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ou y o;Don’t Have to Sue

Here Are Some Other Ways

to Resolve a Civil Dispute

Presentedby the

JudicialCouncilof California and the StateBar of California

Introduction

Did you knowthatmostcivil lawsuitssettlewithouta trial?

And did you know that there are a numberof ways to resolve civil disputeswithouthavingto sue somebody?

Thesealternativesto a lawsuitare knownas alternativedispute resolution(ADR). The most commonformsof ADR are media- tion, arbitration,and case evaluation.There are a numberof otherkindsof ADR as well.

In ADR, trained,impartialpersonsdecidedisputesor help par- ties decidedisputesthemselves.These personsare called neu- trals.For example,in mediation,theneutralis themediator.Neu- tralsnormallyare chosenby thedisputingpartiesor by thecourt. Neutralscan help partiesresolvedisputeswithouthavingto go to court.

ADR is not new. ADR is availablein manycommunities,through disputeresolutionprogramsand privateneutrals.

Advantages of ADR

ADR can havea numberof advantagesovera lawsuit.

ADR can be speedier. A disputeoftencan be resolvedin a matterof months,even weeks, throughADR, while a lawsuit can take years.

ADR can save money. Courtcosts,attorneysfees,andexpert fees can be saved.

ADR can permit more participation. The partiesmayhave morechancesto tell their side of the storythan in court and mayhavemorecontroloverthe outcome.

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ADR can be flexible. The parties can choose the ADR processthat is best for them. For example,in mediationthe partiesmaydecidehow to resolvetheirdispute.

ADR can be cooperative. This meansthatthe partieshaving a disputemay work togetherwith the neutralto resolvethe dispute and agree to a remedythat makes sense to them, ratherthanwork againsteachother.

ADR can reduce stress. There are fewer, if any, court appearances.And because ADR can be speedier,and save money, and because the parties are normallycooperative, ADR is easieron the nerves.The partiesdont have a lawsuit hangingovertheirheadsfor years.

ADR can be more satisfying. For all the above reasons, manypeoplehavereporteda highdegreeof satisfactionwith ADR.

Because of these advantages,many parties choose ADR to resolvea dispute,insteadof filinga lawsuit.Even whena lawsuit has beenfiled,the courtcan referthe disputeto a neutralbefore the parties positionshardenand the lawsuit becomescostly. ADR has been used to resolvedisputeseven after a trial, when the resultis appealed.

Disadvantages of ADR

ADR maynot be suitablefor everydispute.

If ADR is binding,the partiesnormallygiveup mostcourtpro- tections,includinga decisionby a judgeor jury underformal rulesof evidenceand procedure,and reviewfor legalerrorby an appellatecourt.

Theregenerallyis less opportunityto find out aboutthe other sides case with ADR than with litigation.ADR may not be

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effectiveif it takes place before the parties have sufficient informationto resolvethe dispute.

The neutralmaychargea fee for his or her services.

If a disputeis not resolvedthroughADR, the partiesmayhave to put timeand moneyinto bothADR and a lawsuit.

Lawsuitsmust be broughtwithin specifiedperiodsof time, knownas statutesof limitation.Partiesmustbe carefulnot to let a statuteof limitationsrun out whilea disputeis in an ADR process.

Three Common Types of ADR

This pamphletdescribesthe formsof ADR most oftenfoundin the Californiastatecourtsanddiscusseswheneachmaybe right for a dispute.

• MEDIATION

In mediation,a neutral (the mediator)assists the parties in reaching a mutually acceptableresolutionof their dispute. Unlike lawsuitsor someothertypesof ADR, the mediatordoes not decidehow the disputeis to be resolved.The partiesdo.

Mediationis a cooperativeprocess,in which the partieswork togethertowarda resolutionthat tries to meeteveryonesinter- ests, insteadof workingagainsteach other,whereat least one partyloses.Mediationnormallyleadsto betterrelationsbetween the partiesand to resolutionsthat hold up. For example,media- tionhasbeenverysuccessfulin familydisputes,particularlywith child custodyand visitation.

Mediationis particularlyeffectivewhen the partieshave a con- tinuingrelationship,like neighborsor businesspeople.Media-

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tion also is very effectivewherepersonalfeelingsare gettingin the wayof a resolution.Thisis becausemediationnormallygives the partiesa chanceto let out their feelingsand find out how eachothersees things.

Mediationmaynot be a goodideawhenone partyis unwillingto discussa resolutionor whenone partyhas beena victimof the otheror cannothaveenoughbargainingpowerin the mediation. However,mediationcan be successfulfor victimsseekingresti- tutionfromoffenders.A mediatorcan meetwith the partiessep- aratelywhentherehas beenviolencebetweenthem.

• ARBITRATION

In arbitration,a neutral(the arbitrator)reviewsevidence,hears arguments,and makesa decision(award)to resolvethe dispute. This is very differentfrom mediation,wherethe mediatorhelps the partiesreach their own resolution.Arbitrationnormallyis moreinformaland muchspeedierand less expensivethana law- suit. Becauseof the largenumberof casesawaitingtrialin many courts,a disputenormallycan be heardmuchmorequicklyby an arbitratorthanby a judge.Oftena case that may take a week to try in court can be heardby an arbitratorin a matterof hours, becauseevidencecan be submittedby documents(like medical reportsandbills andbusinessrecords),ratherthanby testimony.

Thereare two kinds of arbitrationin California.Privatearbitra- tion, by agreementof the partiesinvolvedin the dispute,takes place outsideof the courts and, normally,is binding.In most cases binding meansthat the arbitratorsdecision(award) is finalandtherewill not be a trialor an appealof thatdecision.By contrast,a decisionby an arbitratorin a case referredby the courts,knownas judicial arbitration,is not binding,unlessthe partiesagreeto be bound.A partywho does not like the award mayfile a requestfor trialwith the courtwithina specifiedtime. However,if thatpartydoesnot do betterin the trial thanin arbi- tration,he or she mayhaveto pay a penalty.

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Arbitrationis best for cases wherethe partieswant a decision withoutthe expenseof a trial. Arbitrationmay be betterthan mediationwhen the partieshave no relationshipexceptfor the dispute.

Arbitrationmay not be a good idea when the partieswant to resolvetheirdisputeby themselves,or with the aid of a neutral.

• CASE EVALUATION

In case evaluation,a neutral(the evaluator)givesan opinionon the strengthsand weaknessesof eachpartys evidenceand argu- ments,and makesan evaluationof the case. Each partygets a chanceto presentthe caseandhearthe otherside.Thismaylead to a settlement,or at leasthelpthe partiesprepareto resolvethe disputelateron.

Case evaluation,like mediation,can come early in the dispute and savetimeand money.

Case evaluationis most effectivewhen someonehas an unreal- istic view of the disputeor whenthe only real issue is what the case is worth,or whenthereare technicalor scientificquestions to be workedout.

Caseevaluationmaynotbe a goodideawhenit is too soonto tell what the case is worthor when the disputeis aboutsomething besidesmoney,like a neighborplayingloud musiclate at night.

Additional Information

Thereare severalothertypesof ADR besidemediation,arbitra- tion, and case evaluation.Some of theseare conciliation,settle- mentconferences,fact finding,mini-trials,and summaryjurytri- als. Sometimespartieswill try a combinationof ADR types.The importantthingis to try to find the typeor typesof ADR thatare

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mostlikelyto resolveyourdispute.

The selectionof a neutralis an importantdecision.Thereis no legalrequirementthatthe neutralbe licensedor holdany partic- ular certificate.However,someprogramshaveestablishedqual- ification requirementsfor neutrals.You may wish to inquire aboutthe qualificationsof any neutralyou are considering.

AgreementsreachedthroughADR normallyare put in writingby the neutraland, if the partieswish, may becomebindingcon- tractsthatcan be enforcedby a judge.

You may wish to seek the adviceof an attorneyas to yourlegal rightsand othermattersrelatingto the dispute.

Whom Do You Call?

To locatea disputeresolutionprogramor neutralin your com- munity:

Contactthe California Department of Consumer Affairs, Consumer Information Center, toll free, 1-800-952-5210, or

Contactthe local bar association, or

Look in the Yellow Pages underArbitrators or Mediators.

Theremay be a chargefor servicesprovidedby privatearbitra- tors and mediators.

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