KSTR goes digital Jan. 12
Spanish language television station KSTR TeleFutura (Channel 49) said Wednesday the company will switch to a digital format on Jan. 12.
Raising Cane?s promotes executives
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, a restaurant chain that announced the relocation of a major corporate support center to Dallas last year, has promoted two executives.
American responds to union?s critique
American Airlines Inc. has officially responded to a statement released by the Allied Pilots Union in which the organization criticizes a lawsuit by the airline as "unconscionable." (AMR)
US Airways to cut capacity in 2009
US Airways Group Inc., which provides service in and out of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, will post a loss for 2008 and cut capacity this year, according to a company filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Toreador to shop Turkish assets
Dallas oil exploration firm Toreador Resources Corp. says it will hire an investment bank to look at divesting its assets in Turkey, and it has a preliminary deal to sell its assets in Romania. (TRGL)
SMU's Women in Motion is ready to launch
The Southern Methodist University Cox Executive Education platform is now accepting applications for its “Women in Motion” program -- a new initiative designed to help develop women in leadership roles to advance more women into the executive ranks.
Texans CU president resigns
The president and chief executive officer of Texans Credit Union has resigned, effective Jan. 31, as the nonprofit organization struggles with bad business loans and the same economic forces that have hurt large banks in recent months.
D-FW reports 2nd largest employment gain
The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area reported the second largest year-over-year employment gain nationally in November 2008 by adding 46,900 jobs. The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area trailed only the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown area, which reported a non-farm employment gain of 54,300 jobs.
MetroPCS grows subscriber base in 2008
Wireless communications provider MetroPCS Communications Inc. grew its number of new subscribers in 2008 by 37% when compared to the company’s total number of new subscribers in 2007. (PCS)
More Carl?s Jr.?s slated for Texas
CKE Restaurants Inc., an operator of franchise and company owned Carl's Jr. restaurants, has inked a deal with RWJP Star Enterprises to bring another 121 Carl’s Jr. fast-food franchised locations to markets in Texas over the course of the next 10 years.


pressures them on giving more money to settle or to drop their demand. This immediately creates a barrier for the mediator, because a woman is incensed by this type of treatment and will become more resistant to settling. Mediators are impressed by a man's aggressive behavior, who mandates that they or their client did nothing wrong, who tells war stories on what a great builder or attorney they are, and will not budge off their position unless a mediator tells them to the contrary. The mediator assumes that the male has a better handle and superior knowledge on subject matter and a woman's style of negotiation confirms the mediator's bias.

How can a mediator handle the different negotiation styles of a woman in construction mediation?

Women who are the homeowner party during negotiations are much less likely than men to ask for what they want and to use negotiation as a tool to promote their own desires. In this situation, a woman will listen to the needs and concerns of the other side, communicate her own priorities and pressures, but be aggressive in pushing her demands. Women are aware of their shortcomings and will usually have a representative or attorney make demands on their behalf. This does not mean that the "attorney is acting as the party" or the "woman does not have a grasp on the cause of the defects," rather it means she is the brain behind the action. A mediator should not become frustrated because the woman homeowner will not speak to him about her demands. However, a mediator should engage in a discussion about the issues in the case. Having a meaningful discussion about the issues will cause a woman to reframe her demands to her representative/attorney.

Women who are acting as the representative for their employer builder/contractor are savvy negotiators. Their negotiation style is different, cooperative, and collaborative and is seeking win/win solutions for all the parties. Mediators may feel that they are trying to usurp their role as the mediator, ignore the woman's discussion on how to resolve the action and limit the discussion to monetary demands. Mediators should not be condescending, engage in the discussion and then walk out of the room and tell the other participants, who happens to be males, that the woman does not have a grasp on the issues. Take her solutions seriously, bolster her credibility to the other male participants and present her ideas to the other participants. If you shut her discussions down, you will create a permanent barrier and your will end without a settlement. Remember that women work harder, are smarter but do not boast about their accomplishments or expertise.

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By Elizabeth A. Moreno, Esq., a Los Angeles attorney , arbitrator and mediator, who sucessfully resolves complex disputes involving construction defect issues.

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