Mediation Talks Break Down, Judge Is Preparing For Trial
We now have an update on the Bishop Eddie Long situation! After preaching his very confident Easter Sunday sermon the WSBTV is reporting that mediation talks between Long and his four accusers have broken down.
“Sometimes when you think you got something resolved, something will come up,” Mediator Elmer Gobel said.
It was Easter week when the judge in the case said the parties engaged in a marathon mediation session and came out of it close to a settlement.
Now Judge Johnny Panos said he is preparing for a trial in August or September. He wouldn’t say why he no longer believes the two sides are close to a settlement.
Gobel, who has no connection to the Long case, said mediations are often contentious and drawn out affairs. “It’s not the kind of thing that you sit down at a table and 10 minutes later everybody’s agreeing,” he said.
Gobel also trains mediators. He says mediation can be grueling and emotionally charged.
“It’s kind of like putting a piece of a puzzle together,” Gobel said.
Gobel said one day you can have an agreement and then the next day it’s gone.
“Sometimes you think you got an agreement that’s airtight and as attorneys or others will sit down and look at words. Words mean different things to different people,” he said.
Bishop Long’s spokesperson would only say there is nothing to report when asked about a settlement in the case.
Attorneys for both sides did not return phone calls seeking a comment.
Now, I’m just wondering what happened to break these talks down so fast? I feel like this trial is going to reveal a lot of details that we’re currently missing!
Should Eddie Long have skipped mediation and went straight to trial? What do you think the case will reveal?
Thank you so much for keeping us updated Dr.O!!By his own admission,Eddie Long said “this um gone fight!”……….mediation is not fighting!!In this case,i think it was more trying to bully and maybe buy his way out.A trial was the way to go from the start,so the truth….the whole truth will prevail!I’m telling you,Bishop Long will have to step down.He will not have a choice.And I think he knew this going in.Every minister at New Birth who knew about this will have to come forth.
Lord,Your will be done………
No problem and I agree this trial is going to be interesting.
Mistake from Hell, to put your life in Courtroom. Now if Not Guilty and can prove
that you did not touch any of those young man in any way. “Go to Court” but if you were
That’s what should happen: A trial is where ALL the details will be public. NO one can hide, neither the accusers nor Bishop Long. The initial mediation was just a ploy to pay the guys off and send them away with closed mouths. But the men didn’t want to be quiet. They want to EXPOSE him and his wife, b/c she knew much more too. They will get paid either way. Mediation would have bought their silence. But the trial will REVEAL it all and then a movie and book deal can come out of this. These men can go forth and tell their story for years to come and everyone will see how sick his members were to follow him.
Yes, I most definitely agree! Now if this gets made into a movie and/or book that will be just crazy lol