When caught in the middle of a dispute with another person, or with a company or entity, it may seem like dashing down to the courtside and filing a lawsuit is the only option available. Fortunately, for the sake of overworked courts, your wallet, and more, there are other options available to individuals caught in a legal dispute. One such option is mediation, which is basically the process of bringing two parties together with a third-party mediator to resolve disputes.
In fact, mediation serves as an effective, budget-friendly, and time-friendly method of resolving disputes without ever needing to go to court. Additionally, mediation can be a way to save relationships in the midst of these disputes, as it's the job of the mediator to develop effective communications and build consensus between the parties.At Popham Law in Kansas City, we are experienced mediators who have successfully helped resolve hundreds of disputes, from employment law disputes to personal injury cases, and more. If you are in a dispute and desire mediation to help resolve it, call our law firm today by dialing (816) 221-2288.
Where Mediation Works
As mentioned above, mediation is a process where an objective third-party assists in resolving a dispute between two parties. Unlike arbitration, where the intermediary makes a decision for the disputants, mediators provide an environment and assist disputants to come up with a solution itself.As such, due to its versatility and inherent benefits, mediation is used in all sorts of disputes, from divorces to civil lawsuits to complex policy problems. In general, when initial attempts at negotiation fail, mediation serves as a cost- and time-effective conflict resolution tool. For instance, some specific cases where mediation can be helpful include:
- Contract disputes
- Lease disputes
- Small business ownership disputes
- Employment law disputes
- Harassment claims
- Divorce cases
For the most part, all non-criminal legal disputes can be resolved via mediation.
How Mediation Works
Mediation is widely known as a very effective process, as the mediator's role is to create a more productive, results-oriented discussion than the parties could have conducted on their own. To help produce such results, the mediator will:
- Help the parties determines facts
- Show empathy and impartiality with the parties
- Help the parties generate new ideas
Furthermore, an experienced mediator will use persuasion to soften the more hard-line positions. In some cases, the conflict is discussed over several joint sessions. In most cases, however, private caucuses serve as the guts of the mediation process, where parties can discuss, in private, the dispute. During private caucuses, the mediators are able to gather more information, negotiate, and help build a consensus.
Why Mediation Works as a Dispute Resolution Tool
Because mediation facilitates communication, it has numerous benefits. Perhaps the most prominent benefit is the emphasis on maintaining the relationship after the dispute is over. Other benefits of mediation include:
- Less expensive than traditional litigation
- Less time-consuming than traditional litigation (faster settlements)
- Mutually satisfactory outcomes
- High rate of compliance
- Greater degree of control and predictability of the outcome
- Personal empowerment
- Workable and implementable decisions
- Longer lasting decisions (reduced future conflict)
Contact the KC Mediators at Popham Law Today
Mediation is widely preferred over traditional litigation for many reasons, but to concentrate its benefits, mediation saves time, it saves money, and it can save your relationship with the other party while implementing a mutually agreed upon settlement.If you are looking for some of the leading mediators in the Kansas City area, look no further than Popham Law. For a free consultation, you can call our law firm today at (816) 221-2288.
