Georgia Mediation (Alternative Dispute Resolution)
It is not uncommon for parties to a business dispute to completely disregard the mediation process and advance full steam ahead with litigation. Experienced business lawyers will tell you that this can be a costly mistake as sometimes all it takes to settle a dispute is a third party perform a reality check on the situation. Mediation allows parties to a business dispute to try to work out settlement terms that they can all live with, unlike a lawsuit, where a judge has the final decision.
In mediation, the parties employ a mediator, who is a third party neutral, to help them confidentially and cooperatively work toward a settlement. Typically, the parties will begin the process in the same room, where the mediator will explain how he or she operates. Then, the parties will each separately meet with the mediator and lay out their points of view and any possible resolutions. The mediator effectively guides the parties through the process and may assess each party’s position and point out how the dispute would likely play out in a court of law. During mediation, the parties can have as much or as little direct contact as they desire, which is sometimes to key to resolving disputes where there is bad blood between the parties.
The Georgia court system recognizes that mediation is a valuable tool in alternative dispute resolution, and many counties provide mediation and alternative dispute resolution information and resources on their court websites:
Superior Court Mediation in Cobb County, Georgia
Superior Court Dispute Resolution Center in DeKalb County, Georgia
Office of Alternative Dispute Resolution in Fulton County, Georgia
Alternative Dispute Resolution in Forsyth County, Georgia
Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution in Gwinnett County, Georgia
If you have questions about the mediation process or other methods of alternative dispute resolution, make sure to contact an experienced attorney.
