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Feedback digest
This Feedback Digest has been updated to include 5 Feedbacks in 5 Mediations as of May 12, 2009. Parties and counsel who have used Ms. Harris would overwhelmingly use her services again and would, without hesitation, recommend her to others. Typical of the comments reflecting Ms. Harris’ acceptability are: (i) Ms. Harris was prepared, capable, and knowledgeable, and worked well with diverse personalities and competing interests; (ii) She is a very effective mediator. She has the ability to empathize with each side, but she can also tactfully point out their respective weaknesses and the risks of not settling. She can also "lighten the mood" when the parties get emotional. Finally, she is willing to keep on going as long as it takes to bring closure to the process; (iii) Ms. Harris kept the proceedings on a very professional level and interacted well with representatives and attorneys from the State, Counties and Union. She showed professionalism and courtesy to all participants; (iv) She was professional, knowledgable and easy to work with in a highly acrimonious case; and (v) Ms. Harris is a top notch mediator. She understood the issues and the case. From the moment we walked into mediation, she was moving the case to resolution. She knows what she is doing and she deserves to be in the upper echelon of mediators. I would use Ms. Harris again should the opportunity arise and I recommend her as a mediator without any reservations. Ms. Harris’ mediation skills and abilities are rated as highly effective. Typical of feedback received in this regard are: (i) Ms. Harris was very successful in reconciling the competing interests of the parties. She has the ability to spot likely areas of agreement, and to move the parties towards a mutually acceptable solution; (ii) She had patience, empathy and persistence to keep the parties going until a settlement was finally reached. I believe the parties felt that they were listened to and empathized with; (iii) One of her skills that was critical in this case was her flexibility, when positions and issues would change frequently and without notice; (iv) Catherine Harris was highly knowledgable about the subject matter and the ever changing law in this area; (v) Catherine Harris is able to read people well and provide legal authority to bolster persuasive arguments presented by the parties; and (vi) Catherine has the dual qualities of fairness and the ability to make the parties understand the benefits of settlement and thus negotiate at mediation rather than dig in their heels. Her sense of fairness had a big impact on getting our case settled. She was able to gain both sides' confidence and thus get both sides to make meaningful compromises toward settlement. Ms. Harris is also highly regarded for her ability to effect a positive outcome. For example, one provider of feedback noted that not only were the issues resolved in mediation, but the parties were left with a foundation for their ongoing relationship. While another noted that Ms. Harris was very easy to work with. She was flexible in terms of dates, times, locations, and more importantly issues and presentations. She always conducted the proceedings in a professional and respectful manner despite the overflow of emotions at times. She focused on the legal issues and possible resolutions. She was accommodating and cordial. I highly recommend her. Costs were widely reported as reasonable in the context of the value of the disputes mediated by Ms. Harris, and in general a very high degree of satisfaction was reported. No reportable negative comments have been received since Ms. Harris’ designation as an IMI Certified Mediator.
This feedback digest was last updated 15 May 2009.
This feedback digest was last updated 15 May 2009.