RATES AND OTHER POLICIES

RATES

Mediation time will be charged at rates listed below. Unless otherwise agreed, each participating party will be billed equally. A “party” to the mediation for billing purposes means each named party in the litigation or arbitration that is represented by separate counsel, and each named party that is unrepresented.

The Mediator will charge for all time spent on a case, including, but not limited to, preparation time, telephone conferences, email or other correspondence, attendance at the mediation conference, any follow-up conferences, (in person or by telephone), mediator assistance with the preparation of agreements by or among the parties, preparation of any report by the Mediator to the counsel or the Court, and any collection efforts (including, but not limited to, attorney’s fees and costs).

HOURLY RATES AND MINIMUM FEES

  • $250 per hour per party ($500 per hour total) for two party mediations;
  • $225 per hour per party ($775 per hour total) for three-party mediations;
  • $200 per hour per party for mediations for four or more parties.

The minimum fee for half-day mediation is four hours at the rates set forth above (three hours for the mediation conference and one hour for preparation). For full-day mediations, the minimum fee is eight hours (six hours for the mediation conference and two hours of preparation).

TRAVEL CHARGES

There will be no charge for travel time to mediation conferences conducted in the following Florida counties: Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Manatee, and Sarasota. Travel time to other locations will be billed at one-half of the regular hourly rate unless other terms have been agreed upon in advance.

If airline travel or an overnight stay is necessary to attend a mediation conference, then airfare, rental car, lodging, and food expenses will be billed at their actual cost.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Mediation engagements are accepted to the exclusion of scheduling other work for the day and time that has been reserved for your mediation. In the event of a cancellation or rescheduling, we must receive email notice of the cancellation or rescheduling at least ten (10) calendar days before the scheduled mediation conference. In the absence of such notification, the parties will be charged the following cancellation/rescheduling fees:

For a half-day mediation there will be a three (3) hour minimum charge at the rates set forth above to be divided and paid equally by each party’s counsel. For a full-day mediation there will be a six (6) hour minimum charge at the rates set forth above to be divided and paid equally by each party’s counsel. Unless the parties agree in writing as to which party or parties should pay the cancellation fee, counsel for each party will be responsible for paying that party’s equal share of the cancellation fee. If there is a dispute among the parties as to which party is responsible for the cancellation fee, the cancellation fees must be timely paid, and counsel will have the ability to file an appropriate motion with the court or arbitration forum to seek reimbursement from other parties.

Cancellation fees are to be paid whether a mediation conference is cancelled or rescheduled. If another mediation conference can be scheduled for the date and time reserved for a cancelled mediation conference, the parties will not be responsible for payment of cancellation fees.

PAYMENT AND ADVANCE DEPOSITS

Typically, an invoice for mediation fees will be emailed or otherwise provided to each attorney for a party and to each unrepresented party following the conclusion of a mediation conference. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties in two party mediations, the mediation fees at the rates set forth above will be divided equally between the parties as defined above. In mediations involving more than two parties, mediation fees at the rates set forth above will be invoiced to counsel for each party as defined above for payment and to any unrepresented party. Each attorney representing a party or his or her law firm will be invoiced for mediation fees and is responsible for payment of the invoiced mediation fees for the named party or parties represented. Payment is due within fifteen (15) days of the date of the invoice. The obligation to pay mediation fees is not conditioned upon the parties reaching a settlement during or after the mediation conference, the completion of any agreed upon settlement, or the receipt of settlement funds. If collection efforts are required, each attorney or law firm for a represented party or any unrepresented party shall be responsible to pay attorney’s fees and costs for the time spent collecting an invoice.

Scott Ilgenfritz Mediation may, in its sole discretion, determine that an advance deposit is necessary. The Mediator will provide notice to an unrepresented party or counsel for a party of the amount of the deposit required in advance of the mediation conference. The failure to pay an advance deposit required by the Mediator by the deadline set forth in the notice will result in the cancellation of the mediation conference.