Last Friday I mediated a matter involving 8 parties, with two attorneys in New York, one in California, and four in Nevada. Not even one of them came to my office. We held the entire mediation remotely via video conference. We held joint sessions with all participants, attorneys-only sessions, and we held caucuses in virtual “rooms” for each group of parties or individual and their counsel. I did my normal thing, shuffling ideas, reality testing, and communicating demands and offers throughout the day. While I was in another “room”, those in a virtual room had their privacy and were able to speak among themselves securely, knowing that neither I nor the other parties could hear their deliberations. Some participated with video and others only through audio.
With today’s video-conferencing capability, anyone with a smart phone can participate in a mediation remotely. I held a mediation last month with two parties in Moscow and others in my office. The world is shrinking, and we can use technology to conduct resolve disputes even as we are working from home during the COVID-19 shutdown. Think about the cases on your docket right now that could be resolved while everyone is at home. Put those smart phones to work and let’s get resolving your cases! Call me to find out more.
Hon. Jay Young (Ret.) is a retired judicial officer with decades of experience presiding over complex civil litigation matters. Following a distinguished career on the bench, Judge Young now serves as a mediator, arbitrator, and court‑appointed special master, and discovery referee. Judge Young brings a disciplined, impartial, and results‑oriented approach to dispute resolution. Judge Young is based in Nevada and accepts appointments statewide and nationally, subject to agreement or court order. He can be reached at 855.777.4557 or info@armadr.com
Known for judicial temperament, analytical rigor, and practical problem‑solving, Judge Young assists litigants and counsel in resolving high‑stakes disputes efficiently and with integrity and employing best practices. He is recognized by U.S. News and World Report’s publication Best Lawyers as Arbitration Lawyer of the Year.