Mediation, arbitration grow as alternatives

Mediation has grown in popularity as more people seek alternative ways to solve civil disputes.

“There’s a lot of reasons parties opt for mediation or arbitration — it costs less, it’s more efficient and there’s more certainty,” said Elizabeth Carter, Senior Vice President Operations of JAMS. “Some people don’t like to leave their future up to a judge and want to have a say in the final outcome.”

Mediation can be ordered by the court or parties can decide to choose that route on their own — some even before a lawsuit is filed. With courts having lengthy dockets, some parties appreciate their cases can be resolved more quickly by using a mediator.

“Clients expect that their attorneys understand the mediation process,” Carter said.

Full article below:

Wisconsin Law Journal