@aidan,
Quote:
HI DAVID!!! Can you believe I just now saw this message from you?
How are you? I'm busy, busy, busy and doing well - happy -
I have this little cafe now and though I've never run a cafe before -
it's taken off and is doing very well. I'm meeting some really
lovely people - a midwife who's delivered 800 babies -
this long distance bike rider who's teaching me how to mediate -
and all these old age pensioners who've become my new family
(they like my cottage pie and bangers on mash). I love it -
they call me 'darling' and 'love' and kiss me hello and goodbye ...it's lovely.
I'll be in New York over Christmas - maybe we can meet up then.
Hi, Rebecca !
I 'm fine, thank u.
U bought a cafe ?
CONGRATULATIONS !
What became of your career in education ?
I can 't comment much about delivering babies,
but insofar as mediation is concerned, I have found that
the key to success in getting the litigants (or disputants)
to settle their case is to get an offer on the table from defendant,
then to speak to them individually, alone,
and to present the side of each party in the blackest possible light,
to induce him to accept the offer or demand of the other side.
U get them to approach one another 's position,
by ratcheting,
incrimentally, between offer and demand.
U can have the plaintiff consider what he or she will do
with the cash forthcoming from defendant: a vacation, or wardrobe, etc.
Remind them that in a settlement,
THAY have control,
as distinct from letting the judge or jury decide their fate,
if thay decide to throw the dice. U can tell them that there r
no appeals from settlements, and tell plaintiffs that thay 'll get the cash
SOONER
than if the sheriff has to levy execution of judgment
(assuming that plaintiff wins, and remind plaintiff
[in the absence of defendant] that he has the burden of proof).
Toward the end, a momentum develops toward settlement.
Then its:
NEXT CASE !
Good Luck !
I look forward to seeing u around Christmas.
Think of some good restaurants !
David