James R. Williams, October 2022   Over the last 32 years, I have judged, arbitrated, mediated, or lawyered over 1,500 divorce and paternity cases ranging from no assets and no children to marital estates consisting of several million dollars and cases involving ugly custody disputes. There are no other matters where emotions run higher, or… Read more »

Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often the real loser—in fees, expenses, and waste of time.   –Abraham Lincoln     Lawyer Lincoln’s famous exhortation to us as his successors at the bar is frequently cited when referring to the benefits of mediation. Mediation… Read more »

By Steven D. Murphy Prior to 1990, mediation was generally not available in Indiana State Court cases, or at least was rarely used as a means to attempt to settle civil lawsuits.  Settlements were accomplished by communications between lawyers in the case at a pre-trial conference, or perhaps when they were at the same location… Read more »