Court Programs
Utah Dispute
Resolution coordinates several mediation programs
in collaboration with the Utah State Courts. There
is no fee assessed for participants in these
mediations. UDR's Court Programs include:
Small Claims
Mediation
Mediation is available as an
option to parties involved in a small claims court
case. UDR manages mediation programs in several
venues in the state of Utah. Mediations are
conducted by volunteer mediators at no cost to
participants. All UDR mediators are trained and
qualified to assist the disputing parties reach an
agreement.
UDR Small Claims Mediation
Venues
Salt Lake City Justice
Court
Wednesday and Thursday
evenings at 5:30 p.m.
Salt
Lake County Justice Court
Thursday mornings at 8:30
a.m. West Valley City Justice
Court (3590 S. Constitution Blvd.-2700
W.)
Every Wednesday at 11:00
a.m.
Taylorsville Justice
Court (2600 W. Taylorsville Blvd.-5300
S.)
Varies: generally held on
the third Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m.
Logan City Justice Court (290
N. 100 W.)
Monday mornings at
9:00 a.m. Ogden City Justice
Court Thursday afternoons at 1:30
p.m.
Advantages of Mediating a Small Claims
Dispute - When
parties choose mediation as an option to resolve
their small claims dispute, there is a greater
likelihood that the dispute will be resolved
because the parties themselves create their own
agreement.
- Agreements may include
provisions that a small claims judge would not
award, such as exchange of property or services or
defining payment plans. A judge may only award a
monetary settlement.
- When parties reach
agreement in mediation, the judge reviews the
agreement and makes it an order of the court,
which is legally binding and enforceable.
- When the terms of a mediated agreement
are met in full, the case is dismissed and does
not appear as a judgment against the defendant,
who often sees this as a benefit because his or
her credit rating is not affected.
- If the
mediated agreement fails, the plaintiff may return
to court to satisfy the complaint.
Small Claims Appeals
Mediation
Parties who appeal a small claims
judgment in Salt Lake County and in Davis County
are required by judicial order to participate in
mediation before scheduling a trial date. Parties
are exempt from this requirement if they attempted
to mediate the case prior to the initial small
claims judgment. Utah Dispute Resolution manages
the mediation process for the court.
Procedure
- When parties file an appeal, they must
complete a form that the court clerk forwards to
UDR.
- After first verifying that the case
was not previously mediated, UDR schedules the
mediation and mails notices of the meeting time
and place to each party.
- When the parties
arrive for mediation, they are assigned a mediator
who helps them discuss the issues.
- If
they reach an agreement, the mediator will act as
scribe to capture the terms of agreement. Each
party receives a copy of the agreement. A copy is
also given to the court and the case is closed.
- If parties fail to reach agreement, the
mediator completes a form indicating that the
mediation took place and no agreement was reached.
This form is then filed with the court, and the
parties may schedule a hearing date.
UDR Small
Claims Appeals Mediation
Venues
Salt Lake City Third District
Court-Matheson Courthouse (450 South State
Street)
Farmington Second District Court
(800 West State Street) |
