What is early neutral evaluation?

Early neutral evaluation (ENE) is a process in which a person experienced in the subject matter of a litigated dispute, will convene a brief, non-binding meeting to hear the parties outline the key elements of their cases. The evaluator will identify the main issues and explore possibilities of settlement. In addition, the evaluator will assess the merits of each party’s case. If settlement is not achievable, the evaluator may assist the parties by indicating procedural recommendations, the intent of which is to streamline the litigation process.