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Cobb Mediation, LLC is now The Center for Legal Solutions, Inc. More information We will be closed on November 27, 28, December 25, 26 for the holidays. We are proud to introduce Christopher Annunziata as the newest member of our Panel of Neutrals. Mr. Annunziata (A-nun-zi-ata) is an attorney who litigated commercial, employment, insurance coverage and corporate matters at a major international law firm prior to opening a full time mediation and arbitration practice. See our latest findings: Empirical Analysis of Mediation Comments are welcome. The Historic Anderson Mansion will be a featured destination on this year's Marietta Pilgrimmage Christmas Home Tour and will be the site of this year’s Marietta Olde Marietta Tearoom. Visit us Saturday, December 6th and Sunday, December 7th from 10 am to 4 pm. We recently hosted a special event for Marietta's Strand Theater. Attendees were treated to a preview of the restored Strand Theater and an opportunity to buy season tickets before they went on sale to the general public. See photographs of Strand Event. The Center for Legal Solutions Director Barry Edwards' Article on Comprehensive Arbitration of Domestic Relations Cases in Georgia appears in the latest issue of the Georgia Bar Journal. These web sites offer more information about mediation: American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution Rutgers Conflict Resolution Law Journal More ADR links

About the Author: This research report on Opportunities in the ADR Field in Georgia was compiled by Jennifer Matte. Ms. Matte is Vermont Law School graduate. During law school, she completed an externship with the Consortium for Negotiation and Conflict Resolution. Her work with The Center for Legal Solutions, Inc. has primarily focused on the emergence of specializations within the ADR community. Questions and comments regarding this research may be directed to jmatte@vermontlaw.edu. See State and Local Requirements for: General Civil Mediation Domestic Relations Mediation Arbitration Early Neutral / Case Evaluation Continuing Requirements Opportunities with the National Mediation Board The National Mediation Board has statutory authority to act as a national mediator for the airline and railroad industries Their role is “critical to public interest in maintaining an uninterrupted flow of US Commerce” The board gets involved before methods of self help (strikes, lock outs, etc) are attempted. When involved, the board will allow these methods to be used only after they have determined that further mediation will not be successful and after a 30 day cooling off period has passed The Board was created under the Railway Labor Act Mediation under the act is used to foster the prompt and orderly resolution of collective bargaining disputes in the railroad and airline industries Who performs the mediation? How is this determined? Mediators are assigned by the board’s director of mediation based on factors including their background and the complexity of the case What are the requirements for training in order to mediate these disputes? How much experience is suggested or required? Mediators are typically from wither Union or company backgrounds and have extensive labor relations experience in the rail and/or airline industries Where is this type of mediation performed? NMB has the authority to establish where and when the parties will meet for mediation What is they typical volume of cases mediated? 97% of mediation cases in the history of the board have been successfully resolved without resulting in interruptions to public service Success rate since 1980 is nearly 99% ***FY 2008 plan goal: Continue to develop standard training for mediators to ensure they are kept abreast of the latest trends in mediation and gain additional industry and technical knowledge in both air and rail (pursue joint training ventures with leading academic and industry groups to produce RLA specific mediator and facilitator training) Additional Information on State Requirements: Georgia Supreme Court ADR Rules, Appendix B: Requirements for Training and Qualification of Neutrals Ethics Information from the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Neutral Registration: From the GCDR State Approved Training Programs: Indexed by Type of Training Additional Information on Local Requirements: Clayton Judicial Circuit ADR Rules: See Rule 6: Qualification of Neutrals Cobb County Superior Court Mediation Program: Mediator Qualifications for Certification Cobb County Superior Court Mediation Program: Case Evaluator Qualifications Dekalb County Dispute Resolution Program Policies and Procedure Gwinnett ADR Program Internal Operating Procedures See Rule 1.5: Neutral Qualifications 6th JAD ADR Program Rules and Procedures: See Rule 9: Neutral Qualifications 7th Judicial Administrative District: Mediator Qualifications 9th Judicial Administrative District ADR Rules See Rule 5: Neutral Qualifications for Service in the Program

The Center for Legal Solutions, Inc. 65 Whitlock Avenue Marietta, Georgia 30064 Phone: 770-693-3470   Fax: 770-419-4464