40 Years Of
Civil Trial Experience
Applied In Mediation

Matthew S. Mudano

Matt Mudano is a full time mediator and arbitrator in Tampa , focusing on civil trial disputes. Since his admission to the Bar in 1983, Matt Mudano has devoted his legal career exclusively to civil trial practice. Over the course of 37 years, Mr. Mudano has capably represented companies and individuals in a wide range of contested matters including medical negligence, personal injury and insurance defense litigation, securities litigation, construction claims, contract litigation, professional malpractice, premises liability, product liability and crashworthiness claims. Mr. Mudano has tried and settled numerous high impact cases involving catastrophic injury or death.

Having represented both plaintiffs and defendants throughout his career, Mr. Mudano has a unique understanding of the goals each side wants/needs to achieve in mediation. Mr. Mudano employs a personal, hands-on approach to alternative dispute resolution, emphasizing the litigants' power of self-determination to achieve a mutually satisfactory outcome for both sides.

Credentials

MSM Resume

For Arbitration Cases

State of Florida

For Mediation Cases

Services Available Through-Out Central Florida, including:

● Hillsborough

● Pasco

● Pinellas

● Polk

● Manatee

● Sarasota

● Including the cities of Tampa

● St. Petersburg

● Clearwater

● Orlando

● Sarasota

● Bradenton

Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil and County
Court Mediator Federally Certified Mediator (U.S. Dist. Court, M.D. Fla.)
Education

● The Florida State University (B.S. Finance 1979);

● Florida State University College of Law (J.D. 1983)

Professional

● The Florida Bar (Trial Lawyers Section)

● Hillsborough County Bar Association (Co-Chairman, Mock Trial Committee)

● Florida Board of Legal Specialization and Education

(Civil Trial Certification Committee, Civil Trial Exam Review Committee)

● American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)

● AV Pre-Eminent Rating, Martindale Hubbell Legal Directory

Memberships

● The Florida Bar

● Florida Supreme Court

● United States District Court, Middle District of Florida

Fees

2025 FEE SCHEDULE

Mediation time will be charged at the rate of $500.00 per hour, and time is computed to the next half hour. For “multiparty” mediations with three (3) parties, the rate is $175.00 per hour per party, and mediations with four (4)or more parties, the rate is $150.00 per hour per party. “Parties” to the mediation refers to the named parties to the litigation as well as any interested parties voluntarily participating in the mediation process. The mediator is entitled to compensation for all time spent mediating the case, (there is no charge for review of pre-mediation materials submitted by the parties.) post-mediation conferences, preparation of the parties’ agreement and the Mediation Disposition Report to the Court.

Parties agree to waive any part of a Court order inconsistent with the afore-mentioned hourly rates.

Please note that these fees include reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by the mediator such as clerical, local telephone, local fax charges, postage costs, etc., but we reserve the right to charge for extraordinary expenses.

There is a three (3) hour minimum charge for all mediations unless agreed to by the mediator. Also, unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the participating parties shall divide mediation fees equally.

If a full day is reserved, there will be a six (6) hour minimum charge.

Travel time is billed at actual time, so parties are encouraged to schedule mediation in our office.

CANCELLATION POLICY

The mediator in this case has been engaged to conduct this mediation. As such, we are accepting this engagement to the exclusion of scheduling other work for the day and the time which has been reserved. Due to the difficulty of scheduling a new case when there is a cancellation, the time and expenses already incurred in scheduling and preparing of the cancelled conference, and the positive effect a scheduled conference can have in settlement negotiations, the following policies have been adopted: In the event this mediation is cancelled within 48 hours of the scheduled conference, there will be a three (3) hour minimum charge decided by all parties. Unless the parties in the case agree on who should pay the cancellation fee, all parties, through their attorneys, if any, shall be financially responsible for their share. All cancellations should be done so in writing, email, or fax with the agreement of all parties and counsel, if any.

PAYMENT

Law firms and lawyers – not their clients – will be billed and are responsible for the Mediation bill. Payment is due within 10 days of the date of the bill and is not conditioned on settlement or receipt of settlement funds. Past due bills will accrue interest at the highest legal rate and will result in additional charges for time and fees spent on collection.

Pro se parties (those not represented by attorneys) must pre-pay a $500 deposit or bring a check to the mediation for payment no later than conclusion of mediation.