The objective of alternative dispute resolution services—either mediation or arbitration—is to get disputes resolved without having to expend the money to prepare a case to go to trial. We can help you to find a good solution to your dispute without incurring large litigation expenses and the long delays that are often associated with litigation in the courts. Further, the results reached through alternative dispute resolution proceedings are typically not subject to appeal, and either reached by agreement or by the decisions of arbitrators and private judges.
We are based in the Columbus metropolitan area and provide our services throughout the state of Ohio. Alternative dispute resolution services are our sole focus.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
We have experience in a variety of alternative dispute resolution methods and settings. Some of the common case types we work with include:
Alternative Dispute Resolution
This phrase, also known by its acronym, ADR, means any attempt to resolve disputes short of having to go to court which employs a neutral third party to facilitate a final resolution of disputes in a more informal setting.
Mediation
Mediation employs a neutral third party whose sole purpose is to help parties find negotiated resolutions to their disputes that do not end up being matters of public record. Mediation is a voluntary process wherein parties seeking to resolve disputes agree to have a neutral third party serve as a go-between to negotiate a resolution without the need to take a case to trial.
Arbitration
In arbitration, conflicting parties agree to settle their differences by presenting their cases to an arbitrator, who is authorized to hear the evidence and then to make a decision—basically serving as a private judge, although arbitration sessions are typically conducted outside of a courtroom. Each party presents testimony and documentary evidence in a much less formal proceeding than a court trial. The parties usually agree that the arbitrator’s decision is final and binding, and both sides are required to accept the arbitrator’s decision, even if they don’t agree with it. There is usually no right of appeal arising out of an arbitrator’s decisions. The arbitrator’s decision can then be enforced through the court system.
Private Judging
Similar to arbitration, the parties to a dispute will sometimes hire a private judge—often a retired or former judge—to conduct a private trial that is not open to the public, but which is nevertheless conducted like a normal court proceeding. The decisions of private judges also are not typically subject to appeals, either. Again, like an arbitrator’s decision, the decisions of private judges can then be enforced through the courts.