Court-ordered mediation.

The California Assembly Committee on Judiciary proposes new parameters for court-ordered mediation in civil cases, raising the maximum eligible amount in controversy from $50,000 to $75,000 while establishing additional prerequisites for mediation orders.

Under the proposed changes, courts may only mandate mediation when specific conditions are met: the case must be set for trial, at least one party must express interest in mediation, no ongoing discovery disputes can exist, and parties must have the capability to conduct remote mediation sessions upon mutual agreement. The legislation outlines a mediator selection process giving parties 15 days to mutually agree on a mediator, after which the court appoints one at no cost to the parties according to Judicial Council standards.

The bill sets firm timelines for the mediation process, requiring completion at least 120 days before the scheduled trial date without causing trial delays. Mediation must conclude with either a mutually acceptable agreement or a formal statement of non-agreement. All participating parties and counsel must adhere to existing California Rules of Court mediation procedures, while any determinations regarding the amount in controversy remain separate from ultimate findings on case value.