Settlement and Alternative Dispute Resolution
Settlement Fundamentals
Settlement conferences bring parties together to negotiate, often with a judicial officer facilitating. Many courts require at least one conference before trial, and attendance requirements typically extend to persons with settlement authority.
Confidentiality protections vary.
Alternative Names:
Court Settlement Conference, Settlement Meeting
Why it Matters?
Authority requirements are enforced, and courts have sanctioned parties appearing without a representative able to commit to a resolution within the discussed range. For carriers that means sending someone with adequate authority rather than a representative who must call for approval. The judicial officer conducting the conference is usually not the trial judge, and confirming that separation matters before candid discussion.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Who must attend?
Is the trial judge involved?
