TITLE 9

EVIDENCE

CHAPTER 8

UNIFORM MEDIATION ACT

9-806.  Exceptions to privilege. (1) There is no privilege under section 9-804, Idaho Code, for a mediation communication that is:

(a)  In an agreement evidenced by a record signed by all parties to the agreement;

(b)  Available to the public under chapter 1, title 74, Idaho Code, or made during a session of a mediation which is open, or is required by law to be open, to the public;

(c)  A threat or statement of a plan to inflict bodily injury or commit a crime of violence;

(d)  Intentionally used to plan a crime, attempt to commit or commit a crime or to conceal an ongoing crime or ongoing criminal activity;

(e)  Sought or offered to prove or disprove a claim or complaint of professional misconduct or malpractice filed against a mediator;

(f)  Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of this section, sought or offered to prove or disprove a claim or complaint of professional misconduct or malpractice filed against a mediation party, nonparty participant or representative of a party based on conduct occurring during a mediation; or

(g)  Sought or offered to prove or disprove abuse, neglect, abandonment or exploitation in a proceeding in which a child or adult protective services agency is a party, unless the public agency participates in the mediation.

(2)  There is no privilege under section 9-804, Idaho Code, if a court, administrative agency or arbitrator finds, after a hearing in camera, that the party seeking discovery or the proponent of the evidence has shown that the evidence is not otherwise available, that there is a need for the evidence that substantially outweighs the interest in protecting confidentiality, and that the mediation communication is sought or offered in:

(a)  A court proceeding involving a felony or misdemeanor; or

(b)  Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of this section, a proceeding to prove a claim to rescind or reform or a defense to avoid liability on a contract arising out of the mediation.

(3)  A mediator may not be compelled to provide evidence of a mediation communication referred to in subsection (1)(f) or (2)(b) of this section.

(4)  If a mediation communication is not privileged under subsection (1) or (2) of this section, only the portion of the communication necessary for the application of the exception from nondisclosure may be admitted. Admission of evidence under subsection (1) or (2) of this section does not render the evidence, or any other mediation communication, discoverable or admissible for any other purpose.

History:

[9-806, added 2008, ch. 35, sec. 1, p. 69; am. 2015, ch. 141, sec. 9, p. 381.]