Fort Myers Mediation

 Barbara M. Pizzolato, Esq. is now scheduling mediator services for matters in Lee County Circuit Civil Court matters and Collier County Circuit Civil Court matters which deal primarily within the following areas:

• Business disputes

• Business Partnerships disputes

• Civil litigation

• Commercial landlord/tenant

• Contract disputes

• Corporate law disputes

• Real estate litigation 

Ms. Pizzolato is available to act as mediator Monday through Friday, for full days or half days

To schedule a circuit court civil mediation in Lee or Collier Counties, please call 239-225-7987 or email our office for availability. 

Ms. Pizzolato's office is located in Fort Myers and is easily accessible from Fort Myers Beach, Estero, Cape Coral, Sanibel, Estero Bay, Bonita Springs, North Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Naples and the balance of Lee and Collier Counties.
 

Rates:

• $175 per party per hour with 2 parties;

• $135 per party per hour with 3 parties;

• $110 per party per hour with 4 parties; and

• $500.00 per hour with 5 or more parties, divided equally amongst the parties.

A "party" is defined as one or more persons or entities who have a common interest and who are represented by a single attorney or firm (or lead counsel and local counsel, or insurance defense counsel and independent counsel).

Minimum Fees:

• Lee County:

  • Half day is two hours time

  • Full day is four hours time

• Outside of Lee County: 

  • Half day is three hours time

  • Full day is five hours time

 Should the mediation exceed the minimum fee time is billed in quarter hour increments.

Travel Time:

 There is no charge for travel time for mediations or arbitrations conducted in Lee County.

 There is a $75.00 travel time fee for mediations or arbitrations conducted in Collier counties.

Payment:

Under certain circumstances, credit may be extended to counsel only, who are primarily responsible for payment.

As a result, all counsel are requested to have their clients bring a check to the mediation, or to obtain sufficient retainer funds from their clients in order to cover the mediation fees. Advance retainers may be required.

Cancellation Policy:

If scheduled for a half day mediation, a cancellation fee of two hours time will be charged at the applicable hourly rate if cancelled less than fourteen (14) full calendar days before the scheduled Mediation date.

If scheduled for a whole day, a cancellation fee of four hours time will be charged at the applicable hourly rate if cancelled less than fourteen (14) full calendar days before the scheduled Mediation date.

For example, to avoid a cancellation fee, a mediation scheduled on a Monday (regardless of the start time) must be cancelled by no later than 5:00 p.m. two Mondays before the date scheduled for the mediation; a mediation scheduled on a Tuesday (regardless of start time) must be cancelled by no later than 5:00 p.m. two Tuesdays before the date scheduled for the mediation, etc.

Cancellation fees will be billed to the party or parties requesting the cancellation. Cancellation fees apply regardless of whether the mediation being cancelled is, or is no to be, rescheduled. However, cancellation fees will NOT apply if we are able to schedule another mediation or arbitration in place of the cancelled mediation (i.e., on the date it has been cancelled)

If your mediation is scheduled 14 or fewer days before the scheduled date and is then cancelled, the cancellation fee will apply if it is cancelled less than 7 full calendar days before the scheduled date. If your mediation is scheduled 7 or fewer days before the scheduled date and is then cancelled, a cancellation fee will be due. The same cancellation fees apply in relation to scheduled arbitrations.