Case Information
*1 Case 2:22-cv-00730-SPC-KCD Document 61 Filed 05/19/25 Page 1 of 2 PageID 243
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA FORT MYERS DIVISION UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Case No. 2:22 - CV - 730 - SPC - KCD Plaintiff, v. MARLENE MORTEN, Defendant, / ORDER
The scheduling order in this case requires the parties to attend mediation on or before May 30, 2025. (Doc. 55.) Defendant Marlene Morten now moves to have mediation proceed before a judge of this Court. Her request is DENIED . The local rules envision that “a qualified and neutral lawyer” will preside over mediation. M.D. Local R. 4.01. Morten has not presented any compelling or extraordinary circumstances to dispense with this requirement. Her only substantive argument is that it will be “cost - effective” and save her “the cost of a private mediator.” (Doc. 55 at 2.) But the same could be said of every case. The Court does not have the resources to preside over every case and act as a neutral arbiter to save the parties a few bucks. To the extent Morten is concerned about cost, she can request to have the mediator fee waived under Local Rule 4.02(e). Finally, this issue should
*2 Case 2:22-cv-00730-SPC-KCD Document 61 Filed 05/19/25 Page 2 of 2 PageID 244 have been brought to the Court’s attention months ago, not a few weeks before the mediation deadline.
ORDERED in Fort Myers, Florida on May 19, 2025. 2