West Palm Beach mediations will be handled by more than Ms. DiGennaro and Mr. Langer.
Beginning immediately, the OJCC is reassigning mediations. Mediators Bisbee (TLH), Hardy (PNS), Oramas (PMC) and Suskin (GNS) will be handling WPB mediations. This is in response to the Legislature's decision not to fund four of our mediator positions for fiscal 2013. Therefore, the vacancy created by the retirement of Charlotte Hill in District WPB will not be filled. WPB has a busy litigation docket, and to alleviate some of that workload on Ms. DiGennaro and Mr. Langer, cases are being reassigned for mediation.
Obviously the mediation calendars of mediators Bisbee (TLH), Hardy (PNS), Oramas (PMC) and Suskin (GNS) already have appointments on them for their respective Districts. However, ninety days in the future (after July 1, 2012), their calendars are much more open. Our process of reassignment will include rescheduling WPB mediations into current schedules of out-of-district mediators and into their schedules after July 1, 2012..
The long-term process will involve each of the following four mediators having assigned WPB mediation days. They will cover these days by telephone or videoteleconferencing (at the mediator's discretion). The assignments are as follows:
First and Third Tuesday Mr. Hardy, PNS 850.595.6310
First and Third Thursday Mr. Oramas, PMC 850.872.7774
Second and Fourth Tuesday Ms. Bisbiee, TLH 850.488.2110
Second and Fourth Thursday Mr. Suskin, GNS 352.955.2244
Parties and attorneys with questions about mediating with these mediators should contact them directly. It is our goal that the mediations for reassignment will be identified rapidly after the effective petition is filed. Once identified, our staff should be able to set the mediation with one of these "out-of-district" mediators quickly. The parties will then receive their normal mediation notice from the OJCC Clerk.
The process for rescheduling prior to July 1, 2012 is slightly different because notices for the medations before July 1, 2012 have generally already been sent. The OJCC central staff is striving to reset those mediations at the originally scheduled date and time. In some instances, the date is available on one of the four "out-of-district" mediators' calendars, but the original time is not. In a few instances neither the date nor time is available on one of the four "out-of-district" mediators' calendars. Our process is:
1. Attempt to move an identified mediation to the same date and time as reflected for the original mediator.
2. If not possible, attempt to move mediation to the same date as close to the original time as possible.
3. If not possible, move to a date and time as close as possible to the originally scheduled mediation.
All such "rescheduled" mediations will continue to appear on the original mediator's calendar. This facilitates WPB District Staff being aware of parties and attorneys expected to appear. The office of the "out-of-district" mediator will issue amended mediation notices in all instances, so that parties are clearly aware of their mediation time and date, and the identity of the mediator.
If you have questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact me at your convenience. david_langham@doah.state.fl.us or 850.595.6310
