(a) The court may order the parties in any civil action to participate in mediation. (b) If the parties agree, they may elect a form of alternative dispute resolution other than mediation (e.g. neutral evaluation, non-binding arbitration or binding arbitration). (c) The parties may agree to engage in private mediation instead of or in addition to the court-ordered mediation. (d) The parties may also request that the presiding judge assign a complex case for intensive mediation to be conducted by another judge. (e) Unless the parties agree otherwise, proceedings under this rule are nonbinding and shall not impair the litigants’ trial rights.
