Oregon Statutes 36.262 – Confidentiality of mediation materials
(1) For purposes of a mediation under ORS § 36.252 to 36.268, all memoranda, work products and other materials contained in the case files of a mediator, an agricultural mediation service provider or the State Department of Agriculture are confidential. Any communication made in, or in connection with, the mediation that relates to the dispute being mediated, whether made to the mediator or a party, or to any other person if made at a mediation session, is confidential. However, a mediation agreement entered into under ORS § 36.260 is not confidential unless the parties otherwise agree in writing.
Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 36.262
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Person: includes individuals, corporations, associations, firms, partnerships, limited liability companies and joint stock companies. See Oregon Statutes 174.100
- Testify: Answer questions in court.
(2) Confidential materials and communications are not subject to disclosure in any judicial or administrative proceeding except:
(a) When all parties to the mediation agree, in writing, to waive the confidentiality;
(b) In a subsequent action between the mediator and a party to the mediation for damages arising out of the mediation; or
(c) When the material or communications are statements, memoranda, materials and other tangible evidence, otherwise subject to discovery, that were not prepared specifically for use in and not actually used in the mediation.
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section, a mediator may not be compelled to testify in any proceeding, unless all parties to the mediation and the mediator agree, in writing, to waive the confidentiality. [1989 c.967 § 8; 2015 c.202 § 7]
See note under 36.252.