ÿWPC– ÍB«Hž„hÕä ¼ÉØYé9€a¤Šm†iDEr±úÛ—af_6EU^Å…­?ÿnø_Ž=&fé‘ûÖ|0)?KÓ/ȰLÓÈBÝÜòãt3B œ“P÷óåï¢ÐóåTîáç;Æ*FZ"GW°hÕã†êL£‡…ìîQ² <Õ_Ó(:¬Ðë¸/¬ µ‡ƒi–ƒœYãï>«÷tÕzÒÞ1¨|¬P(‰©F¡&k™oNQ©7À‚I 8Œ0J4Òø•­´p‘Ül>õ„+üåJ%ÌýÜyÎÃJN[ò7^âó±4ÙXa¦®Ÿ¥Â¢¦ŽÎ zÿ tG̉<‡¸ë#¸'"¥¥ _:¾éü \®½Òïv&•¥(éÙÜš*йè!Ïç@úí£±cËîfÄ OÅyµýÚ­|/¹ zTêdݿЩÖò§)™ €aè)Ãí8€†b¡&S:M¹¬pVÈZÚÇMl\œ#gÀh‡±íôÓ¤-mfŒâ•)f;‡®ùÔ¢”â½ ~ÅC¸ R ®ÞR ÏÄFYþc 8u/÷“²ò‘|« ‘w˜CðcL‘ØÖXŽËU@À>_š8EôÚkÃ~°4¤-ÕôHë¥ï{&´T\†#É^UN' %u 0:{^ µwÁ4ÅÙè mêN 0VYYYYY5a˜HP Color LaserJet CP1510 Series PCL 6ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô”¡U?8 º>ê:i¢×+003|xÿU‹ÿÿÿÿ(.3½Þ$©©Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  Ý  +Ý ƒ½Þ)ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ‡ôÄòXXÔññDraft€ññÔ_ÔÔ_Ôññ9/30/11ññÔ_Ôà@rrrìàPage€Ú  Ú1Ú  Ú€of€Ú  Ú7Ú  ÚÔ#†Xù8XòôÄM#ÔÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÖ€ÿÿÖà@— — ìàà@@ððìàò òÔ‡¼¦Ì»XXÔUnited€States€Bankruptcy€CourtˆÐ ° Ðà@77ìàNorthern€District€of€GeorgiaÔ#†Xù8X»¼¦Ìy#Ôó ó€ˆÐ Ä ÐÌà@yy ìàò òÔ‡¼¦Ì»XXù8ÔMediation€Procedures€Ô#†Xù8X»¼¦ÌM#ÔˆÐ Ä ÐÌÓÓà  àó óThe€United€States€Bankruptcy€Court€for€the€Northern€District€of€Georgia€encouragesÐ Ä  Ðparties€to€engage€in€mediation€to€resolve€disputes€in€adversary€proceedings€and€contestedÐ œ ì Ðmatters.€€Parties€may€agree€on€the€use€of€a€private€mediator,€or€they€may€request€that€one€of€theÐ t Ä  Ðbankruptcy€judges€serve€as€the€mediator.€€€The€following€sets€forth€general€guidelines€for€partiesÐ Lœ  Ðto€follow€when€they€have€agreed€to€the€mediation€of€disputes€in€a€matter€pending€in€the€NorthernÐ $t  ÐDistrict€of€Georgia.€€The€guidelines€do€not€address€mediation€when€the€parties€have€not€agreed€toÐ üL Ðit.€€Ð Ô$ Ðò òPrivate€mediationó óÐ ¬ü Ðà  àParties€may€engage€in€mediation€with€a€private€mediator€without€the€necessity€of€a€courtÐ „Ô Ðorder.€€Nevertheless,€a€court€order€may€be€necessary€or€appropriate€in€some€instances.€€Ð \¬ Ðà  àIf€the€mediator€will€receive€compensation€from€a€bankruptcy€estate,€court€approval€isÐ 4„ Ðrequired.€€Thus,€anð ðestate€partyðð€(that€is,€a€bankruptcy€trustee€in€a€case€under€any€chapter;€theÐ  \ Ðdebtor€in€a€chapter€13€case;€or€a€debtor„in„possession,€examiner,€or€committee€in€a€chapter€11Ð ä4 Ðcase)€must€file€an€application€for€approval€of€the€mediatorððs€compensation.€€After€filing€theÐ ¼!  Ðapplication,€the€estate€party€should€advise€the€assigned€judgeððs€staff€of€the€filing€of€the€motionÐ ”#ä! Ðand€request€direction€as€to€whether€a€hearing€will€be€necessary€and,€if€so,€the€scheduling€of€theÐ l%¼ # Ðhearing€and€the€persons€who€must€receive€notice€of€it.€€€Ð D'”"% Ðà  àThe€parties€may€request€the€assigned€judge€to€stay€the€pending€litigation€and€toÐ )l$' Ðreschedule€discovery€or€other€deadlines€so€that€the€parties€can€concentrate€on€settlement€andÐ ô*D&) Ðavoid€the€expense€and€distraction€of€prosecuting€or€defending€the€litigation€while€they€areÐ ° Ðengaged€in€the€mediation€process.€€€Ð ˆØ Ðà  àParties€who€engage€in€private€mediation€typically€sign€a€mediation€agreement,€oftenÐ `° Ðprepared€by€the€mediator,€that€deals€with€the€terms,€conditions,€and€procedures€for€the€mediation.€Ð 8 ˆ ÐThe€parties€may€request€that€the€assigned€judge€enter€a€consent€order€incorporating€some€or€all€ofÐ  ` Ðthe€provisions€of€the€mediation€agreement.€€For€example,€the€parties€may€wish€to€have€an€orderÐ è 8  Ðcontaining€provisions€that€preserve€the€confidentiality€of€communications€during€the€mediationÐ À  Ðprocess.€€(Of€course,€if€a€fact€is€disclosed€during€mediation€that€can€be€proved€through€otherÐ ˜è  Ðevidence,€confidentiality€restrictions€do€not€prevent€admission€of€such€other€evidence€to€proveÐ pÀ Ðthe€fact.).€€If€the€parties€do€not€execute€a€mediation€agreement,€they€may€request€that€the€courtÐ H˜ Ðenter€a€consent€order€that€prescribes€the€terms,€conditions,€and€procedures€for€the€mediation.Ð  p Ðà  àIf€the€parties€desire€an€order€with€regard€to€these€or€other€matters€relating€to€theÐ øH Ðmediation,€they€should€contact€the€assigned€judgeððs€staff€for€direction€as€to€whether€the€partiesÐ Ð  Ðshould€submit€a€proposed€consent€order€or€whether€the€judge€will€schedule€a€status€conference€orÐ ¨ø Ðhearing.€€If€the€dispute€is€in€an€adversary€proceeding,€the€consent€order€should€be€prepared€forÐ €Ð Ðentry€in€the€adversary€proceeding.€Ð X ¨ Ðà  àIf€the€parties€do€not€desire€an€order€with€regard€to€the€mediation,€no€order€is€necessary€forÐ 0"€  Ðthe€parties€to€engage€in€private€mediation.Ð $X" Ðò òMediation€by€a€bankruptcy€judgeó óÐ à%0!$ Ðà  àThe€bankruptcy€judge€assigned€to€pending€litigation€may€permit€parties€to€mediate€theÐ ¸'#& Ðdispute€before€another€bankruptcy€judge€in€the€District.€€It€is€permissible€for€the€parties€to€agreeÐ )à$( Ðon€and€request€that€a€particular€bankruptcy€judge€be€designated€to€serve€as€the€mediator.€€BecauseÐ h+¸&* Ðmediation€is€a€voluntary€process€that€depends€on€the€agreement€of€the€parties€and€theirÐ ° Ðconfidence€in€the€neutrality€and€expertise€of€the€mediator,€the€parties€must€be€free€to€select€theirÐ ˆØ Ðown€mediator.€€If€one€of€the€parties€objects€to€a€particular€judge€serving€as€mediator,€they€mayÐ `° Ðjointly€make€that€known,€but€no€one€should€state€to€the€assigned€judge€which€party€opposes€orÐ 8 ˆ Ðprefers€any€particular€judge.€€Ð  ` Ðà  àWhen€parties€desire€to€have€a€bankruptcy€judge€mediate€their€dispute,€they€must€jointlyÐ è 8  Ðadvise€the€assigned€judge€of€that€desire€and€of€their€agreement,€if€any,€with€regard€to€the€selectionÐ À  Ðof€another€bankruptcy€judge€to€serve€as€mediator.€€The€parties€should€contact€the€assignedÐ ˜è  Ðjudgeððs€staff€to€determine€the€procedures€the€assigned€judge€follows€with€regard€to€such€aÐ pÀ Ðrequest.€€The€assigned€judge€will€give€direction€as€to€whether€the€parties€should€submit€a€jointÐ H˜ Ðstipulation€agreeing€to€mediation,€an€application€for€mediation€before€a€bankruptcy€judge,€or€aÐ  p Ðproposed€consent€order.€Under€no€circumstances€should€the€parties€contact€the€judge€the€partiesÐ øH Ðdesire€to€serve€as€mediator€unless€and€until€the€assigned€judge€has€approved€the€mediation€andÐ Ð  Ðdetermined€the€selected€judgeððs€willingness€and€availability€to€serve€as€the€mediator.€Ð ¨ø Ðà  àIf€the€assigned€judge€determines€that€mediation€before€another€bankruptcy€judge€isÐ €Ð Ðappropriate,€the€assigned€judge€will€contact€the€selected€judge€to€determine€his€or€her€availability.€Ð X ¨ ÐIf€the€parties€have€not€expressed€a€preference,€the€assigned€judge€will€contact€other€judges€toÐ 0"€  Ðdetermine€their€availability.€€Once€the€assigned€judge€has€determined€the€availability€of€anotherÐ $X" Ðjudge,€the€assigned€judge€will€enter€an€appropriate€order€designating€the€other€judge€as€aÐ à%0!$ Ðsettlement€judge€to€serve€as€mediator.€Ð ¸'#& Ðà  àThe€order€typically€contains€confidentiality€provisions,€prohibitions€on€admissibility€ofÐ )à$( Ðstatements€made€during€the€mediation€process,€and€express€authorization€of€ex€parte€contactsÐ h+¸&* Ðwith€the€mediation€judge,€because€the€nature€of€mediation€demands€such€contacts.€€The€assignedÐ ° Ðjudge€may€direct€the€parties€to€submit€a€proposed€consent€order€substantially€in€the€form€attachedÐ ˆØ Ðto€these€procedures.€€The€parties€may€request€additional€or€different€provisions€as€may€beÐ `° Ðappropriate€in€the€circumstances.Ð 8 ˆ Ðà  àIf€the€assigned€judge€approves€mediation€before€another€judge,€the€mediation€judge€willÐ  ` Ðcontact€the€parties€with€regard€to€procedures€and€scheduling€for€the€mediation€session.€€TheÐ è 8  Ðassigned€judge€and€the€mediation€judge€maintain€strict€confidentiality.€€Thus,€the€mediation€judgeÐ À  Ðwill€not€report€anything€about€the€mediation€to€the€assigned€judge€other€than€whether€the€disputeÐ ˜è  Ðis€or€is€not€settled.€€Ð pÀ Ðà  àParties€requesting€mediation€with€a€bankruptcy€judge€may€also€request€that€the€assignedÐ H˜ Ðjudge€enter€orders€with€regard€to€a€stay€of€deadlines€for€discovery€and€other€matters€in€theÐ  p Ðpending€litigation,€as€discussed€in€the€preceding€section.€€Ð øH Ðò òMotions€to€require€mediationó óÐ Ð  Ðà  àBecause€mediation€is€a€voluntary€process,€the€Local€Rules€of€the€Bankruptcy€Court€forÐ ¨ø Ðthe€Northern€District€of€Georgia€do€not€contain€procedures€for€mandatory€mediation€or€for€theÐ €Ð Ðfiling€of€a€motion€to€compel€mediation.€€A€party€may,€however,€file€a€motion€to€requireÐ X ¨ Ðmediation€or€a€request€for€a€status€conference€for€the€purpose€of€discussing€the€possibility€ofÐ 0"€  Ðmediation.€€A€party€filing€such€a€motion€or€request€should€contact€the€assigned€judgeððs€staff€forÐ $X" Ðdirection€as€to€the€procedures€the€assigned€judge€follows€with€regard€to€such€a€request.Ð  à%0!$ ÐÌÌÌÌà  àÌÌÌÓÓà@ìì*ìàˆÌÌÌà@þ þ ìàò òIN€THE€UNITED€STATES€BANKRUPTCY€COURTˆÐ \¬ Ðà@7 7 ìàFOR€THE€NORTHERN€DISTRICT€OF€GEORGIAˆÐ H˜ Ðà@ÈÈìà[Name€of€Division]€DIVISIONó ó€ˆÐ 4„ ÐÌIN€RE:à0 ` àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#à:à0À(#À(#àChapter€____Ð`(#(# Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à:à0  àÐüL(#(# Ðò ò[Name€of€Debtor(s)]à0 ¸ àó óà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#à:à0À(#À(#àCase€No.€_____à0 (#(#àÐè8 (# (# Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àDebtor(s).à0 h àà0Àh(#h(#à:à0À(#À(#àÐØ((#(# Ðòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óó:à  àÐ Ä Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à:Ð ° Ðò ò[Name(s)€of€Plaintiff(s)/Movant(s)]ó óà0 h àà0Àh(#h(#à:МìÀ(#À(# Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à:Ð ŒÜ Ðà  àà ` àPlaintiff(s)/Movant(s),à0 À à:ÐxÈÀ(#À(# Ðvs.à0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#à:à  àAdversary€No.€_____________Ðd ´À(#À(# Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à:Ð P!  Ðò òName(s)€of€Defendant(s)/Respondent(s)]ó óà0 À à:ò òÐ<"Œ À(#À(# Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àó ó:Ð ,#|! Ðò òà0  àà ` àó óDefendant(s)/Respondent(s)à0À(#(#à:ò òÐ$h"À(#À(# Ðó óòòóóÌÌà@Ò Ò ìàò òORDER€AUTHORIZING€AND€DIRECTING€MEDIATIONó óˆÐ Ü&,"% ÐÌÓÓà  àThe€parties€have€requested€that€they€be€authorized€to€participate€in€mediation€with€regardÐ ´($' Ðto€the€issues€in€this€proceeding.€€It€appears€that€the€most€productive€form€of€mediation€is€toÐ Œ*Ü%) Ðdesignate€a€current€bankruptcy€judge€with€no€assignment€or€responsibility€for€these€proceedingsÐ d,´'+ Ðas€a€settlement€judge€to€serve€as€a€neutral€mediator€and€that€Bankruptcy€Judge€ò ò[Full€name€ofÐ ° Ðmediating€judge]€ó óis€qualified€and€suitable€to€serve€in€that€capacity.€€Ð à Ðà  àFor€good€cause€shown,€it€is€hereby€ò òORDERED€ó óas€follows:Ð pÀ Ðà  à1.€€The€parties€to€this€proceeding€shall€mediate€the€issues€and€disputes€presented€in€theseÐ P   Ðproceedings.€€Bankruptcy€Judge€ò ò[Surname€of€mediating€judge]ó ó€is€designated€as€a€settlementÐ ( x Ðjudge€with€regard€to€this€matter€for€the€purpose€of€conducting€mediation€proceedings€as€theÐ X  Ðneutral€mediator.€€Such€mediation€shall€be€conducted€at€a€time€and€place€and€in€accordance€withÐ à0  Ðprocedures€mutually€agreed€upon€by€the€parties€and€Judge€ò ò[Surname€of€mediating€judge]ó ó.Ð ¸  Ðà  à2.€€Because€Judge€ò ò[Surname€of€mediating€judge]ó ó€will€be€serving€as€the€neutral€mediatorÐ ˜è Ðin€this€matter€and€because€the€nature€of€the€mediation€process€requires€ex€parte€contacts€andÐ xÈ Ðcommunications€between€the€neutral€mediator€and€each€of€the€sides,€the€prohibitions€of€òòFed.€R.Ð P  ÐBankr.€P.óó€9003€do€not€apply€to€communications€among€the€parties,€their€attorneys,€and€JudgeÐ (x Ðò ò[Surname€of€mediating€judge]ó ó€in€connection€with€the€mediation€proceedings.€€The€parties€andÐ P Ðtheir€attorneys€may,€therefore,€have€ex€parte€communications€with€Judge€ò ò[Surname€ofÐ à0 Ðmediating€judge]ó ó€in€his€capacity€as€the€neutral€mediator€in€connection€with€the€mediationÐ À Ðproceedings.Ð   ð Ðà  à3.€€All€communications€made€by€the€parties€or€their€attorneys€to€each€other€or€to€JudgeÐ x"È  Ðò ò[Surname€of€mediating€judge]ó ó€€in€connection€with€the€mediation€process,€the€conduct€andÐ P$ " Ðdemeanor€of€the€parties€and€their€counsel€during€the€mediation,€and€any€documents€prepared€orÐ 0&€!$ Ðproduced€in€connection€with€the€mediation€process,€including€Judge€ò ò[Surname€of€mediatingÐ (X#& Ðjudge]ó óððs€notes€or€records,€shall€be€confidential€and€shall€not€be€admissible€in€evidence€or€theÐ è)8%( Ðsubject€of€any€discovery€in€any€proceeding€(unless€admissible€or€discoverable€without€regard€toÐ È+'* Ðthe€mediation).€€The€mediation€sessions€and€any€conferences€or€proceedings€in€connectionÐ ° Ðtherewith€shall€be€treated€as€compromise€negotiations€for€purposes€of€the€Federal€Rules€ofÐ ˆØ ÐEvidence,€the€Georgia€Rules€of€Evidence,€or€any€rules€of€evidence€of€any€other€jurisdiction.€€NoÐ `° Ðrecord€will€be€made€of€the€mediation€proceedings.€€Judge€ò ò[Surname€of€mediating€judge]ó ó€isÐ 8 ˆ Ðdisqualified€from€appearing€as€a€witness€in€any€matter,€and€shall€not€be€called€as€a€witness,€withÐ  h Ðregard€to€the€mediation€or€any€matter€arising€out€of€or€related€thereto.Ð ð @  Ðà@šš#ìà[End€of€Order]ˆÐ È  ÐÌò òà@¹¹ìà[If€consent€order,€names€and€signatures€of€consenting€attorneys€may€be€added.]ó ó