I'm the plaintiff can I ask for Mediation in a civil lawsuit in State Court or in Federal Court?

Question

I'm the plaintiff can I ask for Mediation in a civil lawsuit in State Court or in Federal Court?

Answer 1

Yes, either party can request mediation in civil litigation.  You have not said what State you are in (statutes regarding mediation vary from State to State) but most States encourage the mediation process and most judges are on board with the idea (it removes cases from their crowded docket).  In Federal Court, many districts have local rules (which supplement the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure) which REQUIRE mediation as a preliminary step prior to trial (I know this to be true for the Northern District of Texas by personal experience).