--- title: 2020 August url: https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-august --- # [2020 August](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-august "2020 August") [![Advocate Aug20 cvr ezine](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/images/issues/2020/08-august/Advocate-Aug20-cvr-ezine.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/ezines/2020/August2020/html5/Advocate-Aug20-issue.html) Articles in this issue: ## [Predictably irrational](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-august/predictably-irrational "Predictably irrational") What behavioral economics tells us about decision-making at mediation [Lars Johnson](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/lars-johnson "Lars Johnson") ## [Positive legislation news from AAJ](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-august/positive-legislation-news-from-aaj "Positive legislation news from AAJ") Bill passes U.S. House to raise commercial trucking insurance minimum to $2 million, Amtrak’s forced arbitration with injured passengers would end [Linda A. Lipsen](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/linda-a-lipsen "Linda A. Lipsen") ## [Three reasons mediations fail and three ways to move forward](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-august/three-reasons-mediations-fail-and-three-ways-to-move-forward "Three reasons mediations fail and three ways to move forward") A panel of mediators discuss why some mediations are not successful, and why that’s not the end of the road [Nicole Nguyen](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/nicole-nguyen "Nicole Nguyen") ## [Mediating wildfire cases](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-august/mediating-wildfire-cases "Mediating wildfire cases") Understanding the personal-reason exception and other nuances of recovery for damages to real property [Lexi W. Myer](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/lexi-w-myer "Lexi W. Myer") ## [When it [[case]]Reins[[/case]], it pours](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-august/when-it-case-reins-case-it-pours "When it [[case]]Reins[[/case]], it pours") PAGA takeaways from the Supreme Court’s decision in [[case\\Kim v. Reins]]/case]] [Julia Wells](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/julia-wells "Julia Wells") [Tagore Subramaniam](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/tagore-subramaniam "Tagore Subramaniam") ## [Preparing for online mediation with Zoom](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-august/preparing-for-online-mediation-with-zoom "Preparing for online mediation with Zoom") The room where it happened: An inside view of moving from “in person” to “virtual” mediation in a split second [Devin Tucker](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/devin-tucker "Devin Tucker") ## [Artificial intelligence and the evolution of conflict resolution](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-august/artificial-intelligence-and-the-evolution-of-conflict-resolution "Artificial intelligence and the evolution of conflict resolution") A look at what role artificial intelligence might play in conflict resolution [Henry J. Bongiovi](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/henry-j-bongiovi "Henry J. Bongiovi") ## [The mediation advocate](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-august/the-mediation-advocate "The mediation advocate") Balancing ethics and confidentiality in mediation [Cassandra Franklin](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/cassandra-franklin "Cassandra Franklin") ## [Ten steps in mediating your case](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-august/ten-steps-in-mediating-your-case "Ten steps in mediating your case") Mediation is not a one-shot event like a lottery or a slot machine; it’s a process, just like a trial [Joseph M. Lovretovich](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/joseph-m-lovretovich "Joseph M. Lovretovich") ## [My mediation Top 10 list](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-august/my-mediation-top-10-list "My mediation Top 10 list") Perspectives from an advocate of 38 years, recently turned neutral [Gary N. Stern](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/gary-n-stern "Gary N. Stern") ## [Down, but not out](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-august/down-but-not-out "Down, but not out") Call-recording class actions and the California Invasion of Privacy Act [Ryan Crist](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/ryan-crist "Ryan Crist") ## [The Kobe Bryant legacy](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-august/the-kobe-bryant-legacy "The Kobe Bryant legacy") He was heroic and flawed. His moments defined him [Amy Newman](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/amy-newman "Amy Newman") [Sidney Kanazawa](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/sidney-kanazawa "Sidney Kanazawa") ## [Habitability: How earlier awful conditions created an eggshell plaintiff](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-august/habitability-how-earlier-awful-conditions-created-an-eggshell-plaintiff "Habitability: How earlier awful conditions created an eggshell plaintiff") This and other helpful habitability nuggets from [[case]]Garcia v. Mylylla[[/case]] [Peter L. Weinberger](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/peter-l-weinberger "Peter L. Weinberger") ## [Video conferencing is here to stay](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-august/video-conferencing-is-here-to-stay "Video conferencing is here to stay") “You can’t work at home without it.” Tips to use Zoom more effectively [Stuart Zanville](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/stuart-zanville "Stuart Zanville") ## [The OCTLA new normalcy](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-august/the-octla-new-normalcy "The OCTLA new normalcy") Top Gun Awards ceremony canceled, but the awards will still be made [Jonathan Dwork](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jonathan-dwork "Jonathan Dwork") ## [Learning to adapt and embrace technology](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-august/learning-to-adapt-and-embrace-technology "Learning to adapt and embrace technology") The life of a lawyer changes with the times [Jeffrey A. Rudman](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jeffrey-a-rudman "Jeffrey A. Rudman") ## [COVID, court budget and civil rights](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-august/covid-court-budget-and-civil-rights "COVID, court budget and civil rights") Halfway through the legislative year, we’re battling court funding cuts and tort reformers [Nancy Drabble](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/n "Nancy Drabble")