The Federal Circuit recently handed down its decision in the CEATS v. Continental case.  If I were teaching Mediation this year, I’d spend some real time on it.

Quick summary (oversimplifying for purposes of clarity here): Mediator appointed to patent case.  Case didn’t wind up settling, and it proceeded to trial.  After jury verdict, losing party discovered that the mediator had a prior relationship with the prevailing party.  Losing party seeks FRCP 60(b) relief.  Court says, “Yes, mediator should have disclosed the relationship, but no, relief from judgment is not available.”

Lots in there worthy of time and consideration.  How did the court come to cite and apply things like the Model Standards of Conduct to this mediator?  What, if any, consequences could there be for failure to disclose?  (Private liability, as I’ve written previously, here, unlikely to be successful.)  If the presence of a subsequent jury trial stands as evidence of a cure of any alleged prior mediator misconduct, what incentives does that create within mediation?  Does the conflict rule applied to judges and arbitrators make sense for mediators?  Etc.

MM