ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
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(a) IN GENERAL. The Court requires counsel and parties with settlement authority to attend mediation sessions. (b) CORPORATION OR OTHER ENTITY. A party other than a natural person (e.g., a corporation or an association) satisfies this attendance requirement if it sends a representative (other than outside counsel) who possesses authority to settle, or if it makes such a person immediately available to the mediator by telephone.
(c) GOVERNMENT ENTITIES. A party that is a government or governmental agency, in addition to counsel, shall send a representative with settlement authority or, alternatively, a representative who is knowledgeable about the facts of the case and will play a major role in submitting a recommendation to the person or body with decision-making authority. (d) EXCEPTION. Notwithstanding (b) or (c) above mediators may require the presence of or participation by telephone of the ultimate governmental or corporate decision-maker, or other appropriate senior manager, if they conclude, with the concurrence of the Director of Dispute Resolution, that such participation is advisable.
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