Mediation confidentiality / Oregon statute
Oregon Senate Bill 160

The Oregon Legislature has passed SB160, a complete revision of
Oregon's law on confidentiality in mediation, designed to fill gaps
in the previous law.  The statute distinguishes between "mediation
communications" and the "mediation agreement" (the agreement
reached in mediation).  The statute provides different treatment
depending upon whether the mediation involves (1) private parties,
(2) non-state agency public bodies, or (3) state agency public
bodies.

With private parties, mediation communications are automatically
confidential unless the parties agree otherwise.  Exceptions
include reporting child or elder abuse, and when a party or
mediator reasonably fears serious harm to another.  Mediation
agreements are not confidential unless the parties agree otherwise.

With public bodies, mediation communications are not confidential
unless the public body first goes through a rule-making process to
make the communications confidential.  Mediation agreements are
generally not confidential except as provided in the Public Records
Law.  Also an exception for workplace interpersonal disputes with
a dollar limit of $1000.

Full text --

     Willamette University Dispute Resolution Information Service
     http://www.willamette.edu/dis-res/
     Click on "Recent Developments"

     We will email full text to you if you send the message
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           "Recent Developments in Dispute Resolution"
       Willamette University Center for Dispute Resolution
       Willamette University College of Law, Salem, Oregon
       Ross Runkel, Editor         Richard Birke, Director
       rrunkel@willamette.edu        rbirke@willamette.edu
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