Lake County now offers small claim mediation

Lake County residents with pending cases in small claims court will be offered the chance to settle through a new mediation program, officials announced.

Lake County circuit court Chief Judge Fred Foreman announced the establishment of the small claims mediation program in Lake County that will apply to small claims and eviction cases.

The program begins in June. It offers free mediation services — by volunteer members of the Lake County Bar Association — to people acting without an attorney in small claims and other consumer litigation courts.

“One of the primary goals of the small claims mediation program is to serve poor and low-income litigants who have housing, consumer or other disputes to reach a resolution quickly and with a high degree of satisfaction in the outcome,” Foreman said.

“Studies have demonstrated that litigants who participate in mediation often reach a more satisfactory mutual agreement and spend less time litigating before a judge.”

The mediations will take place at the Waukegan courthouse and, if the matter is settled, will result in fewer court appearances.

The Lake County circuit court and the Lake County Bar Association provided four hours of mediation training to Lake County Bar Association member volunteers April 13.

The training covered ethical issues, mediation techniques and both a demonstration by a professional mediator as well as a supervised practice mediation conducted by the trainee.

Professional mediator and McHenry attorney Case Ellis coordinated the curriculum, presented the keynote address and demonstrated mediation techniques, along with attorney Phil Glick of Highland Park, and attorney Meghann Sweeney, the executive director of the International Academy of Dispute Resolution.

“We think the program is a win/win,” said Judge Margaret Mullen, presiding judge of the Lake County Law Division. “The litigants will be happier. The judges will see the cases resolve more efficiently.”

“I would like to thank the Lake County Bar Association for its leadership and its pro bono spirit, as well as its members who have volunteered and agreed to serve the public in this way.”