(a) Purpose.  The court recognizes that full, formal litigation of claims can impose large economic burdens on parties and can delay resolution of disputes for considerable periods.  The court also recognizes that sometimes an alternative dispute resolution procedure can improve the quality of justice by improving the parties’ clarity of understanding of their case, access to evidence, and satisfaction with the process and result.  The court adopts these ADR Local Rules to make available to litigants a court-sponsored ADR mediation process to provide quicker, less expensive, and potentially more satisfying alternatives to continuing litigation without impairing the quality of justice or the right to trial.

Commentary

The Alternative Dispute Resolution Act of 1998, 28 U.S.C. Sections 651-658, requires each federal district court to authorize by local rule the use of at least one ADR process in all civil actions.  In accordance with § 651(c), the court has examined the effectiveness of its ADR programs and has adopted improvements consistent with the Act.

(b) Scope.  These ADR Local Rules became effective January 3, 2003, are revised as of May 27, 2016, and shall govern actions pending or commencing on or after the date revised.  These rules supplement the Local Civil Rules of the court and, except as otherwise indicated, apply to appropriate original civil actions as determined by the court with the aid of the parties, but not including actions involving pro se litigants, mortgage foreclosures, social security, prisoner civil rights, student loan default, and bankruptcy appeals.