There are probabilities of reaching a wrong conclusion at mediation and consequences to reaching a wrong conclusion at mediation. Studies show that 61% of the time persons rejecting a settlement offer receive less at trial than the last offer made by the paying party a...

If you are visiting my website it is probably because you are involved in some kind of conflict and you don't know what to do at this point. Something has to change but you don't know all of what that is. You can continue to search for answers on the outside or you can...

I was travelling across the country last week and encountered people who wanted to know what makes a good mediator.  At best, it is trust, confidence and rapport.  These three things take up very little space in print but make all the difference during settlement meeti...

The Supervising Judge of Los Angeles County Family Law courts is now sending a letter to everyone who files a family law case that asks him or her to consider "having a neutral third party help both sides negotiate a solution (mediation) . . . ."  The Supervising Judge...

Anyone can call themselves a "mediator" because no one has to take a test or receive a certificate or license to mediate.  How can you tell the difference between a good mediator and an average or below-average mediator? Look for and ask for proof of detailed experienc...

If you decide against mediation and go to trial in a courtroom, your case can take about 2 years or more to finish.  Why so  long ?   The court system is over-crowded.   There are too few courts, not enough judges and not enough courtroom staff.  Most courtrooms can gi...

If you decide against mediation and choose to go to court, you may find as many as 40 cases on calendar that the judge has to decide that day.  This means that you will have about 5 minutes to present your entire case from start to finish before the next case has to be...