Landlord and Tenant Mediation Program
Same Day Mediation Process
All parties who are present for an initial hearing or trial on their day of court have the opportunity to resolve their dispute with the assistance of a trained mediator. After roll call, if both parties agree, they will proceed to mediation.
If parties have legal questions regarding their case, they are referred to the Resource Center, and/or the Law Students in Court Program for assistance.
Mediators cannot give legal advice; their role is to aid in facilitating settlements between parties.
Mediation sessions:
- Held Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
- Sessions held in the Landlord and Tenant Branch, Building B, 510 4th Street, N.W., Room 113.
- Cases may last one to two hours to depending on the progress of the mediation.
- If no agreement is reached, you will return to the courtroom and wait for your case to be called before the judge.
- If you reach an agreement during mediation:
- The mediator will write the agreement on a form provided by the court.
- The agreement may include payment schedules for past due rent, move out dates, and/or housing code repairs.
- A copy of the agreement is given to you and the original to the court clerk. You will then return to the courtroom and wait for the clerk to recall your case.
- The judge will then review the original agreement for approval.
Jury Demand Mediation Process
When a request for a jury trial is granted, the case will be assigned to a civil judge for the purpose of a jury trial only.
Steps for Jury Demand Mediation:
- A courtroom clerk will set the schedule for the case, including a mediation date.
- Notice will be sent to the parties.
- All parties must attend mediation meet with a trained Multi-Door mediator.
- All parties must submit a Confidential Settlement Statement to the Multi-Door Division at least 30 days in advance of the scheduled mediation date (CivilCSS@dcsc.gov).
- Mediation sessions are held Monday through Friday at 1:30 pm in the Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division, Court Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Room 104.
- Cases are allotted up to two hours to mediate.
- Follow-up sessions are offered in both programs and may be held in an alternate location, by arrangement between the mediator and the parties, with notice to the Program Manager.
If you reach an agreement during Jury Demand mediation, the mediator or attorneys may write the agreement on a form provided by the court. The agreement may include payment schedules for past due rent, move out dates, and/or housing code repairs. The parties are given a stamped copy of the agreement. The Program Manager submits the original to the Landlord & Tenant Branch Supervisor.
If you do not reach an agreement, the Program Manager will set a pretrial date for the next event.
Forms:
Landlord & Tenant Confidential Settlement Statement
Featured Link:
Link to Court Cases Online
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