A handful of mediators and attorneys have long been enthusiastic about the benefits of holding short meetings or “caucuses” with each side in advance of the mediation session where the mediator can build trust with the parties and attorneys and discuss the process that will be used to resolve the dispute. It turns out that there is more than anecdotal evidence to support this technique.The Task Force on Research on Mediator Techniques of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution recently …