Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Bill to Expand Court-Ordered Mediation Clears Key Committee, Authored by Pasadena Assemblymember

AB 1950 would remove dollar-amount cap on civil cases eligible for mediation in Los Angeles County Superior Court

Legislation authored by Assemblymember John Harabedian (D–Pasadena) that would allow Los Angeles County judges to order mediation in civil cases of any dollar amount passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee, according to a press release from Harabedian’s office.

AB 1950 would remove the $50,000 cap on cases eligible for court-ordered mediation in LA County Superior Court, the court system that serves Pasadena and Altadena. The measure creates a pilot program set to expire January 1, 2032, and next heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee this spring, according to the press release.

The bill would affect civil disputes such as employment claims, contract cases, and personal injury lawsuits that exceed the current dollar threshold. Under California law, courts are prohibited from ordering mediation in cases where the amount in controversy tops $75,000, a limit set to take effect January 1, 2027, up from the current $50,000 cap, according to the bill’s legislative text.

Presiding Judge Sergio C. Tapia II of LA County Superior Court, who leads the largest trial court system in the nation, endorsed the measure in a statement included in the press release.

“With civil filings at unprecedented levels, AB 1950 provides our Court with a flexible, practical tool to keep cases moving without compromising anyone’s right to a timely trial,” Tapia said in the press release.

The court serves a population of nearly 10 million across 37 courthouses, according to LA Superior Court records. LA County Superior Court recorded more than 9,400 employment-law actions in 2025, the highest level since 2016, according to a Lex Machina report cited by Legal Newsline.

“AB 1950 provides Los Angeles County courts with additional tools to manage increasing caseloads, minimize costly delays for litigants, and resolve disputes more efficiently,” Harabedian said in the press release.

Harabedian, who represents California’s 41st Assembly District and sits on the Judiciary Committee, introduced the bill on February 17, 2026, according to legislative records. He is a Pasadena resident and maintains his district office at 257 S. Fair Oaks Ave.

Cases referred to mediation under the bill would still need to meet all other existing eligibility requirements, according to the bill text. The court would be required to report annually to the Assembly and Senate Judiciary Committees beginning January 31, 2028, with data broken down by case type where feasible.

Mediation under California law is defined as a process in which a neutral party facilitates communication between disputants to help them reach a mutually acceptable agreement, according to the Code of Civil Procedure. If mediation fails, the case returns to its original place on the court’s trial calendar, according to existing statute.

The bill now awaits a hearing in Assembly Appropriations, where it faces a fiscal review before it can advance to a full Assembly vote.