Civil actions: mediation.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details about the conditions other than the $75,000 limitation that cases must meet to qualify for mediation.

Civil Actions: Mediation in Los Angeles County

AB-1950 allows the Superior Court of Los Angeles to order civil cases into mediation without a $75,000 limit on the amount in dispute and requires reports about these mediations.

What This Bill Does

• Allows the Superior Court of Los Angeles County to order any civil case into mediation, even if it involves more than $75,000.
• Requires cases ordered for mediation to meet all conditions except the $75,000 limit.
• Provides up to 3 hours of free mediation services for cases ordered by the court.
• Permits parties in a case to participate in mediation remotely via phone or video call.
• Prohibits mediations from delaying trial dates or other expedited procedures.

Who It Names or Affects

• People involved in civil cases in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
• The Superior Court of Los Angeles County and its judges.

Terms To Know

Mediation

A process where a neutral person helps people in conflict to reach an agreement without going to court.

Amount in controversy

The total value of money or property that is being disputed in a case.

Limits and Unknowns

• This bill only applies to civil cases in Los Angeles County.
• It does not change the requirement for other counties unless they choose to adopt similar rules.
• The bill will end on January 1, 2032, after which it will no longer be in effect.

Official Summary Text

AB 1950, as amended, Harabedian.
Civil actions: mediation.
Existing law authorizes the presiding judge, or a judge designated as an alternative to judicial arbitration, of the courts of the County of Los Angeles submit to mediation any civil case in which arbitration is otherwise required, as specified. Beginning on January 1, 2027, existing law will prohibit the court from ordering a case into mediation unless, among other required conditions, the amount in controversy does not exceed $75,000.
This bill would authorize the Superior Court of the County of Los Angeles to issue an order permitting any case into mediation, notwithstanding the $75,000 limitation on the amount in controversy described above. The bill would require any case submitted to mediation pursuant to such order to meet all mandatory conditions to qualify for mediation, other than the limitation on the amount in controversy. The bill
would require all cases ordered to mediation to be entitled up to 3 hours of no-cost mediation services provided by a court-sanctioned mediation program. The bill would authorize the parties to appear remotely.
The bill would also prohibit a mediation ordered pursuant to these provisions from delaying or serving as grounds to continue the trial date or otherwise to delay or continue any expedited procedures.
If the presiding judge issues the order described above, the bill would require the court to transmit a report to the Assembly and Senate Committees on Judiciary on or before January 31, 2028, and annually thereafter, containing specified information about the cases submitted to mediation. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2032.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the
County of Los Angeles.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF