Chapter 44 — Chapter 44

As used in this chapter:(1) “Arbitration” means a process whereby a neutral third person or panel, called an arbitrator or arbitration panel, considers the facts and arguments presented by the parties and renders a decision which may be binding or nonbinding as provided in this c…

(1) Court-ordered mediation shall be conducted according to rules of practice and procedure adopted by the Supreme Court.(2) A court, under rules adopted by the Supreme Court:(a) Must, upon request of one party, refer to mediation any filed civil action for monetary damages, prov…

(1) Court-ordered, nonbinding arbitration shall be conducted according to the rules of practice and procedure adopted by the Supreme Court.(2) A court, pursuant to rules adopted by the Supreme Court, may refer any contested civil action filed in a circuit or county court to nonbi…

(1) Two or more opposing parties who are involved in a civil dispute may agree in writing to submit the controversy to voluntary binding arbitration, or voluntary trial resolution, in lieu of litigation of the issues involved, prior to or after a lawsuit has been filed, provided …

(1) The Supreme Court shall establish minimum standards and procedures for qualifications, certification, professional conduct, discipline, and training for mediators and arbitrators who are appointed pursuant to this chapter. The Supreme Court is authorized to set fees to be cha…

(1) Arbitrators serving under s. 44.103 or s. 44.104, mediators serving under s. 44.102, and trainees fulfilling the mentorship requirements for certification by the Supreme Court as a mediator shall have judicial immunity in the same manner and to the same extent as a judge.(2) …

(1) Mediation and arbitration should be accessible to all parties regardless of financial status. A filing fee of $1 is levied on all proceedings in the circuit or county courts to fund mediation and arbitration services which are the responsibility of the Supreme Court pursuant …

(1) The chief judge of a judicial circuit, after consultation with the board of county commissioners of a county or with two or more boards of county commissioners of counties within the judicial circuit, may establish a Citizen Dispute Settlement Center for such county or counti…

Sections 44.401-44.406 may be known by the popular name the “Mediation Confidentiality and Privilege Act.”

(1) Except as otherwise provided, ss. 44.401-44.406 apply to any mediation:(a) Required by statute, court rule, agency rule or order, oral or written case-specific court order, or court administrative order;(b) Conducted under ss. 44.401-44.406 by express agreement of the mediati…

As used in ss. 44.401-44.406, the term:(1) “Mediation communication” means an oral or written statement, or nonverbal conduct intended to make an assertion, by or to a mediation participant made during the course of a mediation, or prior to mediation if made in furtherance of a m…

(1) A court-ordered mediation begins when an order is issued by the court and ends when:(a) A partial or complete settlement agreement, intended to resolve the dispute and end the mediation, is signed by the parties and, if required by law, approved by the court;(b) The mediator …

(1) Except as provided in this section, all mediation communications shall be confidential. A mediation participant shall not disclose a mediation communication to a person other than another mediation participant or a participant’s counsel. A violation of this section may be rem…

(1) Any mediation participant who knowingly and willfully discloses a mediation communication in violation of s. 44.405 shall, upon application by any party to a court of competent jurisdiction, be subject to remedies, including:(a) Equitable relief.(b) Compensatory damages.(c) A…

(1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.—The Legislature finds that:(a) Denying an elder a voice in decisions regarding himself or herself may negatively affect the elder’s health and well-being, as well as deprive the elder of his or her legal rights. Even if an elder is losing capacity to mak…