establish a plan for ADR. The parties and attorneys should consider the different types of ADR, Arbitration, Case Evaluation, Mediation and the timing of ADR.

Case Evaluation

Traditionally, most attorneys have selected Case Evaluation at the end of discovery. However, Case Evaluation across the State of Michigan including in Jackson, resolves only 15 to 20 percent of the cases. Mediation, which has also been called Facilitative Mediation, reportedly resolves 50 to 75 percent of the cases. You do not need to accept one or the other. You can select both but if you do that, you must decide which you want to do first.  In cases involving mandatory case evaluation, you must do case evaluation if facilitation is unsuccessful.

Attorneys & Parties Options

Very few attorneys come to court for the ADR Pre-Trial. Some are conducted by Zoom, but what usually happens is that the attorneys enter into a stipulation before the ADR Pre-Trial and the stipulation is mailed or emailed to the Court before the ADR Pre-Trial takes place. The ADR Stipulation (PDF) is self-explanatory. Attorneys and parties are encouraged to consider all the different options and to select the options that best suits the case. If you cannot agree on an ADR Plan, you must be present by person or by Zoom at the ADR Pre-Trial where the court will impose an ADR Plan after hearing from the parties. An ADR Plan may be amended by stipulation. If an amended ADR Plan will affect a scheduled pretrial or trial date, you must show good cause.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions about this page please email Nadeen Bullinger.