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NEWS
- Press Release
NOVEMBER 9, 2005
LONG ISLAND LAW FIRM HOLDS MARATHON MEDIATION DAY. MORE THAN 150 CASES TARGETED FOR RESOLUTION
GARDEN CITY, NY - Everything from major catastrophic personal injury cases to dog bite claims are on the calendar at a Long Island hotel instead of a courtroom. The law office of Siben & Siben will be holding its annual Mediation Day on Wednesday, November 9, 2005 at the Smithtown Sheraton.
The Bay Shore legal firm came up with the idea 12 years ago by just renting a hotel room. It says response from insurance companies was overwhelming. Adjustors from 15 carriers covering more than a hundred cases showed up to settle claims.
Today, the mediation program has evolved into a well-orchestrated settlement initiative with literally dozens of insurance carriers evaluating potential cases for inclusion on the day. For the past 8 years, National Arbitration and Mediation (NAM) of Garden City has been the administrator of the annual settlement project, providing scheduling and coordination services, as well as Hearing Officers-highly qualified top-tier retired judges and experienced lawyers with specific expertise in resolving disputes. They have been able to resolve up to 85% of the cases on Mediation Day-with a typical settlement of $75,000 per client.
This year, as part of its administrative services, NAM has invited every carrier that handles claims in New York to participate on the November 9th day, and the company reports broad buy-in.
Roy Israel, President & CEO of NAM stated, "In the present environment, as only approximately 2% of cases go to verdict, this type of initiative makes a lot of sense."
Dawn Strahm, the NAM Administrator overseeing the program has indicated that "her team is helping to prepare the files for the day by helping the carriers obtain medicals and authorizations, coordinating with Siben & Siben to have clients present on certain cases for scar reviews, as well as working with the carriers to correctly index the massive number of cases being evaluated for the day."
NAM Mediators scheduled to lend their services on the November 9 day will be: Judge John P. DiBlasi (former Justice of the Supreme Court, Westchester County), Judge Joseph J. Kunzeman former Associate Justice, Appellate Division, 2nd Dept.; Supreme Court, Queens County), Judge Herbert J. Lipp (Former Justice of the Supreme Court, Kings County), Judge Jack Mackston (former Justice of the County Court, Nassau), Judge Barbara Odwak (Master Arbitrator, Kings County), Judge Harry E. Seidell (former Justice of the Supreme Court, Suffolk County), Judge William C. Thompson (former Associate Justice, Appellate Division, 2nd Dept., Supreme Court, Kings County), with additional mediators likely to be added as the calendars fill.
Stephen Siben, Managing Partner of Siben & Siben, says, "Mediation day is important because it speeds up the settlement process. Certainly, it's not called for in all cases, but it makes it more economical for both plaintiffs and defendants. Plaintiffs ultimately benefit from the process because they don't have to spend money and hours waiting around court."
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