Circuit Civil Mediation is increasingly being used as a means to more quickly and more effectively resolve disputes such as contract, real estate, medical malpractice, product liability, personal injury, and other types of disputes. Often these cases are complex and involve multiple parties in mediation. This 40-hour training approved by the Florida Supreme Court and combines lecture, discussion, and role playing to promote comprehensive understanding and practical skills development in circuit civil mediation.

• Understand Circuit Civil Mediation Theory, Process, Techniques and Ethics
• Appreciate the Role of Lawyers in Mediation& Court Process

• Be Familiar with Conflict Resolution, Negotiation Dynamics & Diversity Issues
  
• Learn Communication Skills, Community Resources and Referral Processes

For More Information About Upcoming Programs, please visit the USF Conflict Resolution Collaborative's Home Page

The course will be held on the Tampa Campus of the University of South Florida. Exact location and directions will be sent with registration confirmation.

For help with directions, call (813) 974-4296 during regular working hours or check the USF Parking Maps.

Friday 24^th

Charles N. Castagna, Esq., is a Federal Mediator and a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil and Family Mediator with more than twenty years mediation experience. He has been a full time mediator since 1995 and has mediated thousands of cases. Mr. Castagna served on the Florida Supreme Court Mediation and Arbitration Rules Committee for eight years and served as President of the Florida Academy of Professional Mediators (FAPM) from 2002 to 2005 and as President of the Florida Association of Professional Family Mediators (FAPFM) from 2000 to 2002. Charles Castagna is a Diplomate Member of FAPM and received the 2006 Award of Merit from FAPM in recognition of his “outstanding contribution to mediation in Florida.” He has been a frequent presenter to the Florida Bar and to various Bar Associations on Alternative Dispute Resolution and provides continuing mediator education training on a regular basis. He has been selected as a Leading Florida Attorney (ADR) and for inclusion ofWho’sWho in American Law. Mr. Castagna was a Law Clerk for Florida Supreme Court Justice James C. Adkins, Jr. and has previously practiced law in the areas of insurance defense, personal injury, condominium law, bankruptcy, and general commercial civil litigation.

Gregory Firestone, Ph.D., is Director of the USF Conflict Resolution Collaborative and Vice Chair of the Florida Supreme Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Rules and Policy Committee. He has been a practicing mediator for more than twenty years and is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court, Family, Dependency, and County Court Mediator; an Advanced Practitioner Member of the Association for Conflict Resolution; and a licensed psychologist. Dr. Firestone serves on the Editorial Board of Family Court Review and has previously served on the Boards of Directors of the Academy of Family Mediators and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. He is a Diplomate Member of the Florida Academy of Professional Mediators and recipient of the 2002 Association for Conflict Resolution Presidential Award. Dr. Firestone has lectured and published widely in the field of mediation and is coauthor of Mediation Works: Make it Work for You, a family mediation orientation video produced by the Florida Supreme Court Dispute Resolution Center.

Cary Singletary, J.D.,is a full time mediator & arbitrator and serves as a primary trainer in circuit civil mediator and county court mediator certification courses which are approved by the Florida Supreme Court. He has served as Director of the Stetson University College of Law Center for Dispute Resolution and previously has practiced labor and employment law for more than twenty years. Mr. Singletary has published numerous articles in the field of employment law, arbitration, mediation and conflict resolution.

Register at least 10 days prior to class start date for $925; after that the fee is $975 (includes refreshments). No refunds within one week of class start date. If you withdraw at least one week prior to class start date, a $25 administrative fee will be charged. Substitutions allowed until one day prior. Enrollment is limited to 40 participants.

The University reserves the right to cancel any programs in which case fees are fully refunded. This course meets the Florida Supreme Court training standards for certification as a circuit civil mediator. There are additional requirements for certification by the Florida Supreme Court which are described in the Florida Rules for Certified and Court Appointed Mediators (see http://www.flcourts.org/ gen_public/adr/index.shtml).

Registration is reserved for individuals who possess a master’s or doctorate (e.g., Ph.D., J.D., M.D., Ed.D., LL.M) degree. Individuals with a bachelor's degree who have either five years mediation experience or a graduate certificate in conflict resolution may also register. Others may enroll with the permission of the instructor.

The number of course participants is limited. If you register less than 10 days before the course begins, please call (813) 974-4296 to verify that space is available and to receive special instructions regarding registration and payment of your registration fee. A confirmation letter will be sent upon receipt of your registration and payment. No registration is confirmed without full payment.

The University of South Florida is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access/ Affirmative Action Institution. If reasonable accommodation of a disability is needed, call (813) 974-4296 at least ten working days in advance of the event to make arrangements. Persons with hearing impairments should contact the ADA Coordinator by using the Florida Dual Party Relay System at (800) 955-8770 (voice) or (800) 955-8771 (TDD)

The USF Conflict Resolution Collaborative offers Family, Circuit Civil, and Dependency Mediation certification training programs which are approved by the Florida Supreme Court and approved by the Florida Bar for CLER. Certification courses meet the Florida Supreme Court training requirement for certification as a mediator in the respective areas. Additional requirements for mediator certification by the Florida Supreme Court are described in the Florida Rules for Certified and Court- Appointed Mediators. Call 850/921-2910 for mediation certification requirements.

For More Information E-mail

or call CPD at 813-974-4296.