Pre-filing Mediation

This is a special mediation option for landlords filing eviction actions and tenants filing rent escrow actions in Hennepin County. Either can request to participate in the program when they come to file their action with the court. Instead of actually filing the action, they would fill out the court paperwork and a form with names and phone numbers for both the landlord and the tenant(s). They would also give the court a check for the filing fee and a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The parties will be contacted by a mediator to arrange a time and place for everyone to meet. If an agreement is reached, the original court papers and the filing fee check are mailed back to the filing party, saving the filing fee. There would be no court record either. If no agreement is reached, the court papers would be filed to begin the court action (lawsuit).