$250 an Hour to Mediate a Federal Case? HAHAHAHAHA!

That's the problem Judge Scola encountered after the court-appointed mediator balked at the hourly rate:

The Defendant relays that the court-appointed mediator has refused to accept the hourly rate of $250 set by Administrative Order 2008-08, instead demanding to paid at $400 per hour.  As such, Defendant would like the Court to order the Clerk to appoint a different mediator.

Hey, it's government work -- $250 an hour ain't bad!

But the mediation must go on:

This Motion [ECF No. 23] is GRANTED. The Clerk is directed to strike Patrick C. Massa of Matrix Mediation as mediator in this case for failure to follow this District’s Administrative Order 2008-08. The Clerk shall also appoint a new mediator forthwith.

I don't know, if I was selected as a court-appointed mediator, I'd rather do this one job for less than have the Court order me removed for failing to agree to the specified government rate.

This One's For You, Judge Ramirez!

I've received countless emails and notes from practitioners this morning genuinely upset to see blogger and "millennium" jurist Judge Ramirez departing from the 3d DCA bench.

But he won't be far -- he's helping to launch a Miami office of the big-shot mediation outfit JAMS:

"Basically, I decided I would leave on my own terms and my own schedule," he said. "I got a very nice offer from JAMS," short for Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services.

Founded in 1979, JAMS bills itself as the world's largest alternative dispute resolution service. It has 280 full-time "neutrals," primarily retired judges and attorneys, and 195 employees. The Irvine, California-based firm handles about 10,000 cases a year at its various locations. Last year it formed JAMS International to handle cross-border disputes.

JAMS announced last month that it would be opening a Miami office this spring. The branch will be on the 26th floor at 600 Brickell Ave. Its offices will include 10 conference rooms.

On behalf of your many friends, colleagues and admirers, thank you for your years of dedicated (and superior) public service.

Now you get to sit in a room and watch lawyers yell at each other!

Chief Judge Moreno Has One Small Favor to Ask.

Not only do I get emails from Congressman Kucinich containing extensive details regarding his dental history, but I also get some from inside that funny building downtown that looks like a cruise ship:

On behalf of Chief Judge Federico A. Moreno, the following survey is being sent again to members of the Bar who are registered users of the CM/ECF system in the Southern District of Florida. The purpose of this survey is to obtain your thoughts about the Mediation Program in the Southern District of Florida.

Because input from the Bar is important, Chief Judge Moreno has asked the Clerks Office to again provide access to this survey to give those of you who have not previously responded with an additional opportunity to provide feedback about the Mediation Program.

Please complete this survey by February 14, 2011. Your comments will be kept confidential. You may elect to provide your name and contact information at the end of the survey. [ed. note -- suckas!] The results of this survey will be reviewed by the Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on Court Annexed Mediation, and if you have provided your name and contact information, it is possible that a member from the Committee may contact you to discuss your comments.

Thank you for your time.

To access the survey, click here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/certifiedmediatorblast 

This certainly seems like a worthwhile endeavor, but question -- will we be eligible to win an iPad?