We are happy to share with you that our blog Disputing turns six today! Disputing was originally conceived by Karl Bayer and Rob Hargrove as a forum for discussion of legal developments as they happen. We have come a long way since our very first blog post: Four Law Review Articles have cited Disputing (here, here, here , and here). Disputing was mentioned by the Wall Street Journal for covering consumer arbitration clauses and the “Arbitration Fairness Day” as well as for discussing the mandatory mediation in Italy (our post is here), and a high-profile case from Houston (our post is here). Disputing has also been cited by several CLE presentations. Disputing is listed by Lex Monitor. Disputing blog-master was invited to guest-blog at the Loree Reinsurance and Arbitration Law Forum and at Peter Vogel‘s Internet, Information Technology, & e-Discovery Blog (post available here). The Supreme Court of Texas Blog feeds Disputing‘s case summaries of decisions rendered by the Texas Supreme Court. Disputing is listed by Mediation World under mediation developments around the world. Diane Levin, blog-master of the award-winning Mediation Channel blog, has named Disputing as One of the Five ADR Blogs to Add to your Reading List. Disputing has teamed up with Don Philbin’s ADR Highlight Reel and the Loree Reinsurance and Arbitration Law Forum to create the Commercial and Industry Arbitration and Mediation Group on LinkedIn. Disputing is also featured at Michael VanDervort’s ADR, Conflict Resolution and Exchange LinkedIn Group. Disputing is a mediate.com Featured Blog (read our posts here and here). Disputing is listed as a resource at the University of Oregon Master’s Degree Program in Conflict and Dispute Resolution program. We would like you to celebrate with us by leaving a reply on this post! The Disputing team,   Karl Bayer, Alyson Chaky & Victoria VanBuren

We would like to welcome Tips for Young Lawyers to the blogosphere. The blog is hosted by Frank Ramos (pictured right) an attorney from Miami, Florida. As its name suggests, Tips for Young Lawyers provides guidance for young attorneys on everything from litigation and trial, to marketing, leadership, social networking, personal development, and ethics. Check out Preparing for Mediation, posted on August 18th. We look forward to reading more of your posts, Frank. The Disputing Team

On August 17, 2011 the defendants in Jones v. Halliburton et al. filed two motions seeking to recover from Jamie Leigh Jones: (1) an undisclosed amount for attorneys’ fees [update: $2 million] and (2) the costs of the lawsuit [update: $140 K] brought by Jones. Jones had sued the defendants for negligence, negligent undertaking, sexual harassment and hostile environment under Title VII of the Civil rights Act of 1964, breach of contract, fraud in the inducement to enter the employment contract, fraud in the inducement to agree to arbitration, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and false imprisonment. Related Posts: Jamie Leigh Jones v. Halliburton/KBR | Jury Reaches Verdict (July 9, 2011) Jones v. Halliburton/KBR: Trial Begins, Not Arbitration (June 25, 2011) Jones v. Halliburton: Halliburton and KBR Withdraw U.S. Supreme Court Appeal (Mar. 24, 2010) Halliburton/KBR Files Cert. in Jones v. Halliburton (Feb. 8, 2010) Guest-Post Part II | Employment Arbitration: Short-Term Value but Long-Term Harm (Jan. 7, 2010) Guest-Post Part I | Employment Arbitration: Short-Term Value but Long-Term Harm (Jan. 6, 2010) 2009 Developments: Consumer and Employment Arbitration (Dec. 23, 2009) Defense Contractor Mandatory Arbitration Passes Senate (Oct. 13, 2009) Jones v. Halliburton: Fifth Circuit Rules on Arbitration of Tort Claims by an Employee (Sept. 18, 2009) Employment and Consumer Arbitration: NPR Article (June 10, 2009) Technorati Tags: ADR, law, arbitration

JAMS published recently a timely article by Justin Kelly, entitled “The Uniform Mediation Act Turns 10 This Year.” Here is an excerpt: The Uniform Mediation Act, adopted 10 years ago, has provided a clear privilege on mediation communications and in the states where it has been adopted, it has been well received by practitioners, parties and the courts, according to academics and practitioners. The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) adopted the UMA in 2001 and the American Bar Association followed a year later. The UMA is designed to provide uniform confidentiality protections for mediation communications across the country. The act establishes a privilege for mediators and mediation participants to refuse to disclose and prevent others from disclosing communications in subsequent legal proceedings. The privilege is held by the parties, the mediators and non-parties that are involved in the mediation process. Find the entire piece here.