Week celebrates mediation

The Superior Court of Solano County joins other courts, bar associations and mediation providers around the state in celebrating Mediation Week during March 18-22.

Mediation Week is intended to honor the important role that mediation plays by offering the public a better way to resolve disputes.

Everyone knows that disputes can be quite difficult. They cloud your mind, damage your relationships and disrupt your sleep. They come in many forms: between businesses, family members, neighbors, or even strangers on the street. They concern almost any topic: money, rights, relationships, loss of work, to name a few.

Disputes happen every day to everybody. While most end up with some good conversation or blow away time, some are too complicated to be overcome alone. This is when help is sought from the courts. However, due to budget cuts and increased filings, courts are unable to offer a speedy trial for every case. For perspective, the Superior Court of Solano County received more than 10,000 civil case filings in 2010-11 fiscal year alone. Consequently, seeking resolution through the courts is often slow, expensive and time-consuming.

Fortunately, alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation exist. Mediation brings parties together with a neutral who is trained in facilitating conversation and helping parties craft their own confidential agreements. Here are some of the many advantages:

• Speed: Many disputes are resolved in a single mediation session, which can be scheduled months before trial is available.
• Cost: Using mediation allows parties to avoid court fees, trial costs and months of pre-trial attorney fees. Ask your court about free mediation services to make it even more cost-effective.
• Control: Mediation allows you to customize your own settlement. You are not required to agree, if the terms are not satisfactory. This allows for flexibility that is not possible through trial.
• Neutral: Experienced mediators help guide healthy and productive discussion.

The benefits are numerous. Should you find yourself in a lawsuit, the Superior Court of Solano County urges you to ask about mediation so you can end your dispute and get back to your life.

Paul L. Beeman, Presiding Judge

Scott L. Kays, Supervising Civil Judge

Fairfield