Resolving Disputes Without Going to Court

Kinds of Problems Worked Out Through Mediation

Many types of disputes can be resolved through mediation. Here are just a few examples:

• All Types of Disputes as Long as Both Sides Agree to Try Mediation
• Anything You Would Sue Somebody for in Small Claims Court
• Business and Contract Disputes
• Family Disputes Involving Siblings, Relatives or Parent/Child Such as Contested Wills or Curfew Agreements
• Landlord/Tenant Disputes
• Neighborhood Issues Such as Shared Driveway, Noise, or Fence Problems
• Problems Buying, Selling or Repairing Something
• Property Damage

Try Mediation

The decision-making process belongs to you. You decide how to best resolve your dispute; unlike court, no one judges your problem and tells you what to do. You get to reach an agreement that you can live with.

It works. Thousands of cases have been successfully mediated to all parties' satisfaction. Mediation is a "win/win" rather than a "win / lose" solution. In court, someone wins, someone loses. The goal of mediation is to have all parties arrive at a mutually satisfactory agreement.

It's affordable. The service is provided at low or no cost.

It's quick. When parties agree to try mediation, most disputes can be resolved within two weeks! A typical mediation session lasts less than two hours.

It's effective. About 80% of all mediation sessions end in agreement. In fact, the likelihood of settling a dispute to both parties' satisfaction through mediation is much higher than in small claims court.

It's convenient. You can mediate on weekdays, Saturdays and evenings to accommodate your schedule.

It's private. Everything said or used for purposes of reaching a settlement remains confidential and cannot be used in a lawsuit.

It avoids going to court. Mediation is not combative or adversarial like court can be; it helps protect and enhance relationships between people by providing a comfortable and safe setting for discussion.

Mediation can help reduce the likelihood that the problem will occur again. In fact, you can even agree that if a problem occurs again, everyone will go back to mediation.

Additional Services Available

Many centers offer conflict resolution workshops, mediator training, student peer mediation training, resolution of disputes between victims and offenders in criminal cases, and resolution of claims arising under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Centers may also be able to design conflict management training for local businesses and government to help prevent litigation over disputes which naturally occur in the workplace. Centers also act as clearinghouses for conflict resolution resources. Because services may vary from center to center, please feel free to contact your local center to see what services are available.

The legislature created the Community Dispute Resolution Program in 1988 to offer Michigan citizens an alternative to suing people over many disputes that naturally occur in our society. In short, the legislature determined that in many cases, the people having a dispute are in a better position than judges to resolve their own problems. The many thousands of cases successfully mediated so far demonstrate that in many instances, mediation is a good alternative to filing
a lawsuit.


In the Jackson Area call:
Southeastern Dispute Resolution Services
Serving Jackson, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe Counties
211 W. Ganson Street  -  Suite 105
Jackson, Ml 49201
517-990-0279