MEDIATION PROCEDURES

(a) Interim or Emergency Relief. A party may apply to the court for interim or emergency relief at any time. Mediation shall continue while such a motion is pending absent a contrary order of the court, or a decision of the mediator to adjourn pending disposition of the motion. Time for completing mediation shall be tolled during any periods when mediation is interrupted pending resolution of such a motion. (b) Appearance at Mediation. A party is deemed to appear at a mediation conference if the following persons are physically present, or if authorized under rule 1.700(a), participating through the use of communication technology: (1) The party or a party representative having full authority to settle without further consultation; and (2) The party’s counsel of record, if any; and (3) A representative of the insurance carrier for any insured party who is not such carrier’s outside counsel and who has full authority to settle in an amount up to the amount of the plaintiff’s last demand or policy limits, whichever is less, without further consultation. (c) Party Representative Having Full Authority to Settle. A “party representative having full authority to settle” shall mean the final decision maker with respect to all issues presented by the case who has the legal capacity to execute a binding settlement agreement on behalf of the party. Nothing herein shall be deemed to require any party or party representative who appears at a mediation conference in compliance with this rule to enter into a settlement agreement. (d) Appearance by Public Entity. If a party to mediation is a public entity required to operate in compliance with chapter 286, Florida Statutes, that party is deemed to appear at a mediation conference by the presence of a representative with full authority to negotiate on behalf of the entity and to recommend settlement to April 1, 2026 Florida Rules of Civil Procedure 197 the appropriate decision-making body of the entity. Such representative may be physically present or, if authorized under