Programs in Broward, Palm Beach Counties Seek to Ease Backlogs

With an estimated backlog of 50,000 cases, Broward County's strained foreclosure court system is rolling out mandatory mediation for "underwater" homeowners this month. Lenders will have to meet with borrowers and work out some sort of agreement before they can see a foreclosure judgment.

Yesterday, Chief Judge Victor Tobin stated at a press event touting the new program: "The point is to bring everybody together and with a serious tone, to see if the loan can be renegotiated and we not have somebody else fall into foreclosure"

The American Arbitraition Association, which is running the mediation program, has set up 23 mediation rooms in an office building across from the Broward County main courthouse. With a staff of five, the AAA's Rebecca Storrow says she can call on a roster of 250 court-certified mediators to handle the negotiations.

According to Storrow, the main objective is to complete mediation withinn 120 days of the start. About 500 cases a week are currently being filed – with about 1/3 of those for properties that are not owner-occupied. The mediation program is only for properties that have a homestead exemption.