Counsel Forum Minutes of Meeting - May 26, 2006

Approval of Minutes - Meeting of March 31, 2006
- The Minutes were approved as submitted.

Business Arising from Minutes
- No business arising.

Auto Insurance Reform Update
- Nothing new to report

DRS Statistics and Status - Mediation - John Lobo
- The statistics were reviewed and discussed. The anticipated increase in applications as a result of March 1/06 changes has not occurred so far but is being monitored. Average processing time for perfected files to assignment to a mediator is up and is also being monitored. The bulk of administrative closures were under the Ano issues in dispute@ category. Full settlement rate up slightly to 36% in April.

Mediation Services will shortly be proceeding to competition for 3 permanent and 4 contract mediators.

Arbitration - Status and Statistics - Susan Sapin
The statistics were reported and discussed. The age of outstanding decisions over 151 days is down this year from 9 to 7 but is still high and is being closely monitored.

Differing viewpoints were expressed regarding the level of enthusiasm for settlements at pre- hearings; some counsel missed the energy of FSCO's early days; others pointed out, the system has changed little since 1996, and has simply become more stable and predicable, which is Not Necessarily a Bad Thing.

DRS Statistics - Appeals - David Draper
Appeals caseload remains steady but with fewer cases. An updated Judicial Review Status chart was distributed.

DRS Excellence Project

David Draper emphasized the need to involve stakeholders and to solicit input on matters of interest to them such as more efficient scheduling of matters through electronic scheduling programs, for example, and to improve stakeholder communications. There was general agreement that it would be a Good Thing to build on the strengths of Cousel Forum and to increase its membership and involvement at meetings. Eric Grossman offered to contact frequent users of the mediation and arbitration services to encourage them to attend and to provide input over the summer if necessary.

Website
Consensus that a better search function is needed. Members would like to be able to sign up for updates via e-mail. Word-fillable forms will be made available as resources permit.

Other Business

Members of Counsel Forum thanked Ivan Luxenberg for his past two years as Chair.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 a.m.

Next Counsel Forum meeting is scheduled for Friday, September 28, 2006 at 9:30 am