Mediate, Don't Litigate: Strategies for Successful Mediation

Table of Contents......Page 10
Introduction......Page 14
B. Using This Book......Page 16
1. Mediation Basics......Page 18
A. What Is Mediation?......Page 20
B. How Do Cases Get To Mediation?......Page 24
C. Anatomy Of A Mediation......Page 28
D. Mediation Vs. Other Forms Of Dispute Resolution......Page 33
2. Deciding Whether To Mediate......Page 40
A. What Types Of Disputes Can Be Mediated?......Page 42
B. Advantages And Disadvantages Of Mediation......Page 43
C. When Mediation Makes Sense......Page 48
D. Factors Opposing Mediation......Page 55
3. Choosing A Mediator......Page 62
A. Mediators And Mediation Services......Page 65
B. Gathering Leads......Page 77
C. Selecting the Right Mediation Service......Page 78
D. Selecting A Mediator......Page 83
4. Starting Your Mediation Case......Page 100
A. Is Your Case Ready For Mediation?......Page 101
B. How To Propose Mediation......Page 105
C. Starting Your Case With A Mediator Or Mediation Service......Page 112
D. Securing An Agreement To Mediate......Page 117
5. Preparing For Your Mediation......Page 124
A. Review Paperwork......Page 127
B. Set Your Goals......Page 133
C. Gather Evidence......Page 146
D. The Pre-Mediation Memorandum......Page 154
E. Who Should Attend The Mediation......Page 158
6. The Six Stages Of Mediation......Page 168
A. Stage One: The Mediator’s Opening Statement .......Page 172
B. Stage Two: The Parties’ Opening Statements......Page 177
C. Stage Three: Discussion......Page 188
D. Stage Four: The Caucus......Page 193
E. Stage Five: More Joint Negotiations......Page 203
F. Stage Six: Closure......Page 207
7. Write An Agreement That Works......Page 212
A. Why You Need A Written Agreement......Page 213
B. Ten Guidelines For Writing An Effective Agreement......Page 215
C. Sample Agreements......Page 224
D. Make Your Agreement Legally Enforceable......Page 232
E. Providing For A Lawyer’s Or Other Adviser’s Review......Page 237
F. Signing The Agreement......Page 238
8. If You Don’t Reach An Agreement......Page 240
A. Get Help From The Mediator......Page 241
B. Small Claims Court......Page 245
C. Arbitration......Page 246
D. Start A Lawsuit......Page 253
9. If Your Mediation Agreement Doesn’t Work......Page 254
A. Changing Your Agreement......Page 255
B. If The Other Party Reneges......Page 259
10. Divorce Mediation......Page 266
A. What Is Divorce Mediation?......Page 268
B. Issues Common To Court-Sponsored And Private Mediation......Page 272
C. Court-Sponsored Divorce Mediation......Page 284
D. Private Divorce Mediation......Page 292
11. Mediating Business Disputes......Page 300
A. Selecting A Business Mediator......Page 304
B. Business Disputes That Can Be Mediated......Page 307
C. Getting Your Case To The Table......Page 311
E. Inside The Mediation Session......Page 315
G. Other Dispute Resolution Procedures For Business Cases......Page 317
12. Mediating Employment Disputes......Page 320
A. Deciding Whether To Mediate......Page 324
B. Choosing A Mediator......Page 328
C. Preparing For The Mediation......Page 332
D. Settlement Options......Page 336
13. Lawyers And Legal Research......Page 340
A. Using A Lawyer In Mediation......Page 341
B. Legal Research......Page 347
Appendix A: Sample Mediation Rules......Page 366
Appendix B: Standards of Conduct for Mediators......Page 370
Appendix C: National and Regional Mediation Organizations and Services......Page 378
Appendix D: Statewide Mediation Offices......Page 382
Index......Page 386
Related Products......Page 408