Landlord and Tenant Mediation Program
The Landlord and Tenant Mediation Program provides mediation services to disputing parties in cases filed in the Superior Court's Landlord and Tenant Branch. Legally these cases begin as a claim for possession, but they may also involve unpaid rent, complaints about living conditions, security deposit refunds or other rent or lease-related disputes. Mediators help parties discuss options to resolve their dispute and, whenever possible, write an agreement that settles the case without a trial.
Landlord and Tenant Court holds hearings every weekday. Before the hearings, the presiding judge provides the litigants with information about mediation and indicates the presence and availability of mediators. After the judge's introductory remarks, parties may seek out the mediators and, if both parties agree, conduct mediation that same day. In special cases, arrangements to schedule the mediation for a future date also can be made. At this stage, mediation is voluntary. If either party requests a jury trial, mediation then becomes mandatory.
Most mediation sessions for Landlord and Tenant cases are held the same day, and mediators may choose to mediate from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. A single mediator typically conducts these sessions. However, on occasion a co-mediation model (that is, two mediators working with the parties to a single case) may be used for training purposes.
How to Apply
Multi-Door recruits mediators in two ways. Trained and highly-qualified mediators should apply through the open enrollment process. Applying through the open enrollment process does not guarantee you will be selected. Applications are reviewed on an as needed basis. Based on your application Multi-Door may qualify you conditionally. If you qualify, Multi-Door staff will arrange to observe you in a mediation session. If your application is accepted, you will be invited to mediate in a Multi-Door program on an as needed basis. Please mail your application to:
Superior Court of the District of Columbia
Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division
515 5th Street, N.W.
Suite 105
Washington, D.C. 20001
Open Enrollment Application
People interested in mediating in a Multi-Door's program who do not meet the minimum qualification in the Open Enrollment Application may apply to attend a training, when offered. We typically train in a particular program once every three years. Multi-Door does not have any trainings scheduled at this time. If you would like to be notified of our next training, please send us your email address and we will contact you when we schedule our next training.
Click here to send us your email to be notified of our next mediation program training.
<-Previous Next->
|
