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484.76 ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROGRAM.
    Subdivision 1. General. The Supreme Court shall establish a statewide alternative dispute
resolution program for the resolution of civil cases filed with the courts. The Supreme Court shall
adopt rules governing practice, procedure, and jurisdiction for alternative dispute resolution
programs established under this section. Except for matters involving family law the rules shall
require the use of nonbinding alternative dispute resolution processes in all civil cases, except for
good cause shown by the presiding judge, and must provide an equitable means for the payment
of fees and expenses for the use of alternative dispute resolution processes.
    Subd. 2. Scope. Alternative dispute resolution methods provided for under the rules must
include arbitration, private trials, neutral expert fact-finding, mediation, minitrials, consensual
special magistrates including retired judges and qualified attorneys to serve as special magistrates
for binding proceedings with a right of appeal, and any other methods developed by the Supreme
Court. The methods provided must be nonbinding unless otherwise agreed to in a valid agreement
between the parties. Alternative dispute resolution may not be required in guardianship,
conservatorship, or civil commitment matters; proceedings in the juvenile court under chapter
260; or in matters arising under section 144.651, 144.652, 518B.01, or 626.557.
History: 1991 c 321 s 4; 1993 c 192 s 97; 1993 c 340 s 19

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes