| Should I take him to court? What are my options? | | | | It's Affordable. Hiring an attorney can cost thousands |
| Well, lawsuits and litigation have their appropriate place | | | | of dollars for even a simple case, without a firm |
| and function in our society, but in some instances, such | | | | guarantee of proper resolution. Mediation provides an |
| as preserving on-going relationships, suing someone is | | | | affordable alternative to costly litigation. |
| like trying to remove a fly from a person's head with a | | | | It's Fast. Lawsuits can take years off your life in |
| hatchet. I am often asked what are the benefits of | | | | waster time, frustration, money, and emotional pain. |
| resolving a dispute through mediation versus traditional | | | | Mediation usually takes only a fraction of the time that |
| litigation. Here is a list of benefits that mediation can | | | | the legal system takes. |
| provide. | | | | It's Confidential. Cases handled in court are typically |
| It's A Reality Check. Individuals, business, and | | | | open to the public, so anyone can listen in on your |
| organizations often use the tactic of playing deaf | | | | private life. Confidentially in a mediation is protected by |
| when you have a complaint, hoping that you will lose | | | | law, so you can resolve your dispute with privacy and |
| interest over time and go away. Mediation is the bridge | | | | with dignity. |
| between direct negotiation and the legal system. It lets | | | | It's Empowering. Traditional litigation is hostile, |
| the other side know that you are serious and that you | | | | adversarial, and aggressive. It focuses on assigning |
| want them to come voluntarily to the negotiating table | | | | blame and punishment. Mediation doesn't assign blame |
| while they still have a chance. By asking them to | | | | or punishment--it seeks to invent solution to a mutual |
| attend mediation, you are building them a golden bridge | | | | problem through cooperative problem-solving. |
| towards agreement and all they have to do is choose | | | | It's Emotionally Healthy. The legal system rarely takes |
| to walk across. | | | | the psychological or emotional factors of either party |
| It's Safe. The legal system awards unfair and | | | | into account. Litigation is cold, hard, and uncaring. Both |
| aggressive tactics, making the playing field unequal. In | | | | parties are instructed not to talk to each other and |
| mediation, you are in complete control throughout the | | | | neither side gets to voice their concerns. Mediation |
| process. The mediator will not permit any unfair tactics, | | | | uses the psychological power of empathy to create |
| so the playing filed is equalized. Mediation is voluntary, | | | | mutual understanding between parties to address |
| so you always reserve the right to proceed with | | | | concerns, promote emotional healing, and preserve |
| litigation if you want. | | | | ongoing relationships. |