Covid-19 has closed businesses, moved school instruction online, delayed surgeries and created suffering and health fears throughout the United States. To say the least, the last two months have been very challenging. With civil trials suspended, Covid-19 also has significantly disrupted civil litigation. It is unclear how civil jury trials will be handled once the stay in place orders are lifted. How will courts address social distancing concerns to safeguard court personnel, attorneys and litigants? Will courts assemble jurors before widespread testing or vaccines are available? Criminal matters, unlawful detainers and preference cases likely will be prioritized. Meanwhile, the backlog of civil cases is growing. Covid-19 related litigation itself is expected to add significantly to the courts’ already heavy caseload. Further continuances of existing court dates are anticipated. More delays and increased litigation costs will follow.
Covid-19 has closed businesses, moved school instruction online, delayed surgeries and created suffering and health fears throughout the United States. To say the least, the last two months have been very challenging.
With civil trials suspended, Covid-19 also has significantly disrupted civil litigation. It is unclear how civil jury trials will be handled once the stay in place orders are lifted. How will courts address social distancing concerns to safeguard court personnel, attorneys and litigants? Will courts assemble jurors before widespread testing or vaccines are available? Criminal matters, unlawful detainers and preference cases likely will be prioritized. Meanwhile, the backlog of civil cases is growing. Covid-19 related litigation itself is expected to add significantly to the courts’ already heavy caseload. Further continuances of existing court dates are anticipated. More delays and increased litigation costs will follow.
Remote alternative dispute resolution services can help reduce the backlog and ease the burden on courts and litigants.
For example, special masters streamline discovery and overall case management and address problems before they evolve into unnecessarily expensive and time-consuming disputes. Special masters allow parties to preserve their right to trial, while minimizing litigation risks and delays and maximizing settlement opportunities. Just last year the ABA encouraged the accelerated use of special masters to “aid in the ‘just, speedy and inexpensive’ resolution of cases.” ABA Resolution 100. Special masters can advance these goals largely through focused and strategic teleconferences.
Many mediators, referees, attorneys, carrier representatives and litigants started using virtual mediation for the first time during the shelter in place. The popular Zoom video platform is easy to use and a simple way to navigate these sessions. All participants need is a strong and secure Wi-Fi connection, a computer with a camera, the Zoom app and some basic instruction to gain confidence in the process. The mediator guides participants through virtual rooms and advances settlements through confidential negotiations. A brief overview of the tools used by participants in a Zoom mediation follows; the platform also offers short, helpful online tutorials.
Facetime is another option for mediating simple, two party disputes.
State and federal courts are using the Zoom platform for mediations and judicial hearings. The process works equally well for arbitration hearings. Further, court reporting services are offering free technical training to prepare participants, particularly with the introduction and marking of exhibits.
Clearly, virtual sessions are not the perfect substitute for in person negotiations or hearings. In person meetings allow participants to interact informally, read body language, look each other directly in the eye, express empathy with a pat on the back and seal a settlement with a handshake. High emotion cases, such as wrongful death and medical malpractice cases, may be especially challenging to negotiate remotely. Business, commercial and construction cases may be more suitable for remote resolution.
On the other hand, virtual meetings significantly reduce travel costs and time commitments and make it easier to schedule meetings. Participants can simultaneously see each other’s reactions onscreen. As technological advances continue to improve the speed and quality of videoconferences and people become more comfortable with the technology, virtual sessions will continue to grow in popularity. Zoom recently reported 300 million daily users. All businesses are learning to thrive under these new and unique conditions, and this is a great time to master this phenomenal tool.