Chapter 5, ARBITRATION AND AWARD

5-507. Programs or individuals in dispute resolution; approval of; application; annual report. (a) A program or individual not connected with a court and desiring approval may apply to the director to be approved under the dispute resolution act by submitting an application which…

5-508. Same; funds; fees. An approved program or individual may use sources of funds, both public and private, in addition to funds appropriated by the legislature. An approved program or individual may require each party to pay a fee to help defray costs based upon ability to pa…

5-509. Same; cases accepted. (a) Upon finding that alternatives to litigation may provide a more appropriate means to resolve the issues in a case and that the costs of the dispute resolution process are justified relative to the parties' ability to pay such costs, a judge may or…

5-510. Supreme court adopts standards; ethics requirements; compensation for services. (a) After reviewing the recommendations of the advisory council on dispute resolution, the supreme court shall adopt rules which establish standards for training and qualifications for neutral …

5-511. Rules of procedure and ethics. Approved programs and individuals providing services under the dispute resolution act shall comply with rules of procedure and ethics as set forth by the supreme court or the director. History: L. 1994, ch. 217, § 11; L. 1996, ch. 140, § 11; …

5-512. Confidentiality of proceedings. (a) All verbal or written information transmitted between any party to a dispute and a neutral person conducting a proceeding under the dispute resolution act or the staff of an approved program shall be confidential communications. No admis…

5-513. Immunity from liability. No neutral person, staff member, or member of a governing board of an approved program may be held liable for civil damages for any statement or decision made in the process of dispute resolution unless such person acts, or fails to act, in a manne…

5-514. Mediation agreement. If the parties involved in the dispute reach an agreement, the agreement may be reduced to writing and signed by the parties. The agreement shall set forth the settlement of the issues and the future responsibilities of each party. If a court referred …

5-515. Statute of limitations. During the period of the dispute resolution process, any applicable statute of limitations shall be tolled as to the parties. The tolling shall commence on the date that the parties jointly agree in writing to participate in a proceeding under the d…

5-516. Supreme court adopts rules. The supreme court, upon recommendation by the director in consultation with the council, shall adopt rules for the administration of the dispute resolution act and to prescribe ethics requirements and standards for approved programs and individu…

5-517. Dispute resolution fund; expenditures. There is hereby created the dispute resolution fund in the state treasury which shall be administered by the judicial administrator. All expenditures from the dispute resolution fund shall be for the purpose of carrying out the disput…

5-518. Intentional avoidance of mediation; penalty. (a) The avoidance of mediation ordered pursuant to K.S.A. 5-509, and amendments thereto, without just cause or excuse, shall constitute evidence of bad faith. (b) Upon a finding that a party to a dispute has acted in bad faith b…