INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – The Indiana Supreme Court is asking attorneys for the state and IBM Corp. to consider mediation to settle their dispute over IBM's failed attempt to privatize Indiana's welfare services.
Chief Justice Loretta Rush says in an order Thursday that the court “encourages the parties to consider engaging in mediation to seek a mutually agreeable resolution of their dispute.”
Her order directs the two sides to inform the court within 30 days if they've agreed to mediation. If they reject mediation, Rush says the court will decide the parties' dispute.
The court heard arguments in that case Oct. 30.
IBM and Indiana sued each other in 2009 after Indiana canceled IBM's $1.3 billion contract to automate much of Indiana's welfare system following complaints about long waits, lost documents and improper rejections.
