Claim Jumpers Gold Mining

Many of us have visited Columbia State Park, or visited the Gold Country and have the historical knowledge of the Gold Rush and those who sought Gold, and know the Old Saying is a there is Gold in Them Hills. “Eureka”

Mining Camps were established from Nevada City to Mariposa and beyond. Placerville, Angels Camp, Columbia, Sonora grew overnight.

Dozens of men entered the Tuolumne County Superior Court in Sonora, without picks and shovels many with heavy leather boots, flowing beards and they wanted Justice

It seems these modern day minors were there to support their fellow miners in the injustice of a Modern Day Claim Jump

The two groups were equally divided and the Superior Court was wise’in sending this to Mediation.

Each group chose a spokesperson and there were a Plaintiff and Defendant.

The large group settled in on the 2nd floor of the Historic Court House

In Mediation each claimed they had the right to mine the Jack Ass Hill Acreage.

Each claimed they had the “Golden Ticket” issued by the Government to make claim and enrich themselves.

The Claim Jump was a first for the Mediator and in the end, after time and effort, the miners thought it would be best to send it back to the court for a decision by the Judge.

So each side will present evidence for the court to review and a decision will be made on the facts.

In the 1800's a different course would have developed among those miners and today the value of Laws and a Judicial System are in place.

As the Mediator, I enjoyed those men, the passion for Justice and I have a better understanding of the lure for Gold and Claim Jumping.

Jim W Hildreth-Mediator www.RealEstateMediation.org

Auburn CA Courthouse

Auburn CA Courthouse
Originally uploaded by JimHildreth

Was involved in a dispute today, where the plaintiff was asking for One Million Dollars from the Defendant.
Settled in 4.5 hours. A Partnership and Real Estate Dispute. In litigation for 4 years. Nearly $100,000 in Attorney fee's.

Mediation does work.

Plaintiff said they should have gone to mediation 4 years ago

Jim W Hildreth of Real Estate Mediation Services was one of the two mediators who acted as a team of "neutrals". Mediators.

Tuolumne County Superior Court, Sonora, CA 95370

Sonora, CA 95370
Originally uploaded by JimHildreth

As a mediator in disputes, we often see raw emotions displayed often with anger, resentment.

A recent mediation was with couple who had completed a breakup over a year ago.

The dispute was over the division of personal property acquired with their relationship together over 10 years.

For both, a dog they both loved was important to both. In addition personal property that had memories.

The couple turned to the court, and the court suggested mediation for potential resolution.

3.5 hours of mediation with a pair of trained neutrals, assisted the transition with a written agreement among the disputants.

Mediation does work, and can be effective in partnership disputes.

Tuolumne County Superior CourtSonora, CA 95370

Sonora, CA 95370
Originally uploaded by JimHildreth

Jim W Hildreth completed a landlord-tenant mediation today, where the court suggested Alternative Dispute Resolution (Mediation), the parties were concerned that mediation would not work.

Within 2.5 hours the parties developed a settlement and resolve of the issues.

Hildreth stated that it was a "Win-Win" for all involved.

Hildreth does both private and court appointed mediations in Northern California. Serving the Mother Lode, Central Valley & Bay Area.

Auburn CA Courthouse

Auburn CA Courthouse
Originally uploaded by JimHildreth

The California Gold Country has had a rich history of the lure of gold in cities such as Mariposa Nevada City, Columbia, Sonora, Angels Camp, Placerville, Auburn, Jamestown, Murphys, Paradise in Butte County.

Migrations of emigrants followed the "Gold Fever" from the 1800's.

Today a new migration wave in the Gold Country is the urban dweller who seeks a better lifestyle and a desire for a simpler life of the white picket fence, acreage and a place to retire or raise a family.

With that wave came a real estate boom starting in the 1970's.

Large acreage parcels were subdivided creating acre lots or less and the demand for commercial retail for the new storefront was the new enterprise.

With those changes and migrations of the urban dweller have created disputes involving real estate.

This week alone, Jim W Hildreth of Real Estate Mediation Services was busy mediating real estate disputes.

Paradise was a buyer/seller/real estate broker dispute, Jackson California had a non disclosure dispute between the buyer and seller over water runoff. Amador County has a new easement issues among neighbors. Sonora Superior Court in Tuolumne County had a neighbor vs neighbor dispute where a restraining order was placed and a landlord tenant issue over non-payment that exceeded $7,500.

When populations increase conflict will occur. Attorneys will be the gateway to those conflicts.

Today both the courts and the legal system are offering Alternative Dispute Resolution to those conflicts with both Mediation and Arbitration as an alternative to costly litigation and saving time to those in conflict. Often the courts may be backed up for months and the anger, resentment in conflicts cannot wait for the judicial system.

The Gold Country or the Mother Lode of California will continue to see increased populations with new subdivisions, new storefronts and naturally disputes will occur.

It is the wise community both in the legal and real estate community that offers both private and court appointed opportunities to resolve conflict and mediation does play a large role in settlement and resolve.

Jim W Hildreth is a Mediator who's focus is real estate disputes and his home is in Sonora, CA. His boyhood was in Sutter Creek, Jackson and Grass Valley.