Agreement to Participate
Complete this form with the parties before beginning the mediation.
View AgreementDorchester Municipal Court
Court-specific information for MWI mediators, including the Small Claims schedule, courthouse contacts, required forms, transportation options, mediation procedures, and available meeting space.
Types of Cases
Small Claims
Mediation Day
Mondays
Session Time
9:00 AM
Location and Directions
Court Address
Dorchester Municipal Court510 Washington Street
Dorchester, MA 02124 Open in Google Maps
Red Line
Take an Ashmont train to Shawmut Station. Exit the station toward Melville Avenue and walk approximately five minutes to the courthouse on Washington Street.
Orange Line and Bus
Take the Orange Line to Ruggles Station and then take the Route 23 bus to Washington Street near the courthouse.
Schedule and Key Court Contacts
Small Claims Sessions
- Day: Mondays
- Time: 9:00 AM
Key People at the Court
- First Justice: Hon. Jonathan R. Tynes
- Clerk Magistrate: Dana C. Rutherford
- Assistant Clerk Magistrates: Anthony Owens and Patrick Mulligan
Required Forms
Use the applicable documents from the General Forms list. Mediators should complete the Agreement to Participate and ADR Referral Form. If the parties reach an agreement, also complete the Mediation Memorandum.
ADR Referral Form
Complete the fillable referral form for the case being mediated.
View Referral FormMediation Memorandum
Complete this document if the parties reach an agreement.
View MemorandumParking
Street parking is available. Parking on Washington Street generally has a two-hour limit. Parking on nearby side streets may be available without the two-hour limit. Review posted parking signs carefully.
Courthouse Mediation Procedures
Follow these court-specific steps when conducting an in-person mediation at Dorchester Municipal Court.
Multiple mediation programs:
Dorchester Small Claims sessions are typically served by two or three
mediation programs that rotate case referrals. Review the current
rotation schedule in the Neutral Resources section of the portal before
the session.
Pre-Mediation
After passing through security, stop at the Clerk’s Office on the first floor to find out where the Small Claims session is being held.
At the beginning of the session, coordinate with the program coordinator from MMS or UMass Boston to confirm the referral order for that day.
The clerk will advise the parties that mediation is available and will typically invite a representative from one of the mediation programs to explain the process. The program receiving the first case will provide this overview.
During Mediation
Identify and secure an appropriate mediation space before bringing the parties out of the courtroom.
Several rooms are available on the first and second floors. However, other mediation programs, attorneys, or court personnel may be using them. On occasion, the jury room or daycare center may be available for mediation.
Conference rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so secure a room as early as possible.
Post-Mediation
Copies of completed forms can be made at the Clerk’s Office on the first floor. Return all completed paperwork and the case file to the clerk who referred the case, and inform the clerk of the outcome.
Add the case information and upload the paperwork under the court case in the portal. If you have trouble uploading the documents or mediated multiple cases during the same session, email the scans to courtmediation@mwi.org.
Questions About This Court?
Contact Clarice Parsons for assistance with the referral rotation, courthouse procedures, required forms, or uploading case documents.
