Should I have an attorney at a mediation?

[Leon5000]

I'm being taken to mediation by a hostile downstairs neighbor. I live in a two family house, that is around 80-85 years old, and she has filed a request for mediation due to alleged loud music. A charge that just isn't true. I do watch T.V. at night, but the sound is down, and I even use the closed captioning so I can understand whats being said. I'm being accused of walking too loud, slamming doors and really trivial things that should be solved by a phone call or a knock on he door, right? But instead , the police were called twice in one night. No citation was issued, no report was made. A week or so after, I received the mediation notice.
Some important facts..
1) The charges are false.
2) She has been in violation of the lease with an additional person in the apartment.
3) I have tried on several occasions to make peace, to no avail.
4) She has given notice that she is moving out at the end of the month.
Do I need an attorney? Help!










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[dee_dub]

I'm not aware you can just be "called to mediate". Who is the notice from? What happens if you don't attend? If it's from your neighbour, what is she seeking?

As far as the facts go, 2) is irrelevant, and 4) makes the whole mediation an exercise in pointlessness. You might wish to write a letter to whoever called the mediation and advise them of that.

I suspect you do not need a lawyer, and in some cases lawyers are not welcome at mediations, but check with whoever sent you the notice.

 

[presutin]

No attorney needed for a mediation. That is the whole point. One needs to have an independent set of eyes and ears to decide the issues being brought before the mediator. If you don't attend a mediation meeting, that means that whomever is bringing up the mediation has grounds to take you to small claims court to resolve the issue before a judge.