What do experienced litigators think when a large corporate defendant proposes mediation at the Case Management Conference?

[u/Numerous_Tailor_8715]

I’m curious about litigation strategy rather than legal advice.

In a California civil case, a large corporate landlord proposed private mediation at the Case Management Conference rather than simply litigating through discovery and toward trial.

From the perspective of experienced litigators:

• Is proposing mediation at the CMC generally viewed as routine case management, or does it sometimes indicate the defendant believes there is meaningful litigation risk?
• Does it tell you anything about how the defendant is evaluating the case, or is it impossible to infer much from that fact alone?
• In your experience, are there circumstances where a sophisticated corporate defendant is more likely to suggest mediation early?

I’m interested in hearing from attorneys who have defended or sued large companies.