Let's face it: no one is ever reaching out to a mediator on their best day ever. It means there is some sort of issue that is or has the potential to be expensive, time-consuming, and draining on many fronts, including emotionally. Making it to the mediation alone is not adequate preparation for a high chance of success. These are the things you should be thinking about heading into mediation to get started on the right foot and produce the best chances of resolution!

The official end date for eviction moratoriums has been looming for some time. When I last wrote on the subject, the end of this year was projected. Los Angeles City Council recently voted to end the moratoriums for non-payment of rent on Jan. 31, 2023. Now, it looks like there’s a chance that may even be moved up pending the outcome of an injunction granted to landlord groups in federal court.

As things start to return to normal, the eviction proceedings have begun to follow suit. Tenants behind on rent who aren’t already, will begin experiencing pressure from their landlords to either pay what they owe, or face eviction and potentially money judgments against them. However, changes in policy can affect landlords and tenants alike. There are several things to consider when deciding what to do, whether you’re the landlord or the tenant in this situation. Here is some pertinent information to help you.

I’ve recently spoken about doing mediation early on whenever possible. As important as recognizing that you need mediation is understanding that you need to prepare for it. It’s important to have a decent understanding of your situation and the mediation process before you schedule a mediation session in order to get the most out of it. Here are some tips on how to prepare yourself.

Property defects are one of my favorite types of meditations. Always full of surprises and strange details always unfolding. While they are interesting for me to understand, they are obviously something you all will want to avoid! Here are some observations and quick tips on how to (hopefully) avoid encountering a property defect issue as either a buyer or seller.

Far too often, parties end up in mediation a little later in the game, having missed some opportunities to save big on costs, stress, and all the headaches and uncertainty that come with litigation. Sometimes, it is because the parties are unaware of mediation and its benefits, or because a party refuses. Other times, the conversation with the client about mediation may not be convincing enough to encourage them to try it early on. Here are some thoughts on approaching mediation early!