The conflict you are facing with an insurance company, in your business or among your family members is consuming your energy. The longer you and the other party struggle, the more firmly you become entrenched in your own side of the issue. You may be spending more and more time researching the law for your point of view or gathering proof that you are in the right. All of this takes a toll on your relationships, your health and your ability to fulfill your duties at work.
It may seem that your only choice is to take your opponent to court, present your side of the argument and hope the judge agrees with your case. However, you may be interested to know that there is an alternative to a heated and exhausting courtroom battle.
How can you benefit from the mediation process?
Mediation is a form of conflict resolution that often brings a satisfying closure to those who do not relish taking their problems to court. Through mediation, you and your opponent may be able to find a compromise you had not considered and likely would not have reached through an adversarial trial.
If you and the other party agree to mediate, you will bring your case before a neutral third party in a less formal environment, such as an attorney’s office rather than a courtroom. Each side will discuss his or her issues, and the mediator will guide you in seeking a positive way to resolve those areas about which you cannot find common ground. Some of the benefits of choosing mediation over litigation include the following:
- You will likely resolve your case within weeks instead of the months or years required to complete a trial.
- Mediation is much less expensive than litigation.
- You and your opponent will have the opportunity to personally engage one another instead of the submitting to the divisive nature of a trial.
- Mediation is often less combative, allowing you to preserve and rebuild relationships that may have been damaged through the dispute.
- The results of the mediation are confidential, unlike a trial where every aspect becomes public record.
Many people who choose mediation over litigation find that the results are far more satisfying than a judge’s ruling. Because of this, they are more willing to comply with the results. If this type of conflict resolution seems appealing, you may wish to contact a California attorney to represent you and assist you throughout the process.
