Crazy or just calculating and manipulative?

I received a call that mediation was needed and immediately. The husband and wife at one point were worth millions. Due to the economy, they are both left in shambles and broke. After filing for bankruptcy (for most of the debt), already attempting mediation once, and going through multiple attorneys and appearances in front of a judge, they landed in my lap. It began as a normal day for mediation that ended unsettled, or so I thought.

I had been warned by counsel that the wife was CRAZY. I was told that the husband just wanted out, but she simply was crazy. The parties were in separate rooms and I conducted a shuttle mediation as I went back and forth between the two of them. I met first with the husband since he showed up first and then met with the wife. The wife was a bit eccentric, but not crazy. As the day went on I wasn't sure if the wife was in fact crazy or calculating and manipulative. 

Long story endless, the parties almost came to an agreement and then after 2 hours it simply ended. WHAT? Are you kidding me. The parties were so close, but the wife then backed out of her own ideas that the husband finally agreed to. The wife said she'd take her chances in court and that was it. OVER!

The wife and her attorney walked out and I returned to the husband and his attorney with the news. They were visibly upset since they simply wanted to end it and again the husband said, "See, I  told you she was crazy!"

A few weeks later I was having lunch and saw the wife's attorney. We exchanged hellos and he thanked me for laying the groundwork for communication between the husband and wife. I looked at him with a puzzled look on my face. He said they end up settling the whole case on the courthouse steps the day of trial. He said his client was very calculative and manipulative but certainly not crazy as she knew exactly what she was doing.

I might not have settled the case the day of mediation, but played an Integral part in the eventual settlement of this couple's divorce. 

iChat Mediation invites you to come and learn more about having either your divorce conducted by one of our State Supreme Court Certified mediators or how you can become part of the most cutting edge virtual companies in the world. To learn more visit us online at http://www.ichatmediation.com or call us at 877-822-1479.

In the words of Lawton Chiles, “I didn’t come to stay, I came to make a difference.”