Customers of American Express or Ameriprise Financial have until May 7, 2007, to decide whether to “opt out” or participate in a $100 million dollar class action settlement:
Class Action Settlements

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) March 17, 2007 -- Customers of American Express or Ameriprise Financial have until May 7, 2007, to decide whether to “opt out” or participate in a $100 million dollar class action settlement that covers anyone who paid advisory fees to American Express/Ameriprise between March 10, 1999, and April 1, 2006, or purchased certain proprietary funds offered by American Express/Ameriprise during the same period of time. The settlement resulted from allegations that American Express/Ameriprise financial advisors pushed in-house funds over funds offered by other companies.

Disputes resolved long before they reach jury:
Jury's still out on anti-trial trend

For a judge, Robert Crowley is developing a strange reputation. People say he's anti-trial.
According to lawyers who make their livings arguing their cases, Crowley, a Superior Court justice, is an enthusiastic player in what has become a national trend in state and federal courts among people who see disputes as better resolved long before they reach a jury.

ADR Saves Money whilst Avoiding Litigation:
ADR keeping business out of court

Litigation is an expensive, frustrating and generally inefficient way to resolve disputes. That's why alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is becoming an increasingly popular means of resolving lawsuits before trial and of avoiding litigation altogether.

Legal Colaboration Eases Pain of Divorce:
Colaborative Lawyers shed "attack dog" label

A group of family law attorneys in the Charlottesville area is joining a growing divorce movement that strives to help couples end their marriages without the acrimony and the loss of time, money and control associated with going to court. Collaborative law lawyers shed the "attack-dog" label and the unsettling feelings that accompany it.

Manditory Arbitration Program:
Sweeping Reform introducing Manditory ADR

"Minutes after swearing in Madison County's two new circuit judges, Chief Judge Ann Callis ushered in another sweeping reform. Callis, who ran a successful reform-based retention campaign, announced the adoption of a mandatory arbitration program for the Third Judicial Circuit."

Courtroom ADR:
Trial Skills Lagging

"Wednsday, November 29, 2006 -- Over recent decades, the number of courtroom trials has dropped dramatically in both federal and state courts, according to numerous national studies. Because of the high cost of going to trial, fear of unpredictable jury verdicts, and other factors, many cases instead are being resolved through settlements, mediation, and arbitration, which litigants often prefer to the emotional ordeal of going to court."

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR):
Mediation, arbitration saving businesses time and money

"Sunday, February 12, 2006 -- Lawsuits involving business disputes can be ugly beasts – long, drawn-out, time-consuming, stressful and costly court battles that leave one or both parties feeling less than pleased with the outcome."


Bar Association - Schools:
Boca Raton Middle School students win mediation contest

"BOCA RATON, FL 01/09/2006 -- "The Palm Beach Bar Association and the Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution conducted the "Know Mediation" poster contest for Palm Beach County middle school students. Through the contest, students were encouraged to learn about mediation and discuss its application in relation to current issues and problems."


Consumer Protection:
Well Spent: Mediation an option in business disputes

"...offers consumers free formal mediation through a partnership with the UW Law School. Formal mediation brings the disputing parties together to work out their problems with a neutral referee."


International:
VIENNA, Austria Jan 16, 2006 — (AP) $150 Million in art stolen by Nazis to be returned.

"Austrian arbitration court said Monday Jan. 16, 2006 that art stolen from the family by Nazis, and now in possession of the Austrian government, should be returned."

Labor Relations:
War and Peace: Should You Discipline or Mediate?

NATIONAL 01/09/2006 -- "Toward the end of a seminar concerning performance and conduct issues in the Federal workplace, a senior manager raised his hand. "I've tried mediation 4 times -- all without success." Upon further questioning, I learned each mediation concerned a completed disciplinary action being contested by an employee. No wonder it didn't work -- it was too late. Mediation can often work better than discipline if used in the spirit of modifying the behavior that led to the action."

School Department workers win a raise via non face-to-face style of mediation.
BELLINGHAM (RI) -- "Under mediation, neither side is involved in face-to-face negotiating. The parties exchange information through the mediator. The mediator was called in during the month of September and was reportedly still involved in the talks as recently as last week."


Law School/Education:
Pepperdine University Announces Leadership Appointments in Nation's Top Ranked Dispute Resolution Program

MALIBU, Calif., Jan. 23 /U.S. Newswire/ -- "Pepperdine University has named Thomas Stipanowich as academic director and Peter Robinson as managing director of the School of Law's Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. Currently ranked by US News & World Report as the nation's number one dispute resolution program, the Straus Institute has held the top ranking four years out of the previous seven."


Medical Malpractice:
Doctors, lawyers make deal on medical-malpractice bill  

"Mediation would be mandatory before a lawsuit could proceed, and if it went forward, both sides could agree to binding arbitration to avoid costly litigation."

Intellectual Property/Trademark:
Firm Solves Patent Disputes in Creative Ways  

"The World Intellectual Property Organization has long supported the alternative resolution of patent disputes and has trained intellectual property professionals to serve as arbiters," said Jorge Goldstein, managing director at Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein and Fox."


A National Arbitration Forum arbitrator awards Stevie Wonder the rights to the
Internet domain name stevie-wonder.com

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- "Grammy award-winning musician and
entertainer Stevland Morris (known by the stage name Stevie Wonder)
successfully defended his trademark in arbitration following the discovery
that stevie-wonder.com was being used by another party."