Brett Hull: What are we doing? What are we doing?

Bill Clement: Internet.

Brett Hull: Yeah, but like what?

Unidentified: Whatever. Whatever.

Bill Clement: What two things do you want to talk about?

Brett Hull: Huh?
Other sections of Rule 9(c) emphasize the voluntary nature of mediation and prohibit coercion by the mediator:

(v) The neutral shall inform the parties of their right to withdraw from the process at any time and for any reason, except as is provided by law or court rule.

(vi) In mediation, case evaluation, and other processes whose outcome depends upon the agreement of the parties, the neutral shall not coerce the parties in any manner to reach agreement.

Similar safeguards exist in other states as well.

As I said, though, that was my first reaction. My second reaction was different.

I thought to myself, Engler has a point.

You and I both know that not every mediator heeds these ethical rules. I have known of mediators (yes, community mediators among them) who routinely browbeat pro se parties into settling. I have met mediators who care more about settlement rates than trivialities like informed consent or the satisfaction of the parties in the outcome. And in a recent conversation with another mediator about informed consent, I was surprised to hear that mediator express horror at the thought of encouraging a party confused by a legal issue to seek advice from a lawyer. (Encouraging them to go to an accountant for advice on a tax issue would be okay, however.) “It’s against the spirit of mediation to involve lawyers!” they argued. This view incidentally is not an uncommon one.
Bill Clement: (Incredulous) You just watched a whole freaking game!

Brett Hull: No, I want to know… I can’t hear a freaking thing.

Bill Clement: (Trailing off) What do you want to talk about?

Never know what will happen when you’re watching.

Eric 11:15 PM Hockey Comments (0) TrackBack (0)

Telethon Pre-Empts Game Three In Tampa

Details from Bolts Blog. So much for growing the game in a non-traditional market, one that, as I recall, hosted the Stanley Cup Finals just three years ago.

I guess it passed without a trace.

Thanks to Sean Leahy of Pop Jocks for passing along the news.

UPDATE: Steve from Battle of New York passes along this news:

Eric, for the people at home who don’t read comments, let them know that the affilate will air the game on the NBC HD station, as well as a cable channel called Catch 47.

Also, NBC is airing tonight’s game live on VCast on the NBC2Go Channel. So, yay for HD viewers, those with cable, and those with VCAST.

Glad to see somebody decided to work something out here.

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