Charles N. Castagna Mediation
Federal Mediator
Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Mediator
Based in Clearwater | Serving all of Florida
Calendar
Schedule A Mediation With Ease
Choose a convenient time slot from the real-time calendar below to schedule a mediation session. Follow the prompts to submit case particulars and contact details. Upon submission, the time slot will be held for you. We will then promptly confirm the booking and provide more information.
Notifications are also set in place to ensure participants are adequately informed of the scheduled mediation.
Fee Schedule
Rates & Cancelation Policy
Dedicated to providing professional and cost-effective mediation services, my transparent fee structure ensures fair and impartial treatment for all parties. Clearly defined rates and policies are designed to accommodate various case complexities. Mediation services are available both in-person and via Zoom, offering flexible scheduling and comprehensive support to facilitate efficient dispute resolution.
Mediation Fee Schedule:
- Two Parties: $250 per hour per party
- Three Parties: $200 per hour per party
- Four or More Parties: $175 per hour per party
Minimum Fees:
- Half-Day Mediation: 4-hour minimum charge
- Full-Day Mediation: 8-hour minimum charge
- Preparation & Post-Mediation Work: Billed at the same hourly rate
Cancelation Policy
To cancel or reschedule a mediation session our cancelation policy requires written notice at least eight days before the mediation. To ensure fairness and neutrality, all parties will be billed equally for their portion of the minimum fee, regardless of which party initiates the cancellation or the reason for the change.
Please review the documentation of a scheduled mediation carefully for more details.
Billing Matters
- Billing Responsibility:
- Mediation fees are billed equally among all parties unless otherwise agreed upon or ordered by the court.
- Counsel is responsible for timely payment of all fees, regardless of reimbursement arrangements with their client.
- Payment Terms:
- Payment is due upon receipt of the invoice.
- Accepted payment methods and instructions are included in the invoice.
- Pre-Mediation Preparation:
- Time spent reviewing submitted case materials and in teleconferences with council before the session is billable at the standard hourly rate.
- Travel Fees:
- No additional charges for travel time within Florida.
Rate Card & Curriculum Vitae
Download an overview of mediation services, including a detailed fee schedule, focused practice areas, professional credentials, and key contact information.
Essential Mediation Resources & Downloads
Access essential documents to support the mediation process, including the Rate Card & CV, Sample Engagement Letter, Rules for Mediation, and an updated W-9. These materials are available for download to provide necessary information and guidance for upcoming mediations. For any questions or further assistance, please contact the office.
Mediation Guidelines
For the pertinent rules and information governing mediator conduct and the mediation process in Florida, please refer to Chapter 44, Florida Statutes, the Rules of Court Procedures for Mediation, and the Standards of Professional Conduct for Mediators.
Meet Charles N. Castagna, Esq.
Resolving Disputes since 1990 | Training Mediators since 1993
Charles Castagna began mediating as a volunteer with the Sixth Judicial Circuit Citizen’s Dispute Settlement Program in 1989. He became a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Mediator in 1990 and has been serving the state and federal courts as a full time mediator since approximately 1995.
Before his career shift into mediation, Charles’s law practice included insurance defense, personal injury, real estate, family law, condominium law and criminal law, and commercial and banking law as well as commercial landlord and tenant law.
Since becoming a certified circuit and family mediator and federal mediator, Charles has mediated thousands of matters including personal injury, professional malpractice, insurance coverage, commercial, employment, real estate, civil rights, HOA and condominium disputes and hurricane claims.
Charles’s mediation approach and philosophy are quite simple: Be Prepared; every dispute is important to those involved; people want to be heard, respected, and empowered to decide whether and how to resolve their differences; and finally, patience, perseverance and, when appropriate, a good sense of humor can go a long way toward helping people find common ground, and more often than not they will do just that.
Charles believes, and has always believed in the importance of giving back to his profession. To that end, he has served as a member of the then Supreme Court Standing Committee on Mediation and Arbitration Rules and is currently serving on the successor Supreme Court Committee on ADR Rules and Policy. He has also served as President of the former Florida Association of Professional Family Mediators, and as President of the Florida Academy of Professional Mediators during the merger of those organizations. In addition, he has served as a member, Vice-Chair and Chair of the Mediator Ethics Advisory Committee (MEAC). By way of practicing what he preached as a Primary Trainer for Circuit Civil Mediation Certification programs, he has mentored hundreds of mediators seeking certification as circuit and family mediators. And finally, he is currently serving as Vice-Chair of the St. Petersburg Bar Association ADR Committee.
Admissions
- The FL Bar
- Clearwater Bar Association
- Federal Mediator
- Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Mediator
Professional Memberships
Committee Appointments and Professional Memberships
- Clearwater Bar Association, Board of Directors 1988 – 1992; 1999 – 2001
- Florida Supreme Court Standing Committee on Mediation and Arbitration Rules, 1993 – 2001
- Florida Association of Professional Family Mediators, President (2000 – 2002)
- Florida Academy of Professional Mediators, President (2002 – 2005)
- Mediator Ethics Advisory Committee (MEAC) 2010 – 2018; Vice-Chair 2015 – 2018; Chair 2018
- Committee on ADR Rules and Policy 2018 – present
- Clearwater Bar Foundation 2019 – 2020
- St. Petersburg ADR Committee Vice Chair-2024
Education
- George Washington University, School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA), B.A., Public Affairs, 1977
- Florida State University College of Law, J.D., 1980
Awards
- Hillsborough County Outstanding Family Mediator Award (1998)
- Clearwater Bar Association Pro Bono Award (1999)
- Florida Academy of Professional Mediators President’s Award (2001)
- Florida Academy of Professional Mediators Award of Merit (2006)
- Dispute Resolution Center Award of Appreciation (2018)
Educational Presentations
- Presentations to the Florida Bar, Clearwater Bar Association, Hillsborough County Bar Association, St. Petersburg Bar Association, West Pasco Bar Association, West Pasco Legal Support Association, and private law firms on the topics of mediation ethics and mediation advocacy (1993 – present)
Focused Mediation Practice Areas
Personal Injury
- Auto accidents
- Premises liability
- Wrongful death
Business & Contract Disputes
- Contract disputes
- Partnership and shareholder conflicts
- Commercial transactions
Labor & Employment
- Workplace conflicts
- Wrongful termination claims
- Discrimination and harassment issues
Probate & Estate Disputes
- Will contests
- Trust administration issues
- Guardianship matters
Landlord/Tenant Disputes
- Lease agreement disputes
- Evictions
- Property maintenance disagreements
Insurance Disputes
- Coverage disputes
- Bad faith claims
- Subrogation issues
Real Estate
- Property disputes
- Construction defects
- Land use and zoning issues
Residential Construction
HOA Disputes
- Governance issues
- Maintenance disputes
- Assessments and fees