2005 Arizona Revised Statutes - Revised Statutes §12-2238  Mediation; privileged communications; exceptions; liability; definition

A. Before or after the filing of a complaint, mediation may occur pursuant to law, a court order or a voluntary decision of the parties.

B. The mediation process is confidential. Communications made, materials created for or used and acts occurring during a mediation are confidential and may not be discovered or admitted into evidence unless:

1. All of the parties to the mediation agree to the disclosure.

2. The communication, material or act is relevant to a claim or defense made by a party to the mediation against the mediator or the mediation program arising out of a breach of a legal obligation owed by the mediator to the party.

3. The disclosure is required by statute.

4. The disclosure is necessary to enforce an agreement to mediate.

C. Except pursuant to subsection B, paragraph 2, 3 or 4, a mediator is not subject to service of process or a subpoena to produce evidence or to testify regarding any evidence or occurrence relating to the mediation proceedings. Evidence that exists independently of the mediation even if the evidence is used in connection with the mediation is subject to service of process or subpoena.

D. Notwithstanding subsection B, threatened or actual violence that occurs during a mediation is not a privileged communication. The mediator may inform the parties that threatened or actual violence is not privileged and may be disclosed.

E. A mediator is not subject to civil liability except for those acts or omissions that involve intentional misconduct or reckless disregard of a substantial risk of a significant injury to the rights of others.

F. For the purposes of this section, "mediation" means a process in which parties who are involved in a dispute enter into one or more private settlement discussions outside of a formal court proceeding with a neutral third party to try to resolve the dispute.