News Flash

Superior Court of the

State of Washington

for Pierce County

PRESS RELEASE

April 29, 2020

RE: REMOTE SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES FOR CIVIL CASES

In the interest of resolving civil cases in Pierce County Superior Court during the COVID-19 pandemic while adhering to the Governor’s Stay Home – Stay Healthy order, the Court is offering parties the opportunity to have a Pierce County Superior Court Judge conduct a remote video settlement conference in civil cases at no cost. The Court currently conducts settlement conferences in domestic (divorce) cases involving parenting plans. We are now offering to hear half-day settlement conferences in all domestic (divorce) cases, including those that do not involve parenting plans, as well as all types of civil cases including but not limited to torts, contracts, and quiet title. These settlement conferences satisfy the requirement to conduct alternative dispute resolution prior to trial.

If interested, please be advised:

• These settlement conferences are voluntary, except those already required by Pierce County Superior Court local rules.
• All parties must agree to participate in the settlement conference and provide email contact information to the court.
• Once scheduled, parties will receive a confirmation email outlining the settlement conference procedures and required document submission.

To schedule a settlement conference, please email your assigned trial department judicial assistant at the following email address:

• Judge Michael Schwartz, Dept. 3 (Civil)
• [email protected]
• Judge Bryan Chushcoff, Dept. 4 (Civil)
• [email protected]
• Judge Stephanie Arend, Dept. 12 (Civil)
• [email protected]
• Judge Kathryn J. Nelson, Dept. 13 (Family Court)
• [email protected]
• Judge Gretchen Leanderson, Dept. 15 (Family Court)
• [email protected]
• Judge Elizabeth Martin, Dept. 16 (Civil)
• [email protected]
• Judge Stanley J. Rumbaugh, Dept. 18 (Civil)
• [email protected]

About Pierce County Superior Court: 

Pierce County Superior Court is the second largest superior court in the state of Washington and is proud to serve the citizens and visitors of Pierce County. The court is staffed with 22 judges and nine commissioners. There are three sites where court is held; the County City Building at 930 Tacoma Ave S., Tacoma, Remann Hall Juvenile Court at 5501 6^th Ave, Tacoma, and Western State Hospital at 9601 Steilacoom Blvd SW, Lakewood.  For more information, please visit our website at http://www.piercecountywa.gov/superiorcourt. 

Media Contact:

Chris Gaddis, Superior Court Administrator

[email protected]

253-798-3963

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