The department shall contract with a diverse pool of mediators for the provision of mediation services. The contractors shall be qualified mediators who meet standards established by the commissioner. The commissioner shall establish standards in consultation with consumer groups, policyholder groups, mediators, alternative dispute resolution groups, insurers, and the State Bar. These standards shall include:
(a) Mandatory training that may be provided by the department, which shall include, at a minimum, the legal rules for insurance policy interpretation and the rights of insureds under California law, and methods of determining costs of construction and reconstruction and costs of automobile repair in given geographical areas.
(b) A requirement that no mediator participating in this program may have business, familial, contractual, or other affiliation with, or financial interest in, the insured, or in any insurer, insurance agent, or agency. For purposes of this subdivision, an investment in a mutual fund that holds insurer stocks is not a financial interest. Financial interest does not include prior representation of, or an employment or contractual relationship with a law firm or lawyer who represents, one or more insurers or who represents insurance agents in connection with their business affairs, provided the law firm or lawyer has not previously represented any of the parties to the mediation.
However, any prior representation, employment, or contractual relationship shall be disclosed to the parties to the mediation. If any party objects to the mediator because of the prior representation, employment, or contractual relationship, the department shall dismiss that mediator and select a new mediator. An objection under this subdivision does not limit a party’s right to object once under subdivision (d).
(c) A requirement that no mediator participating in this program may be either a lawyer or an employee of a lawyer or law firm that has represented any party to the mediation in the previous 36 months, or a person who has a business, familial, contractual, or other affiliation with a lawyer or law firm that has represented any party to the mediation in a lawsuit against the insurer in the last 36 months.
(d) Each party to the mediation may object once to the mediator assigned by the department. If a party objects to the mediator, the department shall dismiss the mediator and assign another mediator.
(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 727, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 2002.)
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