Tenn. R. Sup. Ct., 3

As amended through November 4, 2024
Section 3 - Initiation/Order of Reference
(a) Rule 31A ADR Proceedings may be initiated in any Eligible Civil Action by the entry of an Order of Reference.
(b) Upon motion of either party, or upon its own initiative, a Court, by Order of Reference, may order the parties in an Eligible Civil Action to participate in a Judicial Settlement Conference. With the consent of the parties, trial courts are also authorized to order the parties to participate in a Case Evaluation.
(c) Any Order of Reference made on the Court's own initiative shall be subject to review on motion by any party and shall be vacated should the Court determine in its sound discretion that the referred case is not appropriate for a Rule 31A ADR Proceeding or is not likely to benefit from submission to a Rule 31A ADR Proceeding. Pending disposition of any such motion, the Rule 31A ADR Proceeding shall be stayed without the need for a court order.
(d) Upon motion of a party, or upon its own initiative and with the consent of all parties, a Court, by Order of Reference, may order the parties to participate in Non-Binding Arbitration, Mini-Trial, Summary Jury Trial, or other appropriate alternative dispute resolution proceedings.
(e) All Rule 31A ADR Proceedings shall be concluded as efficiently and expeditiously as possible given the circumstances of the case.

Tenn. R. Sup. Ct., 3