Author Archives: abfifer

Quick to Forgive

November 2, 2025 – 9:25 am

A recent article in the Grand Rapids Press on crashes involving Amish vehicles in Michigan highlights how the Amish live out Jesus’ command to forgive. On October 16, 2022, an Amish couple was walking to church along a road in Isabella County when they were struck by a vehicle; the wife died. Some members of […]

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Quick to Forgive

Lawsuit Over Arbitration

October 22, 2025 – 11:43 am

Arbitration is a time-honored dispute resolution process, valued for being both faster than litigation, and private. It has long been the dispute resolution process of choice in the construction industry because it typically resolves disputes more quickly than litigation, allowing the construction to continue. But arbitration may not always be a time- or money-saver. In […]

Posted in Arbitration | Comments Off on Lawsuit Over Arbitration

Revised Mediation Standards Provide Helpful Guidance

July 31, 2025 – 5:17 pm

The ABA and the AFCC (Association of Family and Conciliation Courts) have jointly released the 2025 Revision of the Model Standards for Family and Divorce Mediation. This document replaces the Model Standards adopted in 2000, which have withstood the test of time. Notable in the Revised Standards are some additional topics, such as online dispute […]

Posted in Mediation | Comments Off on Revised Mediation Standards Provide Helpful Guidance

Jesus Was Right About Forgiveness

June 10, 2025 – 10:37 am

“We now have neuroscience support for the ancient teachings of Jesus …” Brain studies are revealing both the negative effects of revenge as well as the positive effects of forgiveness, according to a recent article by James Kimmel, Jr., that appeared in the Wall Street Journal last week, “This Is Your Brain on Revenge.” The […]

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Jesus Was Right About Forgiveness

California Offers Certification for Neutrals

February 13, 2025 – 4:11 pm

California has adopted a law authorizing the California State Bar to certify dispute resolution providers. The Alternative Dispute Resolution Certification Program requires neutrals to comply with ethics and disclosure standards, and to provide a complaint procedure, in order to be certified. The author of the bill, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Tom Umberg, says this law […]

Posted in News & Notes | Comments Off on California Offers Certification for Neutrals