Mediator / Arbitrator / Special Referee

The attorneys of Davis, Frawley, Anderson, McCauley, Ayer, Fisher & Smith are available to serve as mediators, arbitrators and special referees in alternative dispute resolution processes at different stages of disputes and in cases in litigation.

Mediator

            Carey M. Ayer and Lisa Lee Smith are certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court to serve as mediators in cases pending in the Circuit Courts in South Carolina.  The certification process involved 40 hours of Continuing Legal Education in the area of Circuit Court Mediation.  Mr. Ayer and Ms. Smith can serve as a mediator by agreement of the parties or by appointment of a court.  A mediator does not decide the outcome of a dispute, but leads the parties through a structured negotiation process to aide the parties in crafting their own resolution to the issues in dispute.  The law firm of Davis, Frawley, Anderson, McCauley, Ayer, Fisher & Smith have the facilities to host a multi-party mediation in the office located at 140 East Main Street, Lexington, South Carolina.  Mr. Ayer and Ms. Smith are also willing to travel to a site chosen by the parties to conduct a mediation. Inquiries about the mediation services offered at Davis, Frawley, Anderson, McCauley, Ayer, Fisher & Smith can be directed to Peggy McClintock, paralegal for Ms. Smith and Mr. Ayer.

Arbitrator

            Lisa Lee Smith is also certified as an arbitrator for matters pending in the Circuit Courts in South Carolina.  An arbitrator acts as a judge of a non-jury case and conducts a merits hearing, applying the law to the facts presented to reach a binding decision in the case.  Arbitrations can be held with a single arbitrator or with a panel of three arbitrators, and Ms. Smith is available to serve in either type arbitration. Inquiries about the arbitration services offered at Davis, Frawley, Anderson, McCauley, Ayer, Fisher & Smith

can be directed to Peggy McClintock, paralegal for Ms. Smith.

Special Referee

            James Randall Davis and Lisa Lee Smith serve as Special Referees in matters pending in the Circuit Courts and before the courts of Master-in-Equity in several counties, by appointment of the Chief Administrative Judge.  In these cases, the Special Referees act in the same capacity as a Judge would, and this process is typically used when the Judge has a conflict of interest, or by agreement of the parties, when a case needs a single person, a Special Referee, to manage the case through the litigation process.  Inquiries about the Special Referee services of Mr. Davis can be directed to Nicole Price and inquiries about the Special Referee services of Ms. Smith can be directed to Peggy McClintock.