What is a settlement conference?

A settlement conference is a face-to-face meeting between the parties involved in a lawsuit in an effort to settle the dispute out of court. Settlement conferences are a common occurrence in the court system in Washington. Settlement conferences occur after a lawsuit or claim has been initiated and prior to going to trial. A settlement conference is an informal, voluntary process, where the parties involved meet with the judge or a neutral third-party mediator. The parties can negotiate a settlement agreement on their own or with the help of their lawyers. During the conference, the parties discuss the facts and evidence related to the dispute, as well as offer and counter offers. The goal of a settlement conference is to reach an agreement without going through the formal process of a trial. This can be beneficial to both parties, as it can save time, money, and stress associated with a trial. Settlement conferences are designed to be non adversarial and are confidential, so nothing said during the conference is admissible in court. Though settlement conferences are voluntary, judges may require the parties to attend them, depending on the type of dispute. The decision to settle or not to settle is ultimately up to the parties involved in the dispute.

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