Early Neutral Evaluation. An expert is appointed to review the case then tell the parties what the likely outcome would be if they went to trial. ENE is not binding and enables the parties to negotiate a settlement having heard the evaluation. The downside is that the outcome is out of the control of the parties, and a 'bad' result for one side leaves them in a relatively poor negotiating position.
Early Neutral Evaluation. An assessment (see Assessment) of a dispute, usually conducted at the beginning of a court-connected ADR process. Developed in the federal district court in the Northern District of California. ENE helps parties and their legal counsel to determine the strengths and weaknesses of their case through neutral analysis. Designed to be used prior to significant discovery.
Early Neutral Evaluation. A dispute resolution process designed to expedite court cases that are in the early pretrial stage. Attorneys and their clients who have filed a case in court meet with a private neutral, sometimes voluntarily and sometimes at the behest of the court. The neutral assesses the issues and positions of each side and offers an opinion of how the case will fare at trail, in an effort to encourage negotiation and settlement. Discovery management can also arise from this process.
Early Neutral Evaluation. A way to find out how strong your case is. A neutral person (called an evaluator) looks over the case with both sides and tells them what the court will probably decide.
See Early Neutral Evaluation.
A preliminary assessment of facts, evidence or legal merits. This process is designed to help parties avoid further unnecessary stages in litigation or, at the very least, serve as a basis for further and fuller negotiations.