2015 Iowa Code
TITLE XV - JUDICIAL BRANCH AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES
SUBTITLE 5 - SPECIAL ACTIONS
CHAPTER 654C - FARM MEDIATION — ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATION STRUCTURES
Section 654C.5 - Mediation agreement.

1.  If an agreement is reached between all parties, the mediator shall draft a written mediation agreement, which shall be signed by the parties. The mediation agreement shall provide for a waiver which the mediator shall file in the office of the recorder of deeds of the county in which the benefited land is located, as provided in section 459.205. The mediator shall forward a mediation agreement to the farm mediation service.

2.  The parties agreeing to mediation shall personally attend and participate in all mediation meetings. However, if a party is not a natural person, the party must be represented by a natural person who is an officer, director, employee, or partner of the party. If a person acts in a fiduciary capacity for a party, the fiduciary may represent the party. If the party or an eligible representative is not able to attend and participate as required in this subsection due to physical infirmity, mental infirmity, or other exigent circumstances determined reasonable by the farm mediation service, the party must be represented by another natural person. Any representative of a party must be authorized to sign instruments provided by this chapter, including a mediation agreement or a statement prepared by the mediator that mediation was waived. This section does not require a party to reach an agreement. This section does not require a person to change a position, alter an activity which is a subject of the dispute, alter an application for a permit for construction of an animal feeding operation, or restructure a contract.

3.  The parties to the mediation agreement may enforce the mediation agreement as a legal contract.

4.  If the parties do not agree to proceed with mediation, or if a mediation agreement is not reached, the parties may sign a statement prepared by the mediator that mediation proceedings were not conducted or concluded or that the parties did not reach an agreement.

1995 Acts, ch 195, §31; 1998 Acts, ch 1122, §4