Hon. Michael R. Panter, (Ret.), senior mediator and arbitrator at ADR Systems, recently mediated a personal injury dispute that ultimately settled for $4.3 million via direct negotiations after multiple in-person and remote sessions with Judge Panter.

“Multi-party traumatic injury cases require balanced attention to the trauma suffered by the plaintiff and to the defenses of the other parties,” said Judge Panter. “In this case, the evidence was well developed, the attorneys knew the strengths and weaknesses of the case and we were able to achieve an agreement that was fair to all sides.”

The case involved the amputation of a maintenance technician’s hand while cleaning a cyclone hopper. Surgeons successfully re-attached the technician’s hand, but he only regained limited functionality and could not return to work. Negligence in the form of unsafe modifications made in 2015 to the cyclone hopper formed the basis of the plaintiff’s claims against the defendants, according to the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.

“Judge Panter remained diligently involved throughout several mediation sessions to help bring the parties closer towards a successful resolution,” said Matthew S. Sims, Esq., Rapoport Weisberg & Sims P.C.

After the case’s mediation sessions transferred to a virtual format, Judge Panter’s efforts offered a pathway toward settlement at a time of reduced access to court and an increased backlog within the Cook County court system. And while those challenges are gradually abating, mediation, Judge Panter maintains, will continue to offer an expedient and cost-effective way to resolve disputes of this sort.

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Hon. Michael R. Panter, (Ret.) is a senior mediator and arbitrator at ADR Systems. He is known for his thorough and intelligent approach to settlements and the boundless energy he brings to the dispute resolution process. Judge Panter has more than 30 years of legal experience and brings a unique and empathic approach to counsel and their clients. He has mediated a wide variety of commercial and personal injury cases.

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