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Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code - Section 154.053. Standards And Duties Of Impartial Third Parties

Legal Research Home > Texas Laws > Civil Practice & Remedies Code > Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code - Section 154.053. Standards And Duties Of Impartial Third Parties

§ 154.053. STANDARDS AND DUTIES OF IMPARTIAL THIRD 
PARTIES.  (a) A person appointed to facilitate an alternative 
dispute resolution procedure under this subchapter shall encourage 
and assist the parties in reaching a settlement of their dispute but 
may not compel or coerce the parties to enter into a settlement 
agreement.
	(b)  Unless expressly authorized by the disclosing party, 
the impartial third party may not disclose to either party 
information given in confidence by the other and shall at all times 
maintain confidentiality with respect to communications relating 
to the subject matter of the dispute.
	(c)  Unless the parties agree otherwise, all matters, 
including the conduct and demeanor of the parties and their counsel 
during the settlement process, are confidential and may never be 
disclosed to anyone, including the appointing court.
	(d)  Each participant, including the impartial third party, 
to an alternative dispute resolution procedure is subject to the 
requirements of Subchapter B, Chapter 261, Family Code, and 
Subchapter C, Chapter 48, Human Resources Code.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 1121, § 1, eff. June 20, 1987.  
Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1150, § 29, eff. Sept. 1, 
1999.

Last modified: August 11, 2007