-- Last revised 11/30/23 --

Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct - Study K-402

    By concurrent resolution, the Legislature directed the Commission to analyze "the relationship under current law between mediation confidentiality and attorney malpractice and other misconduct, and the purposes for, and impact of, those laws on public protection, professional ethics, attorney discipline, client rights, the willingness of parties to participate in voluntary and mandatory mediation, as well as any other issues the commission deems relevant." 2012 Cal. Stat. res. ch. 108 (ACR 98 (Wagner & Gorrell)).

    In assigning this topic, the Legislature specifically requested that the Commission examine certain laws, court rulings, legal doctrines, scholarly commentary, and data. The Legislature further directed the Commission to seek input from experts and interested parties, including representatives of the California Supreme Court, the State Bar, legal malpractice defense counsel, other attorney groups and individuals, mediators, and mediation trade associations. The Legislature authorized the Commission to “make any recommendations that it deems appropriate for the revision of California law to balance the competing interests between confidentiality and accountability.”

    The Commission has completed its study as requested by the Legislature and has approved a final recommendation.

    At this time, the final recommendation is in pre-print form. The Commission has approved the substance of the report, but minor editorial changes may be made prior to final publication.

    Part I of the recommendation summarizes the Commission’s research for this study. Part II explains the Commission’s preliminary conclusions, which are the basis for the proposed legislation in Part III of the report.

    The recommendation is lengthy (158 pp.), but most of it consists of the research findings (Part I). The explanation and presentation of the Commission’s proposal (Parts II and III) are relatively short. See pp. 135-48.

Related Material

• Final Recommendation
• Tentative Recommendation
• Commission Decisions (Meeting Minutes)
• Staff Memoranda
• Additional Materials
• Subscribe to Receive Notice of New Materials

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Final Recommendation

• Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct [December 2017]

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Tentative Recommendations and Other Requests for Comment

• Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct (June 2017)

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Meeting Minutes

• December 1, 2017 Meeting in Sacramento
• September 28, 2017 Meeting in Sacramento
• June 8, 2017 Meeting in Sacramento
• April 13, 2017 Meeting in Oakland
• April 13, 2017 Meeting in Oakland
• February 2, 2017 Meeting in Sacramento
• December 1, 2016 Meeting in Sacramento
• September 22, 2016 Meeting in Sacramento
• July 22, 2016 Meeting in Los Angeles
• June 1, 2016 Meeting in Sacramento
• April 14, 2016 Meeting in Sacramento
• February 4, 2016 Meeting in Sacramento
• December 10, 2015 Meeting in Los Angeles
• October 8, 2015 Meeting in Davis
• August 7, 2015 Meeting in Los Angeles
• June 4, 2015 Meeting in Los Angeles
• April 9, 2015 Meeting in Sacramento
• February 12, 2015 Meeting in Sacramento
• October 30, 2014 Meeting in Davis
• September 5, 2014 Meeting in Los Angeles
• June 12, 2014 Meeting in Sacramento
• April 10, 2014 Meeting in Sacramento
• February 6, 2014 Meeting in Sacramento
• October 10, 2013 Meeting in Davis
• August 2, 2013 Meeting in Los Angeles

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Staff Memoranda

• Memo 2018-14, Supp. 1 -- 2018 Legislative Program (Status Report) (3/29/18)

• Memo 2018-14 -- Legislative Program (Status Report) (3/19/18)

• Memo 2017-62, Supp. 3 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (12/01/2017)

• Memo 2017-62, Supp. 2 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (12/01/2017)

• Memo 2017-62, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (11/29/2017)

• Memo 2017-62 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (11/29/2017)

• Memo 2017-61 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Further Analysis Requested by the Commission (11/14/2017)

• Memo 2017-51, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct (Public Comment on Tentative Recommendation) (09/28/2017)

• Memo 2017-52 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct (Analysis of Comments on Tentative Recommendation) (09/27/2017)

• Memo 2017-51 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct (Public Comment on Tentative Recommendation) (09/18/2017)

• Memo 2017-30, Supp. 2 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct (Draft Tentative Recommendation) (06/08/2017)

• Memo 2017-31 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct (Public Comment) (06/05/2017)

• Memo 2017-30, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct (Draft Tentative Recommendation) (06/01/2017)

• Memo 2017-30 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct (Draft Tentative Recommendation) (05/30/2017)

• Memo 2017-20, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct (Public Comment) (04/07/2017)

• Memo 2017-19 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct (Draft Tentative Recommendation) (04/07/2017)

• Memo 2017-20 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct (Public Comment) (04/07/2017)

• Memo 2017-09, Supp. 2 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct (Public Comment) (02/02/2017)

• Memo 2017-09, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct (Public Comment) (01/31/2017)

• Memo 2017-08 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct (Further Work on Draft Tentative Recommendation) (01/19/2017)

• Memo 2016-59, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Possible Additional Reforms to Include in the Tentative Recommendation (1/13/2017)

• Memo 2017-09 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct (Public Comment) (01/11/2017)

• Memo 2016-60, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (11/30/2016)

• Memo 2016-60 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (11/28/2016)

• Memo 2016-59 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Possible Additional Reforms to Include in the Tentative Recommendation (11/23/2016)

• Memo 2016-58 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Draft Legislation to Implement the Commission’s Preliminary Decisions (11/2/2016)

• Memo 2016-50, Supp. 2 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (11/2/2016)

• Memo 2016-50, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (09/22/2016)

• Memo 2016-49, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Certification Requirements (09/22/2016)

• Memo 2016-50 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (9/20/2016)

• Memo 2016-49 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Certification Requirements (9/19/2016)

• Memo 2016-39, Supp. 3 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and other Misconduct: Additional Public Comment (07/22/2016)

• Memo 2016-39, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Additional Public Comment (7/20/2016)

• Memo 2016-38, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Preliminary In Camera Filtering (7/20/2016)

• Memo 2016-37 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Possible Questions for the State Bar (7/19/2016)

• Memo 2016-39 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (7/19/2016)

• Memo 2016-38 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Preliminary In Camera Filtering (7/18/2016)

• Memo 2016-30, Supp. 2 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Additional Public Comment (06/01/2016)

• Memo 2016-30, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Additional Public Comment (06/01/2016)

• Memo 2016-27 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Preliminary In Camera Filtering (5/27/2016)

• Memo 2016-28 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Existing In Camera Approaches (5/27/2016)

• Memo 2016-30 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (5/24/2016)

• Memo 2016-29 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Scope of Public Disclosure (5/20/2016)

• Memo 2016-19, Supp. 2 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Additional Public Comment (4/14/2016)

• Memo 2016-19, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Additional Public Comment (4/14/2016)

• Memo 2016-19 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (4/7/2016)

• Memo 2016-18 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: In Camera Screening Process and Related Matters (4/4/2016)

• Memo 2016-8, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (2/4/2016)

• Memo 2016-9 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: In Camera Screening Process (2/03/2016)

• Memo 2016-8 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (2/3/2016)

• Memo 2015-54, Supp. 3 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (12/10/2015)

• Memo 2015-55, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (12/10/2015)

• Memo 2015-54, Supp. 2 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (12/10/2015)

• Memo 2015-54, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (12/07/2015)

• Memo 2015-55 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: In Camera Screening Process (12/4/2015)

• Memo 2015-54 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (11/25/2015)

• Memo 2015-46, Supp. 3 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (10/08/2015)

• Memo 2015-46, Supp. 2 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (10/08/2015)

• Memo 2015-45, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Comments of Rachel Ehrlich (10/06/2015)

• Memo 2015-46, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (10/05/2015)

• Memo 2015-45 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Drafting Issues (10/02/2015)

• Memo 2015-46 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (09/09/2015)

• Memo 2015-36, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (08/05/2015)

• Memo 2015-36 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (07/31/2015)

• Memo 2015-34 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Scope of Study (07/31/2015)

• Memo 2015-33 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Compilation of Possible Approaches (07/30/2015)

• Memo 2015-35 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Scholarly Commentary (07/14/2015)

• Memo 2015-22, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Further Discussion of California Law (06/2/2015)

• Memo 2015-23 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Scholarly Commentary (05/28/2015)

• Memo 2015-24 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (05/20/2015)

• Memo 2015-22 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Further Discussion of California Law (05/20/2015)

• Memo 2015-13, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (05/20/2015)

• Memo 2015-13 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (04/03/2015)

• Memo 2015-4 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Further Discussion of California Law (04/02/2015)

• Memo 2015-5 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Empirical Data (02/20/2015)

• Memo 2014-60, Supp. 3 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (02/12/2015)

• Memo 2014-60, Supp. 2 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (02/12/2015)

• Memo 2015-6 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Data From the Early Mediation Pilot Programs (01/13/2015)

• Memo 2014-60, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (01/06/2015)

• Memo 2014-59 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Additional Comments on Miscellaneous Other States (12/09/2014)

• Memo 2014-60 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (12/5/2014)

• Memo 2014-58 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Further Discussion of Federal Law (12/5/2014)

• Memo 2014-45 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Federal Law (10/27/2014)

• Memo 2014-46 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (10/23/2014)

• Memo 2014-44 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Texas Law (10/23/2014)

• Memo 2014-43 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Pennsylvania Law (10/06/2014)

• Memo 2014-36, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (09/05/2014)

• Memo 2014-35, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Law of Other Jurisdictions (09/03/2014)

• Memo 2014-36 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Public Comment (09/02/2014)

• Memo 2014-35 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Law of Other Jurisdictions (08/29/2014)

• Memo 2014-27, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: New Developments and Recent Communications (06/12/2014)

• Memo 2014-27 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: New Developments and Recent Communications (06/09/2014)

• Memo 2014-24 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Implementation of the Uniform Mediation Act (06/06/2014)

• Memo 2014-14, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Law in Other Jurisdictions (04/10/2014)

• Memo 2014-14 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Law in Other Jurisdictions (04/07/2014)

• Memo 2014-06, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct (Material Received at Meeting) (02/06/2014)

• Memo 2014-6 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Preliminary Analysis of Relevant Policy Interests (02/03/2014)

• Memo 2013-47, Supp. 3 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct (Public Comment) (10/10/2013)

• Memo 2013-47, Supp. 2 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct (Public Comment) (10/7/2013)

• Memo 2013-47, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct (Public Comment) (09/19/2013)

• Memo 2013-47 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct (Public Comment) (08/27/2013)

• Memo 2013-39, Supp. 2 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Comments of Kazuko Artus (08/02/2013)

• Memo 2013-39, Supp. 1 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct: Additional Matters (07/31/2013)

• Memo 2013-39 -- Relationship Between Mediation Confidentiality and Attorney Malpractice and Other Misconduct (07/23/2013)

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Additional Materials

• Materials From Guy O. Kornblum - Curriculum Vitae (11/25/15)

• Materials From Deborah Blair Porter - Petition for Review (8/24/13)

• Materials From Deborah Blair Porter - Unpublished Court of Appeal Opinion (8/24/13)

• Materials From Deborah Blair Porter - Unpublished Order Modifying Opinion (8/24/13)

• Letter from Ron Kelly to Commission (9/21/12)

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