A new program to help tenants and landlords settle eviction disputes is now up and running. Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush announced the launch of the Landlord and Tenant Settlement Conference Program, during state officials’ COVID-19 press conference Wednesday.
“Until now, the only way to resolve them was to go to court, pay a filing fee, maybe hire a lawyer, take time off work,” Rush said. “But today, I’m announcing the Indiana Supreme Court launched a program to afford landlords and tenants the opportunity to work out a potential dispute with a neutral facilitator.”
Rush said either party can initiate facilitation at no cost. If both sides agree to use that option, they’ll be referred to a trained facilitator who can schedule a remote settlement conference. “Possibilities include negotiated payment plans, back payments, could be move-out dates – again, without legal costs and, also, the stigma that comes along with having an eviction,” Rush explained.
The facilitators will be paid with CARES Act money made available by the Governor’s Office, funding from the Indiana Bar Foundation, and other resources. Rush said more than 130 facilitators have already signed up. A similar program for foreclosure disputes has been available since 2009.
The chief justice also noted that the state’s judicial branch has remained open during the pandemic, thanks to the expanded use of technology. “Our constitution says courts shall be open, so to allow public access to the courts safely, we are live-streaming,” Rush said. “Many counties are live-streaming their proceedings on a platform that is on the Indiana Supreme Court website. And you know what? Viewership is up right now. People are watching their court hearings.”
Rush said courts are also once again safely accommodating jury trials.
