Author Archives: abfifer

Are Mediator Statements Confidential Too?

March 12, 2021 – 4:23 pm

Confidentiality in mediation typically refers to communications made by the parties and their attorneys. What about statements made by the mediator? Are those confidential? And if so, what should a mediator do when a party publicizes a statement allegedly made by the mediator in mediation, especially if it’s inaccurate? This happened to a mediator colleague […]

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James Cameron, Hero

December 16, 2020 – 1:40 pm

I’m fascinated by stories of forgiveness, and I just discovered another one that needs to be told: the biography of James Cameron. When he was 16, he and a couple slightly older friends decided one night to pull a carjacking. His buddies gave him a gun. But when he approached the young unsuspecting couple sitting […]

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The New ICC

December 9, 2020 – 7:51 pm

The Institute for Christian Conciliation (ICC) was formed nearly three decades ago, as the division within Peacemaker Ministries dedicated to managing cases and training “conciliators” to intervene in other people’s conflicts. In 2016, Peacemaker Ministries, in order to streamline its focus, transferred the ICC to a new entity called “ICC Peace.” ICC Peace was organized […]

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Bishop’s Apology Doesn’t Meet Basic Conditions

September 4, 2020 – 3:58 pm

The former bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston West Virginia Diocese issued an apology last month for misconduct that occurred while he was bishop. After Pope Francis accepted Bishop Michael J. Bransfield’s resignation in 2018, the Vatican investigated allegations that he had spent millions on personal extravagances and gifts to fellow clerics, and that he harassed seminarians […]

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Risks of Mediator Proposals

July 13, 2020 – 11:45 am

As a facilitative mediator, I’ve never been a fan of mediator proposals. This article by a judge-turned-mediator, The Danger of Mediator Proposals, does a great job explaining why. In addition, I would note that, while mediator proposals can help parties settle on a dollar figure, parties who focus on money alone will miss the non-monetary […]

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