{"id":905074,"date":"2025-12-02T16:01:42","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T23:01:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myconstructionexpert.com\/blog\/?p=905074"},"modified":"2025-12-02T16:01:51","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T23:01:51","slug":"mediation-more-than-a-stepping-stone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myconstructionexpert.com\/blog\/mediation-more-than-a-stepping-stone\/","title":{"rendered":"Making Mediation More Than a Stepping Stone"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Angela Sabarese | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theclm.org\/Magazine\/articles\/making-mediation-more-than-a-stepping-stone-nuclear-verdicts\/3248\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">CLM<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a recent CLM webinar discussion, titled, \u201cNuclear (Re)Mediation: Using Nuclear Verdicts Defense Methods at Mediation, Not Just Trial,\u201d Jennifer Aker, managing partner, Tyson &amp; Mendes\u2019 Houston, Dallas, and West Texas offices, along with veteran mediator Doug Glass, Signature Resolution, shared strategies for approaching <a href=\"https:\/\/www.myconstructionexpert.com\/blog\/joint-sessions-for-better-outcomes-mediation-reimagined\/\">mediation<\/a> as a critical destination rather than merely a procedural step in litigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The conversation focused on applying Tyson &amp; Mendes\u2019 &#8220;Nuclear Verdict defense methods&#8221; to mediation settings. With approximately 95% of cases settling before trial, both experts emphasized that preparation for mediation deserves as much attention as trial prep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Mediation is actually a destination. It is the most important thing we can do for most plaintiffs, and I think that it&#8217;s always the most important thing we can do for our clients\u2014for our insurance companies and our direct clients,&#8221; stated Aker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key Mediation Strategies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The speakers outlined several key strategies, including &#8220;accepting responsibility without accepting liability,&#8221; properly grounding settlement offers, and understanding plaintiffs&#8217; motivations beyond monetary considerations. They discussed the importance of having all stakeholders present during mediation, whether in person or via video conference, to facilitate direct communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Glass, who has conducted over 4,500 mediations in his 25-year career, emphasized building credibility with the mediator: &#8220;I settle cases with plaintiffs, not plaintiff attorneys&#8230; I build the case. I start closing the case. I start working on how I&#8217;m going to settle the case from the moment you walk in.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both experts cautioned against treating mediation casually, with Aker recommending attorneys &#8220;suit up and show up&#8221; to demonstrate the seriousness of the process to plaintiffs who may never get their &#8220;day in court&#8221; otherwise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They also addressed the rising trend of virtual mediations, recommending that the format (in-person, virtual, or hybrid) should be a strategic choice rather than a default option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The discussion concluded with agreement that successful mediation requires thorough preparation, understanding of damages, strategic negotiation approaches, and treating the process with the significance it deserves in modern litigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When one of your cases is in need of a construction expert, estimates, insurance appraisal or umpire services in defect or insurance disputes &#8211; please call Advise &amp; Consult, Inc. at 888.684.8305, or email <a href=\"mailto:experts@adviseandconsult.net\">experts@adviseandconsult.net<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Angela Sabarese | CLM In a recent CLM webinar discussion, titled, \u201cNuclear (Re)Mediation: Using Nuclear Verdicts Defense Methods at Mediation, Not Just Trial,\u201d Jennifer Aker, managing partner, Tyson &amp; Mendes\u2019 Houston, Dallas, and West Texas offices, along with veteran mediator Doug Glass, Signature Resolution, shared strategies for approaching mediation as a critical destination rather than&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myconstructionexpert.com\/blog\/mediation-more-than-a-stepping-stone\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Making Mediation More Than a Stepping Stone<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[13],"tags":[9895,79],"class_list":["post-905074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mediation","tag-advise-consult","tag-mediation-2","entry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Making Mediation More Than a Stepping Stone - Advise &amp; 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