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Arbitration / Mediation Law Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Arbitration / Mediation Law and Family Law for California on
Q: The mediator in my divorce is showing strong bias toward my husband. Is there anything I can do?

The mediator will not reply to my emails, including simple questions like “What is the status of the MSA?” He shows everything to my husband first, and only loops me in later (sometimes weeks or months later), and has taken no consideration of my side. At best, he is completely incompetent at... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 12, 2024

In California, mediation is a voluntary process, and both parties have the right to a fair and unbiased mediator. If you believe that your mediator is biased or not fulfilling their duties properly, you have several options:

1. Discuss your concerns with the mediator: If you haven't...
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4 Answers | Asked in Arbitration / Mediation Law and Employment Law for California on
Q: Mediation

I recently went through mediation and part of the terms were that I had to resign. It’s getting close to the deadline of when they had to pay and I’m getting nervous because I haven’t received the check yet. I’m located in CA. Is it easy to collect payment if they breach the contract?

Neil Pedersen
Neil Pedersen
answered on Mar 8, 2024

The answer to your question depends on a great deal of fact and circumstances that are not available from your post. Most mediated settlements end up with a voluntary payment of the settlement amount, but some end up with issues regarding payment. Do not expect payment until the last day... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Arbitration / Mediation Law and Employment Law for California on
Q: Mediation

I recently went through mediation and part of the terms were that I had to resign. It’s getting close to the deadline of when they had to pay and I’m getting nervous because I haven’t received the check yet. I’m located in CA. Is it easy to collect payment if they breach the contract?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 8, 2024

If the other party breaches the mediation agreement by failing to make the payment as agreed upon, you have a few options to enforce the contract and collect the payment in California:

1. Send a demand letter: Write a formal letter stating that the other party has breached the agreement and...
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1 Answer | Asked in Personal Injury, Legal Malpractice and Arbitration / Mediation Law for California on
Q: If Subpoenas are being approved by Arbitrator in case can an Attorney who is party to the case issue subpoenas covertly?

If the Arbitrator set the grounds in a legal malpractice case as to how he wished for Subpoenas to be processed, i.e., submitted to him for his approval, is it acceptable practice that an Attorney who had representation, who is party to the case, chose to complete, approve, and issue his own... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 5, 2024

In arbitration, the process and rules for issuing subpoenas can be distinct from those in a court setting. If an arbitrator specifies that subpoenas must be submitted for approval, this procedure is intended to ensure fairness and transparency within the arbitration process. California law and the... View More

4 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law, Arbitration / Mediation Law and Probate for Maryland on
Q: My husband and his dad are on the deed for his dad's house. If his father dies and the will says otherwise, who owns?

My husband and his father are on the deed to his father's house. His father died but the will says that all 3 kids get the estate. So that would mean all 3 kids would be on the deed when he passes. Since my husband was originally on the deed before he died, does that mean it's officially... View More

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Mar 2, 2024

It all depends on how the deed was written. If the deed gave the co-owners survivorship rights, the surviving owner would own it all regardless of what the Will said (because there would be no interest to pass through the Will as it would have automatically gone to the survivor). However, if the... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law, Arbitration / Mediation Law and Probate for Maryland on
Q: My husband and his dad are on the deed for his dad's house. If his father dies and the will says otherwise, who owns?

My husband and his father are on the deed to his father's house. His father died but the will says that all 3 kids get the estate. So that would mean all 3 kids would be on the deed when he passes. Since my husband was originally on the deed before he died, does that mean it's officially... View More

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Mar 2, 2024

If the deed is owned as joint tenants, then your husband is now the sole owner and the house is not an asset of his father’s estate, so it doesn’t matter what the Will says.

If the deed is owned as tenants in common, then your husband now owns 50% of the house outright, and the other...
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4 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law, Arbitration / Mediation Law and Probate for Maryland on
Q: My husband and his dad are on the deed for his dad's house. If his father dies and the will says otherwise, who owns?

My husband and his father are on the deed to his father's house. His father died but the will says that all 3 kids get the estate. So that would mean all 3 kids would be on the deed when he passes. Since my husband was originally on the deed before he died, does that mean it's officially... View More

Thomas C. Valkenet
Thomas C. Valkenet
answered on Mar 2, 2024

Your question is missing the exact wording of the deed naming your hubby as a co-owner. If the wording made him a full owner upon Dad's death, then the Will's bequest would be ineffective. But if any interest became part of your Dad's probate estate, then that portion could be... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law, Arbitration / Mediation Law and Probate for Maryland on
Q: My husband and his dad are on the deed for his dad's house. If his father dies and the will says otherwise, who owns?

My husband and his father are on the deed to his father's house. His father died but the will says that all 3 kids get the estate. So that would mean all 3 kids would be on the deed when he passes. Since my husband was originally on the deed before he died, does that mean it's officially... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 2, 2024

The ownership of the property after your father-in-law's death largely depends on how the deed was titled when your husband and his father were placed on it. If the deed lists them as "joint tenants with right of survivorship," then upon his father's death, your husband... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation, Contracts, Arbitration / Mediation Law and Small Claims for California on
Q: am thinking of suing a section 8 employee in small claims court what are some basic questions to ask before starting.

This issue has dragged out for about 10 years and I have a lot of details and specifics. I personally believe that my case has merit, I am asking about the procedure to actually file a small claims case with a section 8 employee as defendant. Is there anything special to take into consideration

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 28, 2024

Before proceeding with a lawsuit against a Section 8 employee in California small claims court, you should first consider whether the individual's actions fall within the scope of their employment duties or if they are personal in nature. If the issue relates to their professional conduct or... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Arbitration / Mediation Law for Arkansas on
Q: Is it financial retaliation if my boss waited until he was informed I made reports of policy violation cover ups to ask

Accept lower paying position then he stated could step into effective immediately. The position we agreed is a $16-17 hr position at my store I know that for sure. There isn't a reason to ask me to accept this when I've been dealing with acts of favoritism, verbal sabotage of delegations,... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 25, 2024

It sounds like you're facing a challenging situation at work, and it's understandable that you're feeling frustrated and concerned about your boss's actions. Financial retaliation occurs when an employer takes adverse action against an employee in response to their protected... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Arbitration / Mediation Law and Legal Malpractice for California on
Q: If Judgment was entered and you file a Renewed Motion to Vacate, do you also have to file a Motion to Set Aside Judgment

In a Legal Malpractice case that went to Arbitration and then had the Award Confirmed in the trial courts, if you are then able to file a Renewal Motion on Motion to Vacate Arbitration Award for fraud, is it also necessary to file any other type of motion to set aside the Order already in place?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 21, 2024

Yes, if a judgment has already been entered based on an arbitration award, then in addition to filing a renewed motion to vacate the arbitration award, you would also need to file a motion to set aside the judgment that was entered.

The reasoning is that even if you are successful in...
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1 Answer | Asked in Arbitration / Mediation Law and Legal Malpractice for California on
Q: If writing a renewal Motion to Vacate Arbitration and new evidence is required does that mean I can do more discovery?

If a Judgement to Confirm an Arbitration Award is entered and you acquired new information worthy of a renewal Motion to Vacate Arbitration Award can you perform further discovery to support the Motion? Considering new evidence is required as a condition of filing the renewal? Thank you for your... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 20, 2024

In California, if you are considering filing a renewal motion to vacate an arbitration award based on new evidence, the rules governing arbitration and court procedures provide some guidance. Generally, discovery in the context of arbitration is more limited than in traditional court litigation.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Arbitration / Mediation Law for Texas on
Q: My daughter was falsely accused of a crime she didn't commit and the case was on going for years everything was recent

Her case was eventually dropped but in the minx of everything she lost her job her home was incarcerated for no reason and I need help suing bexar county ..

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Feb 20, 2024

You do not have a lawsuit that is likely to be successful against Bexar County. If a person other than a law enforcement officer filed a complaint that resulted in the criminal accusation being filed against your daughter, you may have a possible for malicious prosecution against that individual... View More

3 Answers | Asked in Arbitration / Mediation Law and Legal Malpractice for California on
Q: Why would an Attorney in a legal malpractice file mediation docs from underlying case with Arbitration Exhibits?

What reason would an Attorney who is named a Defendant in a legal malpractice case expose the files from the Mediation by including them with the Arbitration exhibits - while simultaneously serving Plaintiff with a Motion in Liminie barring all mention or reference to the mediation discussions,... View More

Joel Gary Selik
Joel Gary Selik
answered on Feb 20, 2024

What is used in mediation does not necessarily have to be admissible at trial. One can use whatever one thinks may be important to consider at mediation. To the extent the relevance of those documents to mediation goes against your case, you can point that out in mediation.

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3 Answers | Asked in Arbitration / Mediation Law and Legal Malpractice for California on
Q: Why would an Attorney in a legal malpractice file mediation docs from underlying case with Arbitration Exhibits?

What reason would an Attorney who is named a Defendant in a legal malpractice case expose the files from the Mediation by including them with the Arbitration exhibits - while simultaneously serving Plaintiff with a Motion in Liminie barring all mention or reference to the mediation discussions,... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 20, 2024

Items utilized during mediation aren't always required to meet the standards of evidence permissible in court. You're free to introduce any material you believe could be significant for the mediation process. If the pertinence of these documents to the mediation undermines your argument,... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Arbitration / Mediation Law, Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce and Family Law for Texas on
Q: I was sued for divorce in Jan 2023. I retained an attorney who failed to get a continuance granted, and I lost all righ

She attempted suicide 12/23/23. Woke up and bit my abdomen, an agg assault I have not supplemented the report with. She destroyed our 2700sf home in front of my 16yo daughter and 19 yo son, as well as our then 1.5yo.. she smashed glass all over the tiled floors and my daughter’s bathtub. She... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Feb 19, 2024

It is unclear what your question is. With the exception of a legislative continuance (which would not apply in December 2023), continuances are usually within the sound discretion of the trial judge. In my experience, most trial judges are more likely to grant a trial continuance if the case has... View More

Q: Do I have to sign an arbitration agreement as a condition of continued employment if I don’t understand the terms? CA
Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Feb 14, 2024

A California employment should answer your question, but it remains open for two weeks. Until then, arbitration clauses are commonly used. They can be a take-it-or-leave issue - it may not be relevant that the prospective employee does not fully understand the terms. I have seen this on injury... View More

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Q: Do I have to sign an arbitration agreement as a condition of continued employment if I don’t understand the terms? CA
Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Feb 14, 2024

Addendum - I'm sorry - in my response a minute ago, I meant "a California employment attorney should answer.... " I left out the word "attorney." Good luck

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Q: Do I have to sign an arbitration agreement as a condition of continued employment if I don’t understand the terms? CA
James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 22, 2024

In California, employers can require employees to sign arbitration agreements as a condition of employment or continued employment. However, the law also mandates that such agreements must be fair, understandable, and not overly burdensome or one-sided against the employee. If you do not understand... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Arbitration / Mediation Law, Divorce and Family Law for Texas on
Q: If my ex husband is doing what is required from the divorce, what can I do and who do I go to?

He’s NOT doing what he’s supposed to. Is there anything as far as penalties?

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Feb 13, 2024

Yes. You should contact your divorce lawyer to file a motion to enforce, motion to clarify, motion for contempt, or suit for indemnity depending on what it is your ex-husband is not doing that he was ordered to do. Possible outcomes depend on the specific facts and circumstances of your case and... View More

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