Why Use Mediation?

Mediation can be one of the most gratifying ways to resolve conflict for the following 10 reasons. In fact, 95% to 99% of Wenatchee Valley Dispute Resolution Center's clients would recommend the process to others. Here are 10 reasons to use mediation:

1. Mediation is affordable.
   WVDRC's Mediation program is affordable and based on a sliding scale according to income.
2. Mediation is fair and neutral.
   Parties have an equal say in the process and they, not the mediator, decide the terms of the settlement. There is no determination of guilt or innocence in the process.
3. Mediation saves time and money
   Mediation is faster, cheaper, and often more effective than litigation. Litigation can cost you everything you own and leave you bankrupt even if you win! Many lawsuits cost in excess of $10,000. The mediation of a case through the Dispute Resolution Center will cost considerably less; the average cost for a three-hour session is $100 And WVDRC has a sliding scale based on your annual income. Litigation can go on for years, while mediation is usually started and completed in a matter of a few hours, or for the most complex cases, a few weeks—and you still have the option of using legal, or some other form of representation, during your session or afterwards.
4. Mediation is private and confidential.
   All parties sign a confidentiality agreement. Information disclosed during mediation will not be revealed to anyone. Litigation often does not respect the needs of the individuals or their dignity. Many disputes are personal matters, but most court proceedings are public record. In mediation, the process is confidential and your privacy is respected.
5. Mediation avoids litigation.
   Mediation avoids the uncertainty of a judicial outcome. Mediation parties create their own resolutions that work for them long term, rather than having a settlement imposed by a court.
6. Mediation fosters cooperation.
   Mediation fosters a problem-solving approach for families, businesses and neighborhoods that gets to the root of the issue to find true resolve for all parties.
7. Mediation improves communication.
   Mediation provides a neutral and confidential setting in which the parties can openly discuss their views on the underlying dispute. Enhanced communication can lead to mutually satisfactory resolutions. And mediation encourages parties to learn effective negotiation skills.
8. Mediation helps to discover the real issues in your relationship.
   Parties share information, which can lead to a better understanding of issues affecting the relationship. Mediation is centered on the need for people to truly hear each other on a deeper level that is impossible in litigation. Mediation also allows parties the opportunity to work through emotional issues that are left unattended in the legal system. Parties who work through mediation have a much better chance of preserving on-going relationships.
9. Mediation allows you to design your own solution.
   A neutral third party assists the parties in reaching a voluntary, mutually beneficial resolution. Mediation can resolve all issues important to the parties, not just the underlying legal dispute.
10. With mediation, everyone wins.
    Litigation is "win/lose". This means there is a winner and a loser, and someone else has control of the outcome. If you question people who have been through litigation you will find anger and bitterness lingering years after the case ended, even for the "winner". Litigation may result in a judgment, but that is no guarantee of outcome. Studies show that people follow through on mediated agreements at a higher rate than they pay on judgments.

10 Reasons Adapted from the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission and Peninsula DRC.