LCR 40
           STATUS CONFERENCES, MEDIATION, TRIAL SETTING CONFERENCES


1.   Status Conferences.

     1.1  A status conference may be assigned at the time a case is filed, by
notice from the court administrator's office, or upon motion of any party.

     1.2  At the status conference, the court may direct the case to
arbitration or mediation, and/or may set an additional status conference date.
The court may determine and set a discovery deadline, a mediation deadline, a
trial setting conference date, and other dates and deadlines as necessary.


2.   Mediation.

     2.1  Presumption of Mediation.  It is presumed that all contested civil
and family law matters, with the following exceptions, will have completed
mediation prior to trial:

     · Dependencies and termination of parental rights;

     · Uniform Parentage actions, up until establishment of paternity;

     · Matters in which a domestic violence or sexual assault protection
       order is in place;

     · Petitions for Civil Commitment (Sexual Predators);

     · Actions regarding seizure of property by the State;

     · Matters subject to Mandatory Arbitration Rules, or that are to be
       arbitrated by agreement, up until a request for a trial de novo;

     · Matters that have been previously mediated consistent with the standards
       set forth in this rule; and

     · By court order upon motion of any party, upon the court's determination
       that there is good cause not to require mediation.

   Any party may move the court for an order that there is good cause to require
mediation in any matter, including those cases designated as exceptions above.

     2.2  Mediators.  Parties may agree to a mediator from among the three
categories of mediators below.  If the parties cannot agree, the court shall
upon motion by any party appoint a mediator.  Appointment of a mediator is
subject to the mediator's right to decline to serve.

          2.2.1 Mediation Panel.  There shall be a panel of mediators
established by the court.  The list of court-approved mediators and their
information sheets will be available to the public in the court administrator's office.

     Parties may stipulate to using a mediator from the Mediation Panel.  If
the parties stipulate to using a mediator from the Mediation Panel, but are not
able to agree on a specific mediator, a mediator will be assigned from the
Mediation Panel.

          2.2.2 Volunteer Mediation Panel.  There shall be a panel of volunteer
mediators established by the court.  Parties may qualify for appointment of a
mediator from the Volunteer Mediation Panel if income and asset tests as
determined by the court are met.  The list of court-approved volunteer
mediators and their information sheets will be available to the public in the
court administrator's office.

     Parties who qualify may stipulate to using a mediator from the Volunteer
Mediation Panel.  If the parties stipulate to using a mediator from the
Volunteer Mediation Panel, but are not able to agree on a specific mediator, a
mediator will be assigned from the Volunteer Mediation Panel.

          2.2.3 Other Mediators.  Upon approval by the court, parties may
stipulate to a mediator not on the Mediation Panel or the Volunteer Mediation
Panel.  The court may approve appointment of a proposed mediator upon
satisfactory showing of qualifications and knowledge of subject matter.  Any
mediator certified as such by a Washington State dispute resolution center is
qualified to serve as a mediator under this paragraph.

          2.2.4 Application and Trainings.  A person who wishes to be placed on
the Mediation Panel and/or Volunteer Mediation Panel shall complete an
information sheet on the form prescribed by the court, which shall demonstrate
the person's qualifications as mediator, and as to specific subject matters.
Mediators and any person who wishes to be considered as a mediator may
participate in court-sponsored mediation trainings.

     2.3  Cost of Mediation.  Parties may stipulate to the allocation of
mediation costs.  If the parties are unable to agree, the court will order the
same upon motion of any party.  Parties using mediators from the Volunteer
Mediation Panel may be charged an administrative fee as set by the court.

     2.4  Mediation Orders and Process.

          2.4.1 Mediation Status and Terms.  An order shall be entered setting
forth the following:

          · Mediation status (whether the case is to be mediated); and

          · Mediation terms (including but not limited to the mediator or category the
            mediator is to be chosen from, allocation of costs of mediation, mediation
            deadline, and identity of parties with authority required to attend mediation).

     If the parties agree as to mediation status and/or terms, they may so
stipulate and submit an agreed order for the court's approval prior to the
status conference, or at any time thereafter prior to the discovery deadline.

     If the parties are unable to agree to the status and/or all terms of
mediation, a party may file and note a motion for entry of an order setting the
status and terms of mediation.

          2.4.2  Litigation Process During Period of Mediation.  Pending
mediation, all litigation processes such as discovery, motions for temporary
orders, and motions for dispositive orders shall continue.

          2.4.3  RCW ch. 7.07. All mediations undertaken pursuant to this Rule
are subject to the provisions of RCW ch. 7.07, the Uniform Mediation Act,
including its requirements regarding privilege and confidentiality.

          2.4.4.  Civil Mediation Statements.  In civil actions, all parties
shall prepare and deliver a Civil Mediation Statement to the mediator and
opposing parties, no later than five working days prior to the mediation.  The
statement shall address the matters set forth in Appendix A.  The statement
shall not be filed with the court.

          2.4.5.  Family Law Mediation Statements.  In family law actions, all
parties shall prepare and deliver a Family Law Mediation Statement to the
mediator, opposing parties, and the State of Washington, if the State is a
party, no later than five working days prior to the mediation.  The statement
shall address the matters set forth in Appendix B.  The statement shall not be
filed with the court.

          2.4.6. Appearance at Mediation.  The parties shall appear in person
at mediation unless the court orders in advance that they may be present by
telephone or electronic means sufficient to allow full participation.  Each
party shall ensure the presence at mediation of persons who have sufficient
authority to approve a settlement.

          2.4.7 Mediation Report. Within five days after completion of
mediation, the mediator shall file a Mediation Report indicating whether the
case has been resolved.  A copy of the Mediation Report shall be provided to
the court administrator's office.


3.   Discovery.

     Discovery shall be completed in accordance with the discovery schedule set
at the status conference.  Exceptions will be made only upon prior approval of
the court, and for good cause.


4.   Trial Setting Conference.

     4.1  A date for a trial setting conference may be set at the status
conference, by notice from the court administrator's office, or upon motion of
any party.  A party may also request an accelerated trial date by motion at any
time prior to the trial setting conference date.

     4.2  Trial setting conferences shall not be continued absent a showing of
good cause and upon prior approval of the court.

     4.3  At the trial setting conference, the court shall consider compliance
with dates and deadlines, the status of mediation, and readiness for trial.

     4.4  Cases shall be assigned a secondary and/or primary trial setting to
be determined by the court.  Where out-of-state witnesses or substantial expert
testimony is anticipated, the parties may request that the court dispense with
the secondary trial setting.

     4.5  The court may set schedules, deadlines and other pretrial dates as appropriate.


5.   Compliance.

     5.1  Counsel for the parties and pro se parties shall appear in person or
by telephone at each of the conferences set by the court. Counsel appearing for
a party shall preferably be lead counsel for that party.  Any counsel appearing
for a party shall be prepared with an understanding of the case and authority
to enter into agreements as contemplated herein.

     5.2  Failure to comply with deadlines, dates, or other requirements set
out in these rules, or failure to appear at a conference set by the court, may
result in sanctions being imposed, including terms.  The court may also strike
a trial date if mediation has not been completed by the applicable deadline.


[Amended effective 9-1-11]