Dispute Resolution Services, Inc.

05/22/2026

Please see the 17th Circuit's recent order on use of AI to generate filings:

https://www.browardbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/AO2026-03-GEN-Amendment-2-Use-of-AI-in-Court-Filings-1.pdf

Note among other things, the requirement to include a specific disclosure, and to attest that the filer has reviewed everything to make sure it is accurate, etc.

05/19/2026

05/12/2026

Most lawyers are making regular use of AI. For Florida lawyers, there is an advisory opinion on ethical considerations. Note that many Large Language Model AI engines use your input for training, so you may need to sanitize your input to protect confidentiality. Note also that AI engines often make up nonexistent authorities, and also misstate the meaning of actual authorities.

Be careful.

Lawyers may use generative artificial intelligence (“AI”) in the practice of law but must protect the confidentiality of client information, provide accurate and competent services, avoid improper billing practices, and comply with applicable restrictions on lawyer advertising. Lawyers must ensu

04/24/2026

Join us for the FAPM Annual Conference 2026 on Friday, May 29, 2026, live via Zoom from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM EDT.

This full-day program has been approved by the Florida Bar for 5.0 hours of general CLE credit and 2.5 hours of ethics CLE credit, and qualifies for 5.0 CME under DRC rules.

Free for FAPM members.
Not a member yet? Join at www.tfapm.org

01/21/2026

SIMPLIFYING MEDIATED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT REQUIREMENTS

Florida Rules of Civil Procedure 1.730(b) now provides as follows:
b)
Agreement. If a partial or final agreement is reached, it
must be reduced to writing and signed by each party or the party’s
representative having full authority to settle under rule 1.720(c).
Signatures may be original or electronic and may be in
counterparts. The agreement must be filed when required by law or
with the parties’ consent. A report of the agreement must be
submitted to the court or a stipulation of dismissal will be filed. By
stipulation of the parties, the agreement may be transcribed or
electronically recorded. In such event, the transcript may be filed
with the court. The mediator must report the existence of the signed or transcribed agreement to the court without comment within 10 days. No partial or final agreement under this rule may be reported to the court except as provided in this rule.

NOTE THAT THERE IS NO LONGER A REQUIREMENT THAT COUNSEL SIGN THE AGREEMENT.

Call now to connect with business.

01/06/2026

Best of luck to the Nova Middle Titans, the three-time and defending National Champions in the We The People competition. DRS mediator Will Murphy, whose wife is their teacher, is their coach again this year. They will seek to return to the national championship when they compete in the Florida We The People competition later this month.

01/03/2026

Biggest Mistake Advocates Make in Mediation: They show up without having calculated their best and worst days and given some thought to expected values. That includes attorney's fees and costs.

If you show up as Plaintiff/Claimant, you need to have an informed opinion as to what you're entitled to if you ultimately prove your case. If part of that is recovery of fees, you need to have at least an approximate idea of what those are worth.

And you should be prepared to explain in a reasonable level of detail how these numbers are derived. The Defendant/Respondent is not coming to mediation to just give you whatever you want. He or she wants to know why your demand is what it is. Be ready to explain that before you get there.

Call now to connect with business.

10/22/2025

MOCK MEDIATION: Prepare to Settle Smart

As every litigator knows, more than 90% of civil cases never reach trial. In Florida, it’s virtually unheard of to get to trial without mediating first — and roughly two-thirds of all mediations result in settlement.

You wouldn’t go to trial without preparing yourself and your client thoroughly. So why go to mediation without the same level of preparation?

Even if you believe a case is unlikely to resolve, experience shows such predictions are rarely reliable. Preparation strengthens your negotiation posture and builds client confidence — win or lose.

If you want to sharpen your mediation strategy, consider conducting a mock mediation.
Hire a neutral to walk you and your client through the process, test arguments, and anticipate obstacles. (Note: the mock mediator cannot later serve as the actual mediator in the same matter.)

To schedule a mock mediation with Will Murphy at DRS, contact:
📧 [email protected]

📞 (954) 232-7434

Call now to connect with business.

03/06/2025

https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-news/kristin-murphys-we-the-people-nova-middle-school-team-aims-for-third-national-title/

Kristin Murphy, a Plantation attorney turned middle school teacher, has dedicated her life to teaching young minds the principles of constitutional democracy. At Nova Middle School, she is not just educating students about civics, but guiding them toward a profound understanding of the U.S. Constitu...

11/29/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EZp1PeAxK/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Be the peace cat. Happy Thanksgiving!

10/17/2024

FAPM
Consider subscribing to the YouTube channel of the Florida Academy of Professional Mediators

The Florida Academy of Professional Mediators, Inc. is a professional association organized to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, information and ideas between professionals in the field of mediation and alternative dispute resolution.