Pro Bono Award Presented To Mediator At ACCA Annual Event

(Editor’s note: The following are remarks by William A. Wise Jr., corporate counsel at Analog Devices, Inc., at the November 2003 annual event for the Northeast Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel America in presenting the Pro Bono Award to Ellen Sullivan.)

Attorney Ellen Sullivan has served as the Woburn Court’s meditation liaison to the Sheldon Rothstein Mediation/Conciliation Program since July 2000,and has worked tirelessly with the staff of this court to provide pro-bono mediation/conciliation services to this court’s community. Ms.Sullivan not only provides leadership to the program, she is also a professional and dedicated mediator.

As an urban court, the Woburn Court has a large small claims caseload with multiple consumer litigants who are anxious for resolution of their claims, but uncertain of the court process. In her role as a mediator, Ms. Sullivan has conquered these challenges and is always able to ease the concerns raised by the litigants.

She considers every issue presented, provides the litigants with her professional insight and always exhibits a professional conciliatory demeanor during each and every mediation session. As a result of her intervention, litigants, regardless of the final outcome of their dispute, are generally satisfied with the process and more knowledgeable of the court system.

Ms. Sullivan has also provided extended pro bono services to this court during our weekly summary process session. As you are aware, landlord-tenant matters usually involve multiple unrepresented parties disputing highly contested issues. The tenant is usually seeking to avoid eviction from a financially disadvantaged position, while the landlord is seeking to gain possession, but has limited funds to execute an eviction.

Attorney Sullivan thoroughly recognizes the perplexity of these cases, and is always readily available to provide mediation services and bring about a resolution that justly accommodates the needs of all parties.

In addition to providing direct mediation services, Ms. Sullivan, as the court liaison for the Sheldon Rothstein Mediation/Conciliation program, works hand in hand with court staff to schedule mediation service providers for each court session. In light of the tough fiscal situation facing the courts, she willingly accommodates all requests by the court to schedule additional mediation sessions, so that litigants will have the opportunity to expeditiously mediate their claims without unnecessary delay or protracted trials.