<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>67016</law_id><section_number>8.01-576.10</section_number><catch_line>Confidentiality of dispute resolution proceeding</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>10.1-1186.3</reference><reference>4.1-103.03</reference><reference>4.1-605</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="8.01">Civil Remedies and Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="20.2">Court-Referred Dispute Resolution Proceedings</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>All memoranda, work products and other <span class="dictionary">materials</span> contained in the <span class="dictionary">case files</span> of a neutral or dispute resolution program are confidential. Any communication made in or in connection with the dispute resolution proceeding that relates to the controversy, including screening, intake and scheduling a dispute resolution proceeding, whether made to the neutral or dispute resolution program staff or to a <span class="dictionary">party</span>, or to any other <span class="dictionary">person</span>, is confidential. However, a written <span class="dictionary">settlement</span> agreement signed by the parties shall not be confidential, unless the parties otherwise agree in writing.
		Confidential <span class="dictionary">materials</span> and communications are not subject to disclosure in <span class="dictionary">discovery</span> or in any judicial or administrative proceeding except (i) where all parties to the dispute resolution proceeding agree, in writing, to <span class="dictionary">waive</span> the confidentiality, (ii) in a subsequent <span class="dictionary">action</span> between the neutral or dispute resolution program and a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the dispute resolution proceeding for <span class="dictionary">damages</span> arising out of the dispute resolution proceeding, (iii) statements, memoranda, <span class="dictionary">materials</span> and other tangible <span class="dictionary">evidence</span>, otherwise subject to <span class="dictionary">discovery</span>, that were not prepared specifically for use in and actually used in the dispute resolution proceeding, (iv) where a threat to inflict bodily injury is made, (v) where communications are intentionally used to plan, attempt to commit, or commit a <span class="dictionary">crime</span> or conceal an ongoing <span class="dictionary">crime</span>, (vi) where an ethics complaint is made against the neutral by a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the dispute resolution proceeding to the extent necessary for the complainant to prove misconduct and the neutral to defend against such complaint, (vii) where communications are sought or offered to prove or disprove a claim or complaint of misconduct or malpractice filed against a <span class="dictionary">party</span>&#x2019;s legal representative based on conduct occurring during a mediation, (viii) where communications are sought or offered to prove or disprove any of the grounds listed in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Vacating orders and agreements" href="/8.01-576.12/">8.01-576.12</a> in a proceeding to vacate a mediated agreement, or (ix) as provided by <span class="dictionary">law</span> or rule. The use of attorney work product in a dispute resolution proceeding shall not result in a <span class="dictionary">waiver</span> of the attorney work product <span class="dictionary">privilege</span>.</p></section></text><history>1993, c. 905; 1994, c. 687; 2002, c. 718; 2013, cc. 283, 383.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
