(a) In the courts of the County of Los Angeles and in other courts that elect to apply this title, all at-issue civil actions in which arbitration is otherwise required pursuant to Section 1141.11, whether or not the action includes a prayer for equitable relief, may be submitted to mediation by the presiding judge or the judge designated under this title as an alternative to judicial arbitration pursuant to Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 1141.10) of Title 3.
§ 1775.3.Civil Actions Which May Be Submitted to Mediation By Presiding Judge Or Designate
Title 11.6. Civil Action Mediation · Enacted 1993 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1775.3 lets a presiding judge, or a judge designated for the purpose, submit to mediation any at-issue civil action that would otherwise go to judicial arbitration under Section 1141.11, including actions seeking equitable relief and actions where a public agency or public entity is a party.
Full Text of § 1775.3
(b) Any civil action otherwise within the scope of this title in which a party to the action is a public agency or public entity may be submitted to mediation pursuant to subdivision (a).
Plain-English Summary
This section identifies which cases the mediation program can reach. In Los Angeles County and in any other court that has elected to apply this title, an at-issue civil action headed for judicial arbitration under Section 1141.11 can instead be routed to mediation by the presiding judge or the judge assigned that role, and it doesn't matter whether the case includes a request for equitable relief on top of damages.
The section extends that same option to cases involving government litigants, allowing an action within the title's scope to be submitted to mediation even where a public agency or public entity is one of the parties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which civil actions can be sent to mediation under this section?
At-issue actions that would otherwise be required to go to judicial arbitration under Section 1141.11.
Does a request for equitable relief keep a case out of mediation?
No. Section 1775.3 allows mediation whether or not the action includes a prayer for equitable relief.
Who decides whether a case gets submitted to mediation?
The presiding judge, or the judge designated under this title for that purpose.
Can a case involving a public agency go to mediation under this title?
Yes. A civil action otherwise within the title's scope may be submitted to mediation even where a public agency or public entity is a party.
Amendment History
Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1261, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1994.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 29, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: which cases can be mediated californiacivil actions eligible for mediation program