WASHINGTON, D. C. – Attorney General Karl A. Racine has launched a pilot program to resolve lawsuits against the District government through an informal mediation process. Under the program, any individual who has filed a lawsuit against the District of Columbia seeking $10,000 or less for property damage or personal injury may bring the claim before a neutral mediator.

Because this process does not involve formal discovery by either side, the mediation is intended to allow individuals with meritorious claims to obtain a quick resolution and save taxpayers the cost of going to trial.

“District taxpayers benefit when lawsuits against the city are resolved quickly and the District as well as the other party can avoid the costs of going to trial,” said Attorney General Racine. “The Office of the Attorney General’s new mediation program is an opportunity for the District government to provide a quick, fair, and informal way of resolving claims with resolutions agreeable to all parties.”

In its initial phase, the program will only apply to claims for property damage and personal injury being defended by the Office of the Attorney General’s Civil Litigation Division. Participants may agree to either binding or non-binding mediation. When cases are resolved through the program, the plaintiff forgoes any further claim, and the maximum amount that may be awarded is $10,000.

Individuals can participate in the mediation process with or without an attorney. The program guidelines are attached and available online.