Update on the Gina Ford legal situation

new books due out spring 2007

PMSL @ the comments on the Daily Mail page

Good luck MNHQ. Having followed the GF thing right from the start (including defending her on the original thread on the day of the summer party) I am amazed at how different the situation as reported in the MOS was to my recollection.....

mp, I think usually you both get in the same room first with your lawyers. Usually your lawyer says a bit for 15 mins and then theirs or the people can if they want. The mediator explains the process and then you separate into separate room and the mediator goes back and forth telling each side how many 100s of thousands it costs to go to court and how weak both side's cases are and then eventually if one side will pay something the mediator goes back and forth with figures. If you agree it then it's written down and signed. That's it.

I don't know about this case but even if there a libel I think if you remove it expeditiously as someone who just kind of hosts something rather than like the Times web site publishing it, then you aren't liable but I might be wrong. So if there's no case the mediation can be a good chance to show the other party they haven't a leg to stand on and are going to have to get out of the litigation quickly or risk paying big costs. On the other hand they've sued which is rare if you don't think you have good legal grounds.

Most mediations do settle things and often both sides are unhappy so that probably means the mediator has done a good job in getting both to compromise. I thought mediation and efforts to settle were usually confidential so I wouldn't normally expect people involved to be writing about them.

Good luck MNHQ

I am very sad that this is still rumbling on, I too thought it had all gone away

mediation is a method of dispute resolution, quite structured with a mediator sitting, to try and resolve a case before getting to court. the majority of cases DO settle before a courthearing, but generally just before the hearing or even on the day, hence wasting costs in preparing for a hearing and also tying up court time unnecessarily. so the idea is that matters are settled earlier on saving time and money

lol Mp at how does that make you feel

She mentions in the article that she wishes MN would do "the decent thing" - what is it that she wants?

good luck

Wishing the MN team, and GF, the best during the mediation process so that we can all get back to doing what MN does best - supporting parents through the hardest bits and making sense of the different approaches, opinions and experiences.

donnylass - i think that's a good idea -a thread of support for mumsnet, eg "what mumsnet has done for me", maybe in -other-. i'll wait and see if you're going to start it or someone else who's been an mner for longer than me but if not i'll do one in the next hour

The Mail story was picked up the Guardian this morning -
here

How exactly does Mediation work? I keep imagining Justine one side fo the table and SWMNBN on the other side with a wholesome-looking counsellor from Relate saying "And how does that make you feel?"

Marina, and those of you who remember the first MN meetup: I hope THAT picture of me very INNOCENTLY looking through the clbb about 5 yrs ago won't be being used in evidence!

Good luck MN, be thinking about you next Wed...

VERY BEST OF LUCK TO MUMSNET***
WE SHALL OVERCOME...

I thought if you helped pay the costs of a legal action you could be liable for the other side's fees if the person you help loses? Has someone taken proper legal advice on this stuff? Again I might be wrong.

Will be thinking of you on the 7th. Made my donation some time ago, don't expect it went far.

Good luck to you all. Democracy and Freedom of Speech are important.

LOL at flame / Rodney

Good Luck MNHQ. Though I am fairly new here MN has been a godsend to me, and I can't see how you could be held responsible for posts that you deleted as soon as you were aware of them. I would like to offer my fiver for the cause as well, I am sure there are plenty on here who would follow suit.

Good luck MNHQ x

I do get a warmm fuzzy feeling at clicking the ! button when a newbie starts a woohoo my baby has be fixed by... thread

I will sit on my hands until called to arms.

Having unpleasant things said about you, rightly or wrongly, is infinitely preferable in a just society than having the right of people to say those things removed.

I do find it sad that the lady in question cannot accept the measures that MNHQ has already taken and desist from further action.

We're right behind you, MNHQ. Hope the mediator can make her see that there is nothing to be gained from prolonging all this.