About Us
Whose your mediator?
Dawn Marie Bates-Buchanan is a graduate from Stetson University College of Law obtaining her J.D. in 1998 and has obtained her Florida certification in Family Law and Circuit Civil and County Mediation. Dawn Marie has attended more than 200 mediations either as a representative of a party or the mediator and uses her degrees is Sociology and Psychology, as well as her experience as a family law and trial lawyer, to help people understand the legal process, the jury process and the risks of trial over parties being able to settle and draft their own agreements. Dawn Marie currently volunteers her time in Sarasota County doing county mediations and works for the Florida Department of Financial Services mediating First Party Insurance claims.
Although aware that not all cases can settle, Dawn Marie uses her skills to compassionately allow both sides an opportunity to be heard in an informal setting and discuss the positive and negative parts of their case.
Why pick our firm for your mediation?
As the Managing Attorney for Community Legal Service of Mid Florida and Gulf Coast Legal Services, Dawn Marie has trial experience throughout the State of Florida and can assist parties in understanding the risks of a jury or bench trial. Dawn Marie has also spent many hours mediating complex and emotional cases, in family law, consumer debt, landlord tenant and First Party Insurance claims. Having been an attorney litigating for homeowners, and then being hired to be a representative in mediations for Universal Property and Casualty she as an insight into both side of most cases.
You do not have to be in litigation if both parties agree to mediate. If you are having a dispute with another party and you both agree to can attend pre-filing mediation.
What kind of mediations do we do?
We do Family Law mediations, that include assisting with discussions on child support, equitable division of assets and spousal support. This also can be applied to paternity cases.
We do County and Circuit Civil Cases. This is any type of lawsuit from breach of contract, failure to pay a debt, claim for damaged by any party, such as a Landlord for damage to the rental home, to the tenant for getting their deposit back. It also includes first party property claims with insurance companies and suits for personal injury or malpractice.