FYI: The appellate courts will help settle your appeal. Not only is settlement a viable option on appeal,but the appellate courts also will help to settle cases,often at no charge.

For example,the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has a mediation office staffed by full-time professionals who are attorneys well-versed in negotiation, mediation,and settlement.Their job is to settle appeals,and they do so successfully,with more than half the cases accepted into the program resolved without further appellate proceedings—and at no charge to the parties.

Also, the Second District Court of Appeal has a Settlement and Mediation Program by which trained and experienced practitioners offer a minimum of six hours of free time to help reach a settlement.Most other court of appeal districts have similar programs.

Apart from court-based programs,parties may benefit from hiring retired appellate judges to serve as mediators.