Via the Court ADR Connection Resolution Systems Institute Resource Center, we learned about a study conducted last year by the Michigan State Court Administrative Office, Office of Dispute Resolution. The study, entitled “Mediation After Case Evaluation: A Caseflow Study of Mediating Cases Evaluated Under $25,000,” found that settlement rates at mediation were higher when all summary disposition motions were decided prior to mediation than when a summary disposition motion was pending. Cases with trial dates scheduled early did not have higher settlement rates than cases without a trial date scheduled early.
You may download the full study here.