Civil Action Coversheet (Page 2 of 2) in pdf

Effective January 1, 2016, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is mandatory in all counties, pursuant

to Supreme Court Order dated November 12, 2015.

SUPREME COURT RULES REQUIRE THE SUBMISSION OF ALL CIVIL CASES TO AN ALTERNATIVE

DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS, UNLESS OTHERWISE EXEMPT.

Pursuant to the ADR Rules, you are required to take the following action(s):

1. The parties shall select a neutral and file a “Proof of ADR” form on or by the 210

day of the filing of this

action. If the parties have not selected a neutral within 210 days, the Clerk of Court shall then appoint a

primary and secondary mediator from the current roster on a rotating basis from among those mediators

agreeing to accept cases in the county in which the action has been filed.

2. The initial ADR conference must be held within 300 days after the filing of the action.

3. Pre-suit medical malpractice mediations required by S.C. Code §15-79-125 shall be held not later than 120

days after all defendants are served with the “Notice of Intent to File Suit” or as the court directs.

4. Cases are exempt from ADR only upon the following grounds:

a. Special proceeding, or actions seeking extraordinary relief such as mandamus, habeas corpus, or

prohibition;

b. Requests for temporary relief;

c. Appeals

d. Post Conviction relief matters;

e. Contempt of Court proceedings;

f. Forfeiture proceedings brought by governmental entities;

g. Mortgage foreclosures; and

h. Cases that have been previously subjected to an ADR conference, unless otherwise required by

Rule 3 or by statute.

5. In cases not subject to ADR, the Chief Judge for Administrative Purposes, upon the motion of the court or

of any party, may order a case to mediation.

6. Motion of a party to be exempt from payment of neutral fees due to indigency should be filed with the

Court within ten (10) days after the ADR conference has been concluded.

Please Note:

You must comply with the Supreme Court Rules regarding ADR.

Failure to do so may affect your case or may result in sanctions.

SCCA / 234 (03/2016)

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Civil Action Coversheet Page 2