Mediation Archives - ADR Systems

ADR Systems

News

Personal Injury Settlement Report: July 2026

Personal Injury Settlement Report: July 2026

August 17, 2026

ADR Systems has released its Personal Injury Settlement Report for July 2026, which features a sample of unique personal injury cases settled by our mediators in the previous month. Review the report now. Case Types, Neutrals & Claims This month’s report features product liability, police chase and medical malpractice cases settled by Hon. Christopher E. Lawler, (Ret.), […]

Read More
Making Time Standards Work for You

Making Time Standards Work for You

July 23, 2026

This article was originally published in the Illinois Bar Journal and can be accessed here. Beginning July 1, 2022, the Illinois supreme court imposed Time Standards for Case Closure for lawsuits filed on or after Jan. 1, 2022 (the “Time Standards”).[1] The Supreme Court determined that an outer limit of 36 months is appropriate for 98 percent of cases to […]

Read More
How Our Neutrals Mediate Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death & Auto Liability Disputes

How Our Neutrals Mediate Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death & Auto Liability Disputes

July 21, 2026

ADR Systems’ senior mediators and arbitrators are so effective at settling medical malpractice, wrongful death and auto liability disputes that they appear in almost every edition of our monthly Personal Injury Settlement Reports. Our neutrals’ skill at settling these cases is rooted in their legal acumen and ability to facilitate constructive negotiations between the parties […]

Read More
Personal Injury Settlement Report: June 2026

Personal Injury Settlement Report: June 2026

July 13, 2026

ADR Systems has released its Personal Injury Settlement Report for June 2026, which features a sample of unique personal injury cases settled by our mediators in the previous month. Review the report now. Case Types, Neutrals & Claims This month’s report features medical malpractice, negligence, premises liability and sexual assault cases settled by Hon. Dennis J. […]

Read More
How You Can Overcome Obstacles to Settlement in Mediation

How You Can Overcome Obstacles to Settlement in Mediation

June 30, 2026

Litigation is civil combat. Mediation is not. It is the facilitated negotiation of a settlement that concludes all litigation. But getting to a signed settlement agreement requires negotiation, where certain obstacles can hamper, prolong or even derail the mediation process. In this article, we identify common obstacles to effective negotiation observed by our neutrals and […]

Read More
Personal Injury Settlement Report: May 2026

Personal Injury Settlement Report: May 2026

June 15, 2026

ADR Systems has released its Personal Injury Settlement Report for May 2026, which features a sample of unique personal injury cases settled by our mediators in the previous month. Review the report now. Case Types, Neutrals & Claims This month’s report features construction accident, negligence, product liability and wrongful death cases settled by Hon. John P. […]

Read More
Personal Injury Settlement Report: April 2026

Personal Injury Settlement Report: April 2026

May 11, 2026

ADR Systems has released its Personal Injury Settlement Report for April 2026, which features a sample of unique personal injury cases settled by our mediators in the previous month. Review the report now. Case Types, Neutrals & Claims This month’s report features negligence, wrongful death and medical malpractice cases settled by Hon. John P. Callahan, Jr., (Ret.), […]

Read More
Why Mediation Requires a Different Negotiation Mindset

Why Mediation Requires a Different Negotiation Mindset

April 23, 2026

Mediation is not simply a more formal version of traditional bargaining. It is a fundamentally different negotiation environment — one that is non-zero-sum and interest-based. When attorneys approach mediation with rigid, “fixed pie,” and win-lose thinking, they often hinder settlement rather than advance it. Successful mediation requires a deliberate shift in mindset from positional advocacy […]

Read More
Personal Injury Settlement Report: March 2026

Personal Injury Settlement Report: March 2026

April 13, 2026

ADR Systems has released its Personal Injury Settlement Report for March 2026, which features a sample of unique personal injury cases settled by our mediators in the previous month. Review the report now. Case Types, Neutrals & Claims This month’s report features auto liability, medical malpractice, railroad crossing, signage and trucking negligence cases settled by Hon. […]

Read More
Why You Should Insert Mediation Clauses into Employment Contracts

Why You Should Insert Mediation Clauses into Employment Contracts

April 9, 2026

Many employers know that mediation is well suited to settling employment disputes involving discrimination, harassment, whistleblower and wrongful termination claims. Yet few employers consider adding mediation clauses to employment agreements. “To address potential disputes, employers should consider building a mediation clause into an employment agreement because it creates a path for dispute resolution and encourages […]

Read More
In-Depth Knowledge of Facts, Law Needed to Avoid Settlement Traps

In-Depth Knowledge of Facts, Law Needed to Avoid Settlement Traps

March 17, 2026

This article was originally published in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and can be accessed here. Negotiation is often described as an art, but in legal and business disputes, it is really a disciplined science. Successful negotiation requires a balance of psychology, legal acumen and strategic concessions. But even seasoned professionals frequently fall into predictable […]

Read More
Personal Injury Settlement Report: February 2026

Personal Injury Settlement Report: February 2026

March 9, 2026

ADR Systems has released its Personal Injury Settlement Report for February 2026, which features a sample of unique personal injury cases settled by our mediators in the previous month. Review the report now. Case Types, Neutrals & Claims This month’s report features auto liability, construction accident, medical malpractice, premises liability and wrongful death cases settled by Hon. […]

Read More
Personal Injury Settlement Report: January 2026

Personal Injury Settlement Report: January 2026

February 16, 2026

ADR Systems has released its Personal Injury Settlement Report for January 2026, which features a sample of unique personal injury cases settled by our mediators in the previous month. Review the report now. Case Types, Neutrals & Claims This month’s report features auto liability, product liability, premises liability and medical malpractice cases settled by Hon. Larry G. […]

Read More
How to Decide When to Mediate

How to Decide When to Mediate

February 9, 2026

Determining when to mediate can make all the difference in achieving a successful settlement. Most attorneys think that mediation is only effective after some discovery, but mediation can be effective during three key stages in the life of a case: pre-suit, after initial discovery and after more extensive discovery. This article provides insight into how […]

Read More
NDAs in Employment Disputes Need Attention Early in Process

NDAs in Employment Disputes Need Attention Early in Process

February 6, 2026

This article by senior mediator and arbitrator at ADR Systems, Hon. Margaret A. Brennan, (Ret.), was originally published at the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois’ (WBAI) 2025 Spring Newsletter. Good work, you are trying to resolve an employment dispute short of trial or hearing.  At some point during your discussions, […]

Read More

My sincere thanks to Judge Panter for settling a complex mediation. He is a true professional. When things were crumbling after seven hours of mediation, Judge Panter kept everyone engaged. His perseverance and skills were the keys to resolving this difficult case. Judge Panter is a phenomenal mediator. I will be using him again soon.

Scott Wolfman, Managing PartnerLaw Offices of Scott Wolfman
CALL ADR SYSTEMS