On Bankruptcy and Mediation
Working a plan? (photo by Marilyn Swanson) By: Donald L Swanson In large, complex bankruptcy cases: The mediator must have a plan;Otherwise, the mediator is going to get run over;These are tough cases with very experienced lawyers who often have significant resources to put into the fight; andThe mediator has to be just as resourceful, just... Continue Reading →
“Either this or that” (photo by Marilyn Swanson) By Donald L. Swanson Here’s an important rule for mediators: When the parties try to present you with a binary equation—“either this or that”—reject it; insteadGet the parties involved in the process with you—try to help think your way out of the binary box they are trying to... Continue Reading →
Ignoring? (photo by Marilyn Swanson) By: Donald L Swanson “I have an opening statement that I give at the beginning of every mediation, and it goes like this”: “I don’t have a lot of rules but I have one firm rule and that is nobody uses the ‘F’ word—“final offer.” “And it’s very true. If I... Continue Reading →
https://youtu.be/Nzwt4vdHj70 By: Donald L Swanson Hon. Gerald E. Rosen (Ret.) serves as mediator, arbitrator and neutral evaluator in high-level business cases for the JAMS office in Detroit. Previously, Judge Rosen served as Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, when the City of Detroit filed its Chapter 9 bankruptcy. Shortly thereafter,... Continue Reading →
https://youtu.be/k9xKjDz1IfM By: Donald L Swanson Hon. Gerald E. Rosen (Ret.) serves as mediator, arbitrator and neutral evaluator in high-level business cases for the JAMS office in Detroit. Previously, Judge Rosen served as Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, when the City of Detroit filed its Chapter 9 bankruptcy. Shortly thereafter,... Continue Reading →
https://youtu.be/A0tM0kUr5Cc By: Donald L Swanson Hon. Gerald E. Rosen (Ret.) serves as mediator, arbitrator and neutral evaluator in high-level business cases for the JAMS office in Detroit. Previously, Judge Rosen served as Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, when the City of Detroit filed its Chapter 9 bankruptcy. ... Continue Reading →
By: Donald L. Swanson “I stand at the window of a railway carriage which is traveling uniformly, and drop a stone on the embankment . . . I see the stone descend a straight line. A pedestrian who observes the misdeed from the footpath notices that the stone falls to the earth in a parabolic curve.... Continue Reading →
By Donald L. Swanson Every now and then a mediator gets stiffed on fees. It doesn’t happen often. But it happens. And it’s always a shame. Mediators of bankruptcy disputes have an additional payment-related hurdle they must navigate. The hurdle is this: --Advance court approval is required for getting paid from bankruptcy funds. Statutory Requirements... Continue Reading →
By Donald L. Swanson “The concept of a mediator going outside of the role of just settling a dispute and soliciting money to help settle that dispute is unprecedented in the history of bankruptcy and in the history of mediation as far as I know.” --Judge Steven Rhodes, as quoted in “Detroit Resurrected: To Bankruptcy... Continue Reading →
By Donald L. Swanson “The decision here is most likely all or nothing. One side is going to win and the other side is going to lose—and that’s going to be very happy on one side and very tough on the other side.” --Judge Steven Rhodes, encouraging parties to reach a settlement, as quoted in... Continue Reading →
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