The Superior Court Rule 170 ADR program is the longest running of the Judicial Branch ("ADR") Alternative Dispute Resolution programs.

The purpose of the program is to provide an opportunity for parties and counsel to resolve civil cases*, prior to a final hearing or trial.

The Rule 170 program has both volunteer and market rate mediators on its roster. A link to the lists is available on this website. Neutral Case Evaluation is also available on with a volunteer or market rate neutral who will assist the parties and counsel. Arbitration is available as well, although there is no volunteer option if arbitration is selected. Rather, we have tried to make arbitration cost effective so that parties and counsel who would like to expedite resolution of their case using arbitration, can do so in a cost effective manner.

Mediation tends to be the ADR method most used by the parties. Though there is currently no fixed criteria to determine whether a case goes to a volunteer or a paid mediator, typically cases that are more complex, have multiple parties, and claims that exceed $50,000 will go to a market rate mediator; whereas cases that have only two parties and claims that are less than $50,000.00 may be more appropriate for a volunteer mediator.

*Some civil cases and all criminal cases are exempt from the program. Please review the rule itself for clarification of which case are exempt.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Rule 170
Arbitration by Agreement Rule 170-A
Judge Conducted Intensive Mediation Rule 170-B

 

You may contact the Office of Mediation & Arbitration via email at mediation@courts.state.nh.us.