Virginia JudicialSettlement Conference

Program

11-Year Cumulative Statistical Update November

2003 – June 30, 2014

Retired Circuit Court JudgesBringing Calm to the Storm

Referred CasesReferred Cases 10,441 cases have been referred to settlement conferences since 11/03.

8,711 cases have been paid for since 11/03.

7,845 cases have been captured and are graphically displayed on the following charts.

2,384 cases are pending receipt of reports or actual conference.

212 cases were cancelled before reaching conference.

10,441

8,7117,845

2,384

2120

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

Ca

se

s

Refer

rals

Paid C

ases

Captu

red

Pendin

g

Cance

lled

Settlement Conference ExpendituresSettlement Conference Expenditures

$7,400

$57,800

$105,800

$133,800

$171,000$165,000

$219,000$213,200

$220,200$225,200

$223,800

$0

$50,000

$100,000

$150,000

$200,000

$250,000

2003-

2004

2004-

2005

2005-

2006

2006-

2007

2007-

2008

2008-

2009

2009-

2010

2010-

2011

2011-

2012

2012-

2013

2013-

2014

5

# Cases

37

289

529

669

855

825

1095

1066

1101

1126

1119

Case Type CategoriesCase Type Categories

Miscellaneous3.7%Commercial

16.7%

Domestic43.0%

Tort/Personal Injury36.6%

Tort/PI Domestic Commercial Miscellaneous

Types of CasesTypes of Cases

Other Commercial1.5%

Real Estate2.6%

Landlord Tenant0.7%

Assault0.6%

Condemnation1.7%

Construction3.4%

Debt0.9%

Divorce40.9% Other Domestic

1.3%Probate

0.8%

Other PI3.7%

Libel Defamation0.5%

Slip & Fall1.9%

Medical Malpractice1.5%

Auto Accident28.4%Contract

5.9%

Miscellaneous3.7%

Agreement RateAgreement Rate

71.7% of referred cases successfully reached an agreement either during or soon after the conference

Note: This does NOT

include pending cases

69.5%

2.2%

28.3%

Reached at time of conference

Reached after, but as result of conference

Not Reached

Length of ConferencesLength of Conferences

The average length of a conference is 2.6 hours.

629

2082

2415

1359

666

322186 93 46 65

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Cases

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10+

Hours

Referring Circuit CourtsReferring Circuit Courts

68.4% of all cases have been referred by 10 courts in the Tidewater Area (Hampton, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, James City/Williamsburg, Norfolk, Newport News, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, York and Chesapeake).

31.6% of the cases to date have been referred by 109 other courts across Virginia.

A total of 119 circuit courts have referred cases.

Only 1 circuit court has never referred a case.

Number of Cases Number of Cases Referred By CourtReferred By Court

3082

312

1317

1295895404

1391

332421 432 514

Hampton

Virginia Beach

Newport News

Chesapeake

JCC/Wmsbg

Norfolk

York

Portsmouth

Suffolk

Henrico

Other Courts

Party SatisfactionParty Satisfaction

6,766

48959

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

Very Appropriate SomewhatAppropriate

Not At AllAppropriate

Settlement Conference Was:

Data reported from 7,314 exit surveys received to date. 99.2% of parties viewed settlement conference as appropriate.

Party SatisfactionParty Satisfaction

5,961

1100

253

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not At All Helpful

Settlement Conference Process Was:

Data reported from 7,314 exit surveys received to date. 96.5% of parties viewed conference as very or somewhat helpful.

Party SatisfactionParty Satisfaction

7264

50

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

Yes No

Would You Request a Conference Again?

Data reported from 7,314 exit surveys received to date. 99.3% of parties would request a settlement conference again.

Party SatisfactionParty Satisfaction

7279

350

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

Yes No

Would You RecommendSettlement Conference?

Data reported from 7,314 exit surveys received to date. 99.5% of parties would recommend settlement conference.

Feedback: Exit Survey CommentsFeedback: Exit Survey Comments “This process was extremely effective. The demeanor and

knowledge of the judge carried tremendous goodwill and weight with my clients.”

“This is one of many settlement conferences in which I have participated and I highly recommend the process; it is wonderful for the “little man” with limited resources to be heard without going broke in the process.”

“This is probably the best system the Supreme Court has devised to resolve matters inexpensively and completely.”

“Settlement in this case was nothing short of a miracle! The judge has my sincere gratitude as well as that of my client.”

“We find this program to be of the best quality!”

Feedback: Exit Survey CommentsFeedback: Exit Survey Comments

“This process is an excellent use of judicial resources and saves the litigants thousands of dollars in trial preparation, as well as the court’s trial calendar.”

“ …settlement conferences are 9 times out of 10 the most efficient manner to resolve divorce matters.”

“In all, there were five attorneys involved in this case. Unfortunately, the five of us could not agree on the time of day, but in about five hours, with the help of [the judge], all issues, including the original complaint and the counter-claim, had been resolved. Amazing.”

“I, too, was surprised that we could achieve a resolution through a settlement conference. This really was client counseling and negotiations at its best. We find this program to be of the best quality!”

Feedback: Exit Survey CommentsFeedback: Exit Survey Comments “It took three hours to settle what we could not settle in six

years. Excellent process!” “The judge leveraged his time on the bench to offer

perspective to the parties that bridged the gap in this case!” “Even though the case did not settle, the judge added new

perspective and offered insightful proposals to consider. Well worth the time and effort.”

“The judge was able to help the parties to use their common sense while making decisions about emotional issues. He was able to help them arrive at a settlement after nine years of feuding. Excellent!”

“The judges who conduct settlement conferences are the unsung heroes of the judicial system. They are real public servants!”