Primary Department: Justices of the Peace
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Judge Steve Duble, JP 1-2
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Grant - Award
Project ID (if applicable):
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Houston Bar Foundation
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): 5%
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Rate is not 0% and is listed above.
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by Justice of the Peace 1-2 for approval to accept from the Houston Bar Foundation grant funds in the amount of $5,000, with no required match, for the FY26 Small Claims Fast-Track Mediation Initiative.
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Background and Discussion:
This grant is to pay for a video materials to promote and support a pilot project to develop a robust pre-litigation program that encourages small claims litigants to pursue mediation prior to filing their case in justice court, thereby freeing up the court docket and resolving disputes through negotiated settlements. Part of the incentives for litigants would also include free dispute resolution (as they would not need to pay court fees) and we would develop a system that would fast track these cases if the mediation proved unsuccessful.
The project will: 1. Develop a process for referring cases from JP 1-2 to the Dispute Resolution Center for mediation and for fast tracking cases where mediation fails; 2. Train clerks and other court staff on how to appropriately and effectively promote mediation as an alternative to plaintiffs when they come to file their case; 3. Create a publicity campaign to promote this process to potential litigants, including the creation of an animated video. This video would be animated and be...
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