{"id":31520,"date":"2016-03-31T19:21:37","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T00:21:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-legal\/uncategorized\/pros-and-cons-for-use-of-mediation-to-resolve-disputes.html"},"modified":"2017-11-16T14:24:51","modified_gmt":"2017-11-16T19:24:51","slug":"pros-and-cons-for-use-of-mediation-to-resolve-disputes","status":"publish","type":"corporate","link":"https:\/\/corporate.findlaw.com\/business-operations\/pros-and-cons-for-use-of-mediation-to-resolve-disputes.html","title":{"rendered":"Pros and Cons for Use of Mediation to Resolve Disputes"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    <p><em>This article was edited and reviewed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\" rel=\"noopener\">FindLaw Attorney Writers<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n                | Last reviewed\n        <time>\n                            May 26, 2026\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\" rel=\"noopener\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\" rel=\"noopener\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\" rel=\"noopener\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p>Litigation and court trials are extremely expensive and risky propositions. There is no certainty that a <a title=\"Overview of a Lawsuit\" href=\"https:\/\/corporate.findlaw.com\/litigation-disputes\/overview-of-a-lawsuit.html\" target=\"_blank\">trial<\/a> will bring a fair or just ruling for a case. Nor is there a certainty that once the trial is over, that the case will be over. Cases sometimes stretch long into the future as appeals are filed and motions heard. However, there is a certainty that any trial will be expensive, as they do require at least one attorney and an attorney team, working full-time at attorney rates for the length of the trial.<\/p>\n<p>Such uncertainty with trials makes <a title=\"What Is Mediation And How Does It Work?\" href=\"https:\/\/corporate.findlaw.com\/litigation-disputes\/what-is-mediation-and-how-does-it-work.html\" target=\"_blank\">mediation<\/a> a popular alternative to <a title=\"Civil Litigation\" href=\"https:\/\/corporate.findlaw.com\/litigation-disputes\/civil-litigation.html\" target=\"_blank\">litigation<\/a>. Mediations can resolve disputes before the case is even filed in court or at any time in the litigation process. There are many valid and compelling arguments for mediation, but there are some cautions that should be considered. Below is a discussion of these pros and cons to use in evaluating the decision whether or not to mediate a case.<\/p>\n<p><b>Pros for Mediation<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Mediation can be a powerful ally in resolving disputes. The <a title=\"Mediation from a Plaintiff&#039;s Perspective\" href=\"https:\/\/corporate.findlaw.com\/litigation-disputes\/mediation-from-a-plaintiff-s-perspective.html\" target=\"_blank\">parties<\/a> will be able to <a title=\"Mediation: An Effective Process to Resolve Complex Commercial Disputes\" href=\"https:\/\/corporate.findlaw.com\/litigation-disputes\/mediation-an-effective-process-to-resolve-complex-commercial.html\" target=\"_blank\">control the outcome<\/a> of the case and not be surprised by what a judge or jury does.<\/p>\n<p>The parties will have an opportunity to be heard by a <a title=\"Rules for Mediation\" href=\"https:\/\/corporate.findlaw.com\/litigation-disputes\/rules-for-mediation.html\" target=\"_blank\">neutral party<\/a>, who can provide an independent evaluation of the case. The mediator will often point out weakness, that may not have been recognized or appreciated before. The mediator can also provide a dose of reality to a difficult client as to their true position in the case.<\/p>\n<p>Mediations are also a powerful discovery tools. They afford the opportunity to spend several hours with your client and the opposing side. This can provide insight into what is really important to your client that may not have been communicated in previous discussions. There is also an opportunity to <a title=\"Mediation Is Not For Sissies\" href=\"https:\/\/corporate.findlaw.com\/litigation-disputes\/mediation-is-not-for-sissies.html\" target=\"_blank\">observe opposing counsel<\/a> and their client that will provide information that written discovery or even a deposition will not.<br>\nPositive Points to Consider<\/p>\n<p>Some of the reasons that mediation should be considered include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Certainty of results, parties involved in decision and can structure practical settlement to their needs;<\/li>\n<li>Allows direct communication between the opposing parties;<\/li>\n<li>Avoids a win\/lose or &quot;all or nothing&quot; decision;<\/li>\n<li>Remedies available are much broader than traditional legal remedies;<\/li>\n<li>Privacy and confidentiality of proceedings and of results;<\/li>\n<li>Available at an earlier time than traditional litigation;<\/li>\n<li>Potential to save time and money;<\/li>\n<li>Test strengths, theories and strategies of your case;<\/li>\n<li>Opportunity to influence how the opposing side views the case;<\/li>\n<li>Demonstrates a willingness to negotiate;<\/li>\n<li>Provides the opportunity to demonstrate skills of persuasion and negotiation; and<\/li>\n<li>Preserves or allows continuing relationships between the parties.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Cons to Mediation<\/b><\/p>\n<p>However, there can be drawbacks to mediation. It can be a pointless exercise, if the parties are <a title=\"Keys to a Successful Mediation\" href=\"https:\/\/corporate.findlaw.com\/business-operations\/keys-to-a-successful-mediation.html\" target=\"_blank\">entrenched in a position<\/a> and refuse to negotiate. Further, any important social or legal points will be lost in a confidential settlement. Sometimes it will take several mediations for the parties to reach some type of agreement, making mediations an expensive exercise. Lastly, a mediation will <a title=\"Ten Mediation Do&#039;s And Don&#039;ts\" href=\"https:\/\/corporate.findlaw.com\/litigation-disputes\/ten-mediation-do-s-and-don-ts.html\" target=\"_blank\">only be successful<\/a> if the parties are committed to a resolution.<\/p>\n<p>Also, if the party strongly believes in a position, then mediation may not be the best answer. Mediation only works if one party pays money and the other party is willing to take less than what they might get at trial. However, if a party believes it is not liable and should not pay any money, then mediation will not resolve the dispute. Likewise, if a party firmly believes that the other side is liable and so egregiously liable that settlement is unlikely to adequately compensate them, perhaps mediation is not the answer. Finally, if the case is more about the principal than the recovery of money, mediation will not provide the desired resolution.<\/p>\n<p><b>Negatives to Mediation<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Some of the drawbacks to mediation include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Party cannot be compelled to participate, except when ordered by Court;<\/li>\n<li>Need to establish a legal precedent; or complex procedural issues involved;<\/li>\n<li>Party with authority to settle is unavailable or unwilling to negotiate;<\/li>\n<li>May not be cost effective in a particular case;<\/li>\n<li>An agreement would possibly require <a title=\"California Code, Code of Civil Procedure - CCP \u00a7 664.6\" href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/ca\/code-of-civil-procedure\/ccp-sect-664-6.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">court enforcement<\/a>;<\/li>\n<li>Client has a standing policy that his\/her business does not compromise;<\/li>\n<li>Opposing <a title=\"How to Cope When Opposing Counsel Is a Jerk\" href=\"https:\/\/www.americanbar.org\/newsletter\/publications\/gp_solo_magazine_home\/gp_solo_magazine_index\/solo_lawyer_professionalism_civility_ethics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">counsel is difficult<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Wrap-up<\/b><\/p>\n<p>In nine times out of ten cases, mediation should be considered and tried because of all of the positives. Mediation can bring a speedy and <a title=\"WILSON v. WILSON FSW - Enforce Oral Settlement Agreement\" href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/court\/us-7th-circuit\/1039008.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">final resolution to a case<\/a>. However, there are cases where mediation will not provide an opportunity for resolving the case appropriately. Each case has to be independently evaluated to determine if a mediation is likely to be fruitful, above are some of the questions and considerations to help make the evaluation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FindLaw&#8217;s discussion of the pros and cons to use in evaluating the decision whether or not to mediate a case.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false},"corporate_categories":[6467,6469],"class_list":["post-31520","corporate","type-corporate","status-publish","hentry","corporate_categories-business-operations","corporate_categories-business-operations__commercial-contracts"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/corporate.findlaw.com\/legal-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/corporate\/31520","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/corporate.findlaw.com\/legal-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/corporate"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/corporate.findlaw.com\/legal-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/corporate"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/corporate.findlaw.com\/legal-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"corporate_categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/corporate.findlaw.com\/legal-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/corporate_categories?post=31520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}