Mass Mediation in Disasters – Mitigating the Inherent Risks
Keywords:
Mass Mediation, Natural Disasters, Alternate Dispute Resolution, Implication
Abstract
Disasters in general render victims vulnerable, especially at the hands of insurance representatives. Given the mental distress that the victims are already reeling under, among other factors, and the power that insurance companies exercise during this time, aggravates this issue. Often litigation is resorted to, but to no avail, given the inherent pitfalls of the mechanism. Mediation in such scenarios is seen as an effective remedy to resolve disputed insurance claims. In fact, the success of mediation during multiple disasters over the past few decades have proved its strength. While mediation is the best alternative, it suffers from certain risks. The aim of this paper is to therefore evaluate the special risks posed in such mass mediation. This paper will first introduce the concept of how mediation comes into play post disasters and why it is seen as the best system to resolve disputed insurance claims. It will subsequently look at some of the factors, both internal and external that pose challenges to this mechanism in the context of a post-disaster set up. This paper will subsequently analyze the different cases where mediation was used to settle the insurance claims and success of the respective programs. Lastly, this paper will then look at the implications for system designers and mediators, and finally conclude with recommendations for the furtherance of mass mediation.
References
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Cindy Fazzi, ‘Disaster when it Strikes, ADR can come to Rescue in Resolving Mass Tort Claims’ (1998) 53 Dispute Resolution Journal.
American Bar Association, Disaster Relief Programs https://www.adr.org/DisasterReliefPrograms Accessed 8 December 2022.
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Phillip H Gulliver, Disputes and Negotiations: A Cross Cultural Perspective (New York Academic Press 1979)
Paul Ernst Wehr, Conflict Regulation (Routledge, 2020).
Cynthia Mazur, ‘Working Towards Critical Mass, FEMA, ADR and Disasters’ (2006) 13(1) Dispute Resolution Journal, 9.
Robert A Baruch Bush & Joseph P Fogler, ‘Mediation and Social Justice: Risks and Opportunities’ (2012) 27(1) Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution, 1.
David L Lane, ‘The Storm is just beginning when the hurricane finally ends: Applicability of Mediation to Settlement of Insurance Claims in Mass Disasters’ (2009) 3, American Journal of Mediation, 51.
Linda Baron, ‘Disaster Basics: The Life Cycle of a Disaster and the Role of Conflict Resolution Professionals’ (2008) 9 Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution 301.
Shahla F Ali, ‘Mass Claims Mediation in China’ (2016) 10(2) The Journal of Comparative Law, 147.
Peter H Schuck, Agent Orange on Trial: Mass Toxic Disasters in the Court (Belknop Press of the Harvard University Press 1998).
Kenneth R Feinberg, Who Gets What? Fair Compensation After Tragedy and Financial Upheaval (Public Affairs: Perseus Book Group 2012)
American Arbitration Association, Disaster Relief Programs, https://www.adr.org/DisasterReliefPrograms Accessed 8 December 2022.
Maria Volpe, ‘Post Disaster ADR responses: Promises and Challenges’ (2015) 26(1) Fordham Environmental Law Review 95.
Alexandra Rindenow, ‘Providing Certainty in an Uncertain Time: How Alternative Dispute Resolution Can Help Natural Disaster Victims Rebuild’ (2022) Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution Blog https://larc.cardozo.yu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1028&context=cjcr-blog accessed 8 December 2022.
Mel Rubin, ‘Disaster Mediation: Lessons in Conflict Coordination and Collaboration,’ (2008) 9 Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution, 351.
Diane Neumann, ‘How Mediation can Effectively Address the Male-Female Power Imbalance in Divorce,’ (1992) 9(3) Mediation Quarterly 227.
Joan B. Kelly, ‘Power Imbalance in Divorce and Interpersonal Mediation: Assessment and Intervention,’ (1995) 13(2) Mediation Quarterly 85.
Amrita Narine, ‘Power Imbalances in Mediation,’ (1995) Conflict Resolution, 85.
Elizabeth Baker Murill, Mass Disaster Mediation: Innovative, ADR or a Lion’s Den,’ (2007) 7(3) Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal, 401.
Russ Bleemer, ‘Insurance Issues Mobilize the ADR Community in the wake of the Gulf Coast Hurricanes,’ (2005) 23(10) Alternatives to High Cost of Litigation, 171.
Mel Rubin, ‘Disaster Mediation: Lessons in Conflict Coordination and Collaboration,’ (2008) 9 Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution, 351.
H Laurence Ross, Settled Out of Court: The Social Process of Insurance Claims Adjustments (2nd edn, Routledge 1980).
Robert J. Ursano, et. al., ‘The Impact of Disasters and Their Aftermath on Mental Health,’ (2006) 8(1) Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 4.
Michael A Crabbs and Edward Heffron, ‘Loss associated with a natural disaster,’ (1981) 59(6) Personnel & Guidance Journal, 378
Anthony FC Wallace, Tornado in Worcester: An Exploratory Study of Individual and Community Behaviour in an Extreme Situation (Washington, National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council 1956)
Peter Wright, ‘The Harassed Decision Maker: Time Pressures, Distractions, and the Use of Evidence,’ (1974) 59(5) Journal of Applied Psychology 555.
Irving Janis & Leon Mann, Decision Making: A Psychological analysis of Conflict, Choice and Commitment (New York Free Press 1977)
Dean G Pruitt, Negotiation Behavior (Academic Press 1981).
Jose Pascal da Rocha, ‘The Changing Nature of International Mediation,’ (2019) 10(1) Global Policy, 110.
Kenneth M Roberts, ‘Mediating the Evaluative-Facilitative Debate: Why Both Parties Are Wrong and a Proposal for Settlement,’ (2007) 39(1) Loyola University Chicago Law Journal, 187.
Dorcas Quek Anderson, ‘Facilitative Versus Evaluative Mediation: Is There Necessarily a Dichotomy?’ (2013) 66 Asian Journal on Mediation, 66.
Gillian K Hadfield, ‘Framing the Choice Between Cash and the Courthouse: Experiences with the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund,’ (2008) 42(3) Law & Society Review, 645.
Robert L. Rabin, ‘The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund: A Circumscribed Response or an Auspicious Model?’ (2003) 53(2) De Paul Law Review, 769.
Eliot Rudes, Disasters, Victim Compensation, and Alternative Dispute Resolution,’ (2014) 7 The American Journal of Mediation.
Kimberly Taylor, ‘Alternative Options for Resolution of Property and Casualty Claims Arising Out of Natural Disasters,’ (2018) 5(2) Texas A&M Journal of Property Law, 193.
John T Pardun, ‘How ADR Can be Used to Resolve Mass Disaster and Insurance Claims,’ (2013), 6(23) International In-House Counsel Journal.
Henry Meier, ‘Neutrals Create Streamlined Process for Resolving Natural Disaster Cases’ Los Angeles Daily Journal (15 March 2013).
Maria Volpe, Post Disaster ADR Responses: Promises and Challenges,’ (2015) 26(1) Fordham Environmental Law Review, 95.
Stacy L. La Scale & Lawrence W. Pollock, ADR Seen as a Valuable Tool to Address Natural and Weather-Related Disaster Claims’ (JAMS ADR Insights 9 January 2018) https://www.jamsadr.com/blog/2018/adr-seen-as-a-valuable-tool-to-address-natural-and-weather-related-disaster-claims accessed 8 December 2022.
Dan Wade, Storm Sandy Mediation Program: A Learning Experience (United Policyholders 24 March 2014) Storm Sandy Mediation Program: A Learning Experience - United Policyholders (uphelp.org) accessed 8 December 2022.
Freya McKechnie, Dispute Resolution Following Natural Disasters (Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment 2018)
Linda Baron, ‘Disaster Basics: The Lifecycle of a disaster and the Role of Conflict Resolution Professionals,’ (2008) 9 Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution, 301.
Elizabeth Baker Murrill, Mass Disaster Mediation: Innovative ADR, or a lion’s den?’ (2007) 7(3) Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal, 401.
Patricia L Franz, ‘Habits of a Highly Effective Transformative Mediation Program’ (1998) 13(3) Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution, 1039.
Cindy Fazzi, ‘Disaster when it Strikes, ADR can come to Rescue in Resolving Mass Tort Claims’ (1998) 53 Dispute Resolution Journal.
American Bar Association, Disaster Relief Programs https://www.adr.org/DisasterReliefPrograms Accessed 8 December 2022.
Nadja Alexander, ‘Four Mediation Stories from Across the Globe’ (2010) 74(4) Rabel Journal of Comparative and International Law, 6.
Phillip H Gulliver, Disputes and Negotiations: A Cross Cultural Perspective (New York Academic Press 1979)
Paul Ernst Wehr, Conflict Regulation (Routledge, 2020).
Cynthia Mazur, ‘Working Towards Critical Mass, FEMA, ADR and Disasters’ (2006) 13(1) Dispute Resolution Journal, 9.
Robert A Baruch Bush & Joseph P Fogler, ‘Mediation and Social Justice: Risks and Opportunities’ (2012) 27(1) Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution, 1.
David L Lane, ‘The Storm is just beginning when the hurricane finally ends: Applicability of Mediation to Settlement of Insurance Claims in Mass Disasters’ (2009) 3, American Journal of Mediation, 51.
Linda Baron, ‘Disaster Basics: The Life Cycle of a Disaster and the Role of Conflict Resolution Professionals’ (2008) 9 Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution 301.
Shahla F Ali, ‘Mass Claims Mediation in China’ (2016) 10(2) The Journal of Comparative Law, 147.
Peter H Schuck, Agent Orange on Trial: Mass Toxic Disasters in the Court (Belknop Press of the Harvard University Press 1998).
Kenneth R Feinberg, Who Gets What? Fair Compensation After Tragedy and Financial Upheaval (Public Affairs: Perseus Book Group 2012)
American Arbitration Association, Disaster Relief Programs, https://www.adr.org/DisasterReliefPrograms Accessed 8 December 2022.
Maria Volpe, ‘Post Disaster ADR responses: Promises and Challenges’ (2015) 26(1) Fordham Environmental Law Review 95.
Alexandra Rindenow, ‘Providing Certainty in an Uncertain Time: How Alternative Dispute Resolution Can Help Natural Disaster Victims Rebuild’ (2022) Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution Blog https://larc.cardozo.yu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1028&context=cjcr-blog accessed 8 December 2022.
Mel Rubin, ‘Disaster Mediation: Lessons in Conflict Coordination and Collaboration,’ (2008) 9 Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution, 351.
Diane Neumann, ‘How Mediation can Effectively Address the Male-Female Power Imbalance in Divorce,’ (1992) 9(3) Mediation Quarterly 227.
Joan B. Kelly, ‘Power Imbalance in Divorce and Interpersonal Mediation: Assessment and Intervention,’ (1995) 13(2) Mediation Quarterly 85.
Amrita Narine, ‘Power Imbalances in Mediation,’ (1995) Conflict Resolution, 85.
Elizabeth Baker Murill, Mass Disaster Mediation: Innovative, ADR or a Lion’s Den,’ (2007) 7(3) Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal, 401.
Russ Bleemer, ‘Insurance Issues Mobilize the ADR Community in the wake of the Gulf Coast Hurricanes,’ (2005) 23(10) Alternatives to High Cost of Litigation, 171.
Mel Rubin, ‘Disaster Mediation: Lessons in Conflict Coordination and Collaboration,’ (2008) 9 Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution, 351.
H Laurence Ross, Settled Out of Court: The Social Process of Insurance Claims Adjustments (2nd edn, Routledge 1980).
Robert J. Ursano, et. al., ‘The Impact of Disasters and Their Aftermath on Mental Health,’ (2006) 8(1) Primary Care Companion to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 4.
Michael A Crabbs and Edward Heffron, ‘Loss associated with a natural disaster,’ (1981) 59(6) Personnel & Guidance Journal, 378
Anthony FC Wallace, Tornado in Worcester: An Exploratory Study of Individual and Community Behaviour in an Extreme Situation (Washington, National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council 1956)
Peter Wright, ‘The Harassed Decision Maker: Time Pressures, Distractions, and the Use of Evidence,’ (1974) 59(5) Journal of Applied Psychology 555.
Irving Janis & Leon Mann, Decision Making: A Psychological analysis of Conflict, Choice and Commitment (New York Free Press 1977)
Dean G Pruitt, Negotiation Behavior (Academic Press 1981).
Jose Pascal da Rocha, ‘The Changing Nature of International Mediation,’ (2019) 10(1) Global Policy, 110.
Kenneth M Roberts, ‘Mediating the Evaluative-Facilitative Debate: Why Both Parties Are Wrong and a Proposal for Settlement,’ (2007) 39(1) Loyola University Chicago Law Journal, 187.
Dorcas Quek Anderson, ‘Facilitative Versus Evaluative Mediation: Is There Necessarily a Dichotomy?’ (2013) 66 Asian Journal on Mediation, 66.
Gillian K Hadfield, ‘Framing the Choice Between Cash and the Courthouse: Experiences with the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund,’ (2008) 42(3) Law & Society Review, 645.
Robert L. Rabin, ‘The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund: A Circumscribed Response or an Auspicious Model?’ (2003) 53(2) De Paul Law Review, 769.
Eliot Rudes, Disasters, Victim Compensation, and Alternative Dispute Resolution,’ (2014) 7 The American Journal of Mediation.
Kimberly Taylor, ‘Alternative Options for Resolution of Property and Casualty Claims Arising Out of Natural Disasters,’ (2018) 5(2) Texas A&M Journal of Property Law, 193.
John T Pardun, ‘How ADR Can be Used to Resolve Mass Disaster and Insurance Claims,’ (2013), 6(23) International In-House Counsel Journal.
Henry Meier, ‘Neutrals Create Streamlined Process for Resolving Natural Disaster Cases’ Los Angeles Daily Journal (15 March 2013).
Maria Volpe, Post Disaster ADR Responses: Promises and Challenges,’ (2015) 26(1) Fordham Environmental Law Review, 95.
Stacy L. La Scale & Lawrence W. Pollock, ADR Seen as a Valuable Tool to Address Natural and Weather-Related Disaster Claims’ (JAMS ADR Insights 9 January 2018) https://www.jamsadr.com/blog/2018/adr-seen-as-a-valuable-tool-to-address-natural-and-weather-related-disaster-claims accessed 8 December 2022.
Dan Wade, Storm Sandy Mediation Program: A Learning Experience (United Policyholders 24 March 2014) Storm Sandy Mediation Program: A Learning Experience - United Policyholders (uphelp.org) accessed 8 December 2022.
Freya McKechnie, Dispute Resolution Following Natural Disasters (Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment 2018)
Linda Baron, ‘Disaster Basics: The Lifecycle of a disaster and the Role of Conflict Resolution Professionals,’ (2008) 9 Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution, 301.
Elizabeth Baker Murrill, Mass Disaster Mediation: Innovative ADR, or a lion’s den?’ (2007) 7(3) Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal, 401.
Patricia L Franz, ‘Habits of a Highly Effective Transformative Mediation Program’ (1998) 13(3) Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution, 1039.
Published
2024-01-01
How to Cite
Mahaseth, H., Jain, J., & Dang, M. (2024). Mass Mediation in Disasters – Mitigating the Inherent Risks. GLS Law Journal , 6(1), 1 - 12. https://doi.org/10.69974/glslawjournal.v6i1.122
Section
Articles
