The point is that it is not at all unusual for a case not to have been settled by the close of the mediation conference, but to then be settled at some later date as a result of continuing negotations between the parties.  Therefore, no one should be thinking that the sky is falling if a settlement is not announced on or shortly after September 30   ---   that scenario would not represent a "failure", nor that all negotiations have forever ceased. 

Good luck to all.

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regards