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Family Law : Can Mediators Be Compelled to Testify and turn over their confidential notes? HELP

  • 1.  Family Law : Can Mediators Be Compelled to Testify and turn over their confidential notes? HELP

    Posted 10-16-2014 01:29 PM

    I respectfully disagree with Lorraine.  Mediation privilege is not like attorney client or physician patient privilege; the privilege also belongs to the mediator.  Take a look at Evidence Rule 519, which incorporates the guts of the Uniform Mediation Act.  The mediator has an independent privilege not to testify, unless the matter on which testimony is sought is an enumerated exception.

     

    The NJ appellate cases that address mediator privilege have set the threshold high and have frowned upon mediator testimony.

     

    Alice, if you want help, call me offline.

     

    Hanan Isaacs

     


    Hanan M. Isaacs, Esq.

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    Hanan M. Isaacs, P.C.
    4499 Route 27, Kingston, NJ
    t 609.683.7400
    f 609.921.8982
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    [email protected]
    www.hananisaacs.com

    Compassionate counsel; tough advocacy.

     

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    RE: Can Mediators Be Compelled to Testify and turn over their confidential notes? HELP

    Oct 16, 2014 1:16 PM

    Lorraine Medeiros

    Even if the mediation is confidential, if both parties agree to waive any confidentiality or any privilege that may have attached to the mediation, then you can be forced to testify. Otherwise, I think this attorney is just wasting your time.
     
    Lorraine M. Medeiros, Esq.
    56 Ferry Street
    Suite 1
    Newark, New Jersey 07105
     

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  • 2.  RE: Family Law : Can Mediators Be Compelled to Testify and turn over their confidential notes? HELP

    Posted 10-16-2014 04:38 PM
    Alice:

    Trust my friend Hanan. He has been doing mediation longer than just about anybody and he knows this stuff cold.

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    Robert Goldstein Esq.
    Manalapan NJ
    (732)972-1600
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