Matrimonial mediation pilot program starts in Brooklyn
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Starting on Tuesday, Brooklyn will be one of three locations in the state that will begin a presumptive matrimonial mediation pilot program in which couples seeking to get a divorce will go through a mediation session before going to court.
That program was the subject of a Brooklyn Bar Association Continuing Legal Education seminar on Tuesday with a panel that included Hon. Jeffrey Sunshine, the statewide coordinating judge for matrimonial cases; Jean Norton;, Carrie Anne Cavallo, the president of the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association; Aimee Richter, the immediate past president of the Brooklyn Bar Association; and RoseAnn C. Branda, executive partner at Abrams Fensterman and co-chair of the BBA Family Law Section.
Originally slated to last for 50 minutes, Justice Sunshine and the group were there for at least 75 minutes speaking with more than 60 attorneys who attended the program.
“Presumptive mediation is based upon the concept that all cases in both my part and Judge Rachel Adams’ part will be presumed eligible for mediation unless a party opts out or is screened out,” said Justice Sunshine. “They can be screened out because of domestic violence allegations or possible power imbalances.