A Different Perspective: Deciding Who Gets The Pet In A Divorce with the Hon. Doug Mintz (Ret) and Gabrielle Hartley, Esq on ”Why Do Pets Matter?” hosted by Debra Hamilton EP 213

During this dynamic conversation with the Honorable Douglas C. Mintz (Ret.) and Gabrielle Hartley, Esq., we'll look at a different perspective on deciding who gets the family pet during a divorce.  Doug is the ADR Partner at Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey, based in Stamford, CT. He was a civil trial judge and also a legislator.  Gabrielle is an incredible TEDx speaker. She is also an author. Her new book, "The Secret To Getting Along," is coming out in May. She also wrote, "Better Apart." She has created the "Better Apart Total Practice Makeover" to help attornies do better divorce work. And her "Private Divorce Solutions" helps people decide how to divorce better -- including those with pets. Given all of the new legislation that's coming down in California, Alaska, Illinois, New Hampshire, and New York, requiring the judges to find for the best interests of the pet when doing divorce resolution, Judge Mintz and Gabrielle take on that topic during our conversation and handle it in a safe and special way.    More About the Hon. Douglas C. Mintz (Ret.) Doug has acted as the mediator in numerous disputes ranging from complex business disputes to product liability.  The disputes have included personal injury matters that resulted from motor vehicle accidents and slip and falls.  One nine-hour mediation, conducted over Zoom, included 32 participants two of whom were self-represented. Due to all the participants’ patience and perseverance, the dispute came to a successful resolution. Doug has developed and adapted his mediation practice in the age of COVID-19 and found that online dispute resolution is as effective, if not more effective, than in-person mediations. Doug is a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals and became a Panelist, as an Arbitrator and a Mediator, for the American Arbitration Association. For most of his judicial career, Doug served as the Presiding Judge for Civil Matters in Stamford and Danbury, CT.  He regularly encountered truly vexing conflicts in both the legal and emotional dimensions, and developed a unique approach to working those situations that he now brings to his clients. Doug was appointed to the Superior Court in 1993 and served as the Civil Presiding Judge and the Assistant Administrative Judge for the Judicial District of Stamford/Norwalk, and as the Administrative Judge and the Civil Presiding Judge for the Judicial District of Danbury. Prior to his service on the bench, he was a State Representative from Norwalk (1987-1992) and served as the Vice-chair of the Judiciary Committee for most of that time. As a Judge, in 2008, Doug worked collaboratively with the Legislature to craft legislation that created the Foreclosure Mediation Program (the first statewide mediation program in the nation). This Mediation Program was created in response to the mortgage foreclosure crisis of 2007-08 and helped thousands of families retain their homes. From his many years on the Bench, Doug has learnt that deep dedication to the values of human dignity and creative thinking, combined with the rigorous and fair application of factual analysis, almost always clears the way for successful dispute resolution. Doug speaks at legal community virtual events on various topics, including online dispute resolution. Western New England College School of Law, J.D., 1978The University of Michigan, B.G.S., 1974 More About Gabrielle Hartley: Gabrielle Hartley is co-chair of the American Bar Association Mediation Committee, a nationally recognized divorce attorney, online mediator, TEDx Speaker, and author of "Better Apart: The Radically Positive Way to Separate."  Her new book “The Secret to Getting Along and Why It’s Easier Than You Think” will be released this May. She offers a weekly newsletter, The Conflict Code” and hosts The Better Apart Blog and is a frequently quoted media expert in the peaceful divorce realm (The New York Times, Vice, WNYC, Forbes, Psychology Today, etc.)  Gabriell