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Court Rules

California Rules of Court

Rule 3.894. Attendance, participant lists, and mediation statements

Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.894

Current text effective July 1, 2009.

#(a) Attendance

#(1) All parties and attorneys of record must attend all mediation sessions in person unless excused or permitted to attend by telephone as provided in (3). If a party is not a natural person, a representative of that party with authority to resolve the dispute or, in the case of a governmental entity that requires an agreement to be approved by an elected official or a legislative body, a representative with authority to recommend such agreement, must attend all mediation sessions in person, unless excused or permitted to attend by telephone as provided in (3).

#(2) If any party is insured under a policy of insurance that provides or may provide coverage for a claim that is a subject of the action, a representative of the insurer with authority to settle or recommend settlement of the claim must attend all mediation sessions in person, unless excused or permitted to attend by telephone as provided in (3).

#(3) The mediator may excuse a party, attorney, or representative from the requirement to attend a mediation session under (1) or (2) or permit attendance by telephone. The party, attorney, or representative who is excused or permitted to attend by telephone must promptly send a letter or an electronic communication to the mediator and to all parties confirming the excuse or permission.

#(4) Each party may have counsel present at all mediation sessions that concern the party.

#

(Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2007; adopted as untitled subd effective March 1, 1994.)

#(b) Participant lists and mediation statements

#(1) At least five court days before the first mediation session, each party must serve a list of its mediation participants on the mediator and all other parties. The list must include the names of all parties, attorneys, representatives of a party that is not a natural person, insurance representatives, and other persons who will attend the mediation with or on behalf of that party. A party must promptly serve a supplemental list if the party subsequently determines that other persons will attend the mediation with or on behalf of the party.

#(2) The mediator may request that each party submit a short mediation statement providing information about the issues in dispute and possible resolutions of those issues and other information or documents that may appear helpful to resolve the dispute.

#

(Subd (b) adopted effective January 1, 2007.)

#History

Rule 3.894 renumbered effective July 1, 2009; adopted as rule 1634 effective March 1, 1994; previously amended and renumbered as rule 3.874 effective January 1, 2007; previously amended effective January 1, 2007.

What this rule requires

Service and Proof of Service Rules

  • The party, attorney, or representative who is excused or permitted to attend by telephone must promptly send a letter or an electronic communication to the mediator and to all parties confirming the excuse or permission.

  • At least five court days before the first mediation session, each party must serve a list of its mediation participants on the mediator and all other parties.

  • A party must promptly serve a supplemental list if the party subsequently determines that other persons will attend the mediation with or on behalf of the party.

Document Format Requirements

  • All parties and attorneys of record must attend all mediation sessions in person unless excused or permitted to attend by telephone as provided in (3).

  • A non-natural-person party must have an appropriately authorized representative attend each mediation session in person, subject to the stated governmental-entity authority provision and the exceptions in (3).

    The rule's wording

    If a party is not a natural person, a representative of that party with authority to resolve the dispute or, in the case of a governmental entity that requires an agreement to be approved by an elected official or a legislative body, a representative with authority to recommend such agreement, must attend all mediation sessions in person, unless excused or permitted to attend by telephone as provided in (3).

  • If any party is insured under a policy of insurance that provides or may provide coverage for a claim that is a subject of the action, a representative of the insurer with authority to settle or recommend settlement of the claim must attend all mediation sessions in person, unless excused or permitted to attend by telephone as provided in (3).

  • The mediator may excuse a party, attorney, or representative from the requirement to attend a mediation session under (1) or (2) or permit attendance by telephone.

  • Each party may have counsel present at all mediation sessions that concern the party.

Document Filing Requirements

  • The list must include the names of all parties, attorneys, representatives of a party that is not a natural person, insurance representatives, and other persons who will attend the mediation with or on behalf of that party.

  • The mediator may request that each party submit a short mediation statement providing information about the issues in dispute and possible resolutions of those issues and other information or documents that may appear helpful to resolve the dispute.

Official text: courts.ca.gov , checked October 19, 2026.