Mediation is an opportunity for the parties to litigation or other dispute to sit down with a neutral third party and discuss their settlement options. Obviously, the ultimate goal is to reach an agreement in the parties' best interests.
As the mediator, I do not render any decisions, nor do I act as judge or arbiter. I work to facilitate the settlement discussions.
You may ask, "What does that mean?"
I draw on my twelve years of litigation experience to help the parties evaluate their case and to look at their positions and interests more objectively so that they can make an informed decision. Typically that means asking questions about the legal and factual issues in the case, probing the parties' goals, interests and objectives, helping the parties assess the perceived strengths and weaknesses of their positions, and acting as Devil's Advocate (called "reality testing" in the mediation field). I cannot, however, provide legal or financial advice to the parties.
Mediation has proven a very successful method of resolving disputes because mediation provides the parties the best opportunity to reach an agreement before the court or a jury gets involved.
Because the parties themselves control the outcome, any resolution will be voluntary and mutually agreeable to all. The mediation process often results in unique and creative solutions that allow each party to walk away believing that their interests have been met and relieved that the case is finally over.
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Why Choose Mediation?