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Message from Bob Tessier:

Dear LA Mediators

Happy 2012! This is going to be a great year for ALL our members, and we are going to have some great meetings. The first is February 23, 2012 in downtown LA, at 6:00 p.m., and the subject is advanced negotiation. We are going to leave the theory to the academics, and get right to the practical techniques used every day in big and small dollar mediations. We have two guest speakers who really know what they are doing.

Alan Saler is an LA Mediator member, and has been mediating serious personal injury and employment cases for many years. He is independent and I have seen him in action. His style is analytical, and he has mediated with some of the toughest negotiators in town. He is known as a closer, and I am not ashamed to admit he has settled cases after I couldn't get them done. I'll be picking his brain on that for sure...

Darryl Forgey is with Judicate West, and I have had the privilege to follow him on a case or two. He has been honored as one of the Daily Journal top 50 neutrals for several years now and is very busy mediating and arbitrating cases. He is past president of ABOTA and was one of the finest trial lawyers in medical malpractice defense for many years when he was practicing law. He brings a trial lawyer's perspective to his mediation practice.

I plan to lead the discussion on negotiation and am really looking forward to it! While both Alan and Darryl are at the top of their game, they approach negotiation in their own unique way. We're going to talk about the questions all mediators ponder such as: when to begin the negotiation during the mediation process, what to do when everyone seems miles and miles apart at the start, how to handle multiple party negotiations, how much influence is appropriate during the negotiation, and most importantly, what are the tried and true closing gambits to get the case settled.

As usual, there will be good wine, and good food, but space will be limited. We accommodated about 20 for our last meeting. This one is going to fill up fast. So please by February 16th RSVP to Kym at Mediate2u@aol.com to get a seat at the table. Bring questions and an open mind, and I guarantee we all will learn something!

The meeting will be at 1010 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90017. There is cheap parking nearby, and around the building on meters. The conference room is on the first floor. Just let the person at the front desk know you're there for the LA Mediator's meeting and they will show you in.

I look forward to seeing everyone there. We have a great group and this will be the start of some terrific meetings.

Bob Tessier