Central Florida Mediation Group

Why I Choose to Mediate

       I began my legal career as a litigator in 1980. It did not take long for me to recognize the inherent problems with the litigation process. The first consideration is the risk involved in allowing a judge or a jury to decide the final disposition of your client's case. In short, I have learned in the past thirty plus years as a litigator that no one can guarantee what a judge or a jury is going to do with a case. For the parties, litigation is not fun. In fact, it is very time consuming, extremely expensive and emotionally draining.

     Mediation affords the parties the opportunity to resolve the controversy that exists by and between themselves. At mediation the parties control their own destiny. They are in control and get to determine a final disposition of their case.

Biography

      In 1978 I was admitted to the Florida Bar. After serving as an Assistant County Attorney for Polk County, I accepted an associate position with the Peterson, Myers law firm in Lake Wales. There I was involved in general as well as family law litigation. I moved to Lakeland in 1981 as a defense attorney with Schott & Dale, P.A. Thereafter, I had a plaintiff personal injury, medical malpractice and family practice with Frost & Dale, P.A.

     I began to shift my practice from litigation to mediation in the late 1990's. I have been extremely fortunate in that I have now conducted in excess of 2,000 mediations in 17 different counties of our state. I have mediated cases in the following areas of law: personal injury/wrongful death, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, contract disputes, dissolution of marriage (including past-judgment modification), employment, bad faith, probate, and real estate foreclosures and other real property disputes.

     As a result of the tremendous growth of my mediation practice, I now maintain a very small law practice mainly doing personal injury/wrongful death (plaintiff and defense) as well as some criminal and family matters.

Membership and Affiliations

• Florida Circuit-Civil Mediator Society
• National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
• Lakeland Bar Association
• Polk County Trial Lawyers Association
• Past Member of Wilson Inns of Court, an invitation-only group of judges and lawyers dedicated to returning civility to the practice of law.
• Retained Speaker - Annual Conference of the National Association of Legal Professionals ("How To Prepare for Mediation")

Rate

2 Party Mediation: $150.00 per party

3 Party Mediation: $100.00 per party

4 Party Mediation: $87.50 per party

5 Party Mediation: $80.00 per party

6 Party Mediation: $75.00 per party