Hard Times Get Tougher?

I am an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Professional in New Mexico, and I wrote earlier in the year on another blog about "the new normal" of low, slow growth.  Recently, the Chief Economist for the Bank of New York Mellon, Richard B. Hoey, suggested that the situation could now be quite worse.  

Mediating Neighborhood Disputes*

As a "community mediator" in Albuquerque, New Mexico, I deal with a lot of disputes between neighbors.  Today, these neighbors are increasingly part of a well-regulated association, and their disputes that are particularly amenable to mediation due to the sensitive or "hot button" nature of issues concerning home.

Foreclosure Mediation - Limitations and Concerns*

As part of my New Mexico mediation practice, I find I am increasingly being referred residential foreclosure mediation cases.  This is no accident as today, an increasing number of states and/or individual state courts are utilizing foreclosure mediation programs to manage the current "foreclosure crisis." Some states with such programs, either state-wide or local include: Connecticut; Delaware; Florida—various judicial districts; Kentucky—Jefferson County; Maine; Maryland; Michigan; Nevada; New Jersey; New Mexico—First and Thirteenth Judicial Districts; New York; Ohio—various counties; Oregon; Pennsylvania—various counties; Rhode Island—Providence. 

A recurring and thorny dilemma for mediators today is how to conduct and what are the proper parameters for a foreclosure mediation or settlement facilitation.