Arbitration & Mediation

Florida Supreme Court Amends Mediator "Marketing Practices" (Advertising) Rules

By Christopher B. Hopkins, Esq.

The Florida Supreme Court has amended Florida Rule for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators 10.610. The Rule is here. The opinion is here.

Bottom line: no false advertising and former judges can barely hint at their prior judicial experience.

Taking apart the six-part Rule 10.610, the gist is:

(a) and (e): no false or misleading "marketing practices" (a phrase which replaces "advertising")

(b) certified mediators must state in which category they are certified

(c) "certified" means you took the course

(d) former judges cannot state or imply prior adjudicative experience makes one better or more-qualified. The comment states that former judges cannot appear in black robes in their ads nor make reference to judge on letterhead or business cards (bio and resume references OK).

Full post as published by Florida Arbitration Law on April 06, 2010 (boomark / email).