There are a number of benefits associated with divorce mediation; however, the biggest benefit is quite possibly the fact that it helps divorcing parents to create a parenting plan of action that is acceptable to everyone. This is beneficial particularly to the children involved in the divorce, though it is beneficial to the couple as well.  Statistics indicate that children of divorcing parents do poorly in school, suffer depression and often have to grow up too fast. Additionally, the roles of parent and child are often reversed in difficult divorces. Mediators explain this to parents in mediation and help them to focus on the needs of their children, which are so often forgotten during divorce or worst yet, maybe used as leverage.

Mediation for divorcing couples also helps to make the aftermath of the divorce much easier. Parents can come up with a decision regarding the care of their children that is acceptable to both parties. Mediation will help parents to decide how to co-parent despite being a divorced couple, and how to continue raising children in an appropriate manner. Parents who go through mediation are also less likely to say negative things about the other parent to their children. Additionally, parents who undergo divorce mediation are more likely to make decisions together regarding parenting concerns, rather than override the other parent.

Another benefit of divorce mediation is cost. The average divorce can take months, hours of court time and exorbitant legal fees, and it can cost thousands of dollars. The average divorce mediation lasts approximately 8 sessions, two hours each. The cost of a mediator is approximately $2,000. The mediator does not tell the couple what to do; he or she merely guides them in the direction of mutual decisions and assists negotiation by empowering both sides.

Mediation may not be for everyone going through a divorce. Those who are ending an abusive marriage should first think of their safety and then the proper divorce procedures. Furthermore, those who do decide to have their divorce mediated will end up on better terms and they will teach their children the valuable lesson that conflict resolution should be handled with dignity, fairness and equality. Handling your divorce with mediation can make the difference between a bitter, angry divorce and an amicable, agreeable one. Just because the marriage is ending does not mean that both parties should suffer.

Each day I have a mediation, I try to use “the Prius” effect to find the common denominator between objecting parties and unite them on an idea. Often more than one idea. Even if that idea is that they both do not like the Prius. So what can we learn from this mode of universally appealing transportation?

We can learn that even though on the surface it seems like the product unilaterally captivates patrons as a package, it actually appeals to each for separate reasons. Some like the look, others the popularity and yet few simply the economical factor. So as it is the case in mediation we too must appeal to each party on their individual perspective. Just because someone wants the settlement for personal reasons and the opposing side for financial or maybe even political, it does not mean that they both cannot have what they want. On the contrary, they can and should.

I propose that instead of trying to argue and change person’s perspective we must abide by it and do everything we can to empower their point of view. In other words if someone wants to satisfy a desire for a monetary compensation we should speak to the desire as strongly as we can. We should allow this desire to flourish and grow. Only then will the settlement be a successful one. Only then the disputant can walk away saying the he or she got exactly what they wanted. More so if there are multiple desires it should be the mediator’s duty to recognize the core need and try to satisfy it. Much like the Prius does for each one of their drivers. This core desire has to be a positive one as only with a positive desire you can have a positive outcome.

Emotional Involvement in a Fairly Legal Resolution

For a very long time now I have always been good at resolving conflicts. Even before the mediation training or perhaps even knowing what the word mediation meant. Somehow I was always able to see the big picture; to step away from the immediate problem and see things from a different perspective in order to find a solution. “There are no unsolvable problems.” Is what someone told me at a very young age and ever since then I have been quite good at finding solutions.

Being able to utilize my natural skills, my learned skills, the experience and the drive for what I am not only good at, but what I love to do on a daily bases to assist people in resolving their seemingly irreconcilable differences is why I do what I do.  I know that we all have the ability to solve our own disputes, but sometimes at an impasse we need an emotionally unattached party to nudge us back on course. I am proud to serve as such party and in the end see the relief and joy on my clients’ faces. The bliss which comes from knowing that at least one particular issue is off their backs and that you played a small part in making that happen is a great feeling.

I look forward to learning something new with every experience and homing in my skills with every new case. This is the why behind my how.

No one other than the contending parties knows exactly how the dispute began, but in almost all cases it was probably a misunderstanding, which quickly escalated out of control. The fate of the dispute was sealed with the proverbial, “I’ll see you in court!” From that moment all communication between the parties is severed. The only thing that is passed from side to side is a notice to appear in court and, as instructed by law, occasional evidence before the cases is heard in front of the judge. The parties forgo their ability to control their decisions and leave their fate in the hands of one complete stranger, who within a short period of time must find someone at fault and deliver a judgment. The King Solomon approach has worked for generations and continues to rule our legal system now, but as many cases as there are which need to be decided with an outcome of a loser and winner, there are just as many which can have an amicable resolution.

Of all the benefits that mediation brings to the table, in my humble opinion, nothing is more important that having control of your fate. Each side is negotiating on their own free will, are able to walk away from the mediation at anytime and also have the ability to decide for themselves. Of course a guiding hand of counsel is always helpful to keep things in balance. The goal is to reach an agreement which works for all – a win-win.

No matter how you may view mediation or what experience you may have had with the process in the past, this is the biggest benefit that it offers. We can talk about the cost, the confidentiality, the ease, etc, etc, etc. However, the control that is given to each participant is unparallel to any other dispute resolution technique. It is this mediator’s opinion that King Solomon would be proud.

Our company, Right Triangle Mediation, specialize in this area of service, and is availabe to consumers in need of a mediator in Los Angels. We save our clients thousands of dollars in debt settlement cases, and this can be done from your home as we extend our services through virtual mediation.

What exactly is mediation?

Mediation is an effective form of alternate dispute resolution, that is structured to assist the parties involved, resolve the matter without having to go to court. The process involves three parties, the defendant, the plaintiff and the third (neutral) party known as the mediator which in this case would be us, Right Triangle Mediation.

What is our role?

The mediator’s role is to facilitate a discussion that will lead to a negotiation between the parties. The aim of this negotiation is to have both parties arrive at an agreement on terms that are acceptable to both.

As the mediator we do not have the legal authority to impose a decision on any of the parties involved in the dispute.

Benefits of mediation to the consumer

There are several factors that allow mediation to be beneficial to the consumer.

• It is a flexible dispute resolution process that allows both parties to work through their differences, while executing control over the decision making process.
• Mediations are aimed at achieving a win-win result for both parties as it is not an adversarial process.
• Mediation is a private process that takes place in the confidentiality of three parties, and does not require that any of the discussions or agreements arrived at be recorded for public files. However, in many cases a settlement is filed with the court, which does become public record.
• Mediation programs saves the consumer a large sum of money they more than likely would have had to pay for litigation. You can opt to use our virtual mediation services for a flat-fee or use our traditional services.
• The parties have the option of researching mediation programs/providers, and the associated cost (or non-cost) before deciding on which service to use.
• The cost of the mediation is usually divided between both parties so that no one bears the full cost. The cost for mediation services is usually much less than $3000 in comparison to the over $30, 000 that litigation may cost the consumer.
• Mediation saves time. There are no long waits and endless reappointments and/or cancellations before the parties are heard and the discussions take place. Mediations can take place within one day or a few hours, in comparison to the possible months or years that litigation may take.

With mediation, there is no need for you to be back and forth between sessions and having to possibly take time off from work to attend numerous court sessions. Our virtual mediation service is an added benefit that results in savings on transportation costs for our clients.

Overall, through mediation we help to save the consumer from embarrassment and financial distress. By choosing mediation you wil also be saved from the possibility of long-term stand-offs and/or hostility between the you and the trader as both parties would have agreed upon the resolution to the dispute.

Many of our clients conduct business across the US or even the globe and like in any business problems arise which sometimes require a facilitator to settle. More times than not we deal with lawsuits in California and still use virtual mediation instead of traditional. If you are located in Hollywood and the opposing counsel is in Orange county, while the insurance adjuster is in San Fernando valley it only makes sense to remain at our own locations and communicate via phone, fax, email or video conference. Imagine how much time, money and frustration you save not having to travel for hour in the world famous Los Angeles traffic.

Virtual mediation is around 50% less expensive than traditional. When you count travel time, office space, gas and all other expenses the $225 per hour mediation turns into almost a $450 per hour process. With virtual mediation you pay on per case bases with some cases costing as little as $395 and having no minimum time.

So having all the benefits of standard mediation while paying less for it and avoiding travel time should be a no brainer. Of course, there are concerns and thousands of questions you probably have in regards to this new way for dispute resolution. So naturally, we advice you to call for a consultation and see if this is right. After all if it is not, then the standard mediation is always available.

The NBA is faced with a lot of issues, but of course the fundamentals are simple, $4 billion. On Tuesday, November 16, 2011 some of the major issues was basically agreed upon and the agreement was very close to being signed. However, a small issue of taxes prevented it from going through. Since then, the players have hired a new attorney, David Boies and filed two lawsuits against the league’s owners demanding to be allowed to immediately return to work. Perhaps this power move will persuade more serious negotiations as neither side wants to spend more money on litigation. In reality – my opinion is that litigating a dispute of this nature will solve nothing. There is a reason for CBAs and the negotiations, because they work. The trick is getting everyone to agree.

When mediating issues of such caliber it is very difficult to have everyone compromise on a single issue. In masses there is chaos. One person can pretty much ruin the entire process and cause the agreeing parties reconsider their positions. Much like the jury deliberations or for that matter my family’s decision making process on which restaurant to order dinner from. When you have 12 people getting together a single event, you instantly get 24 opinions. But I digress.

There is no question in my mind that this is going to be a very lengthy and costly process with one clear loser – the fan. It is only when the owners and the players realize that the biggest sufferers  in all this will be the fans. After all, professional sports are built on making the fans happy. Beer, hot dogs, plush seats, cheerleaders and half time shows are all for the fans. The sport it self is an excuse to bring the fan into the arena and have them spend money. Realizing this will, in my humble opinion, help resolve this dispute much quicker. The happier you make the fans the more money they will spend and the less time you have to spend negotiating over $4 billion. Of course there is also greed, but that is a topic best saved for the next blog. I just hope that by the time I post this, I will be proven wrong and the NBA lockout of 2011 will end.

By Brian O’Connell
Monday, October 31, 2011
Yahoo! Fiance and Investorpedia 

From the first glance all of this issues are very simple and the majority of the lawsuits starts because the tenants, for one reason or another, decide to stop paying their dues. Some face dire financial situations, others simply use this as a tactic to get what they want from their association. Alas they quickly find out that it does not work to their benefit.

Property liens for unpaid homeowner association dues is the first line of defense for the associations. A lien will be placed on your property even before a lawsuit is filed. Oh, and yes, it is legal. Your CC&R’s (Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions) will confirm all of this. At this point the lien will remain on your property until the delinquent amount is satisfied, but for some people this is not a very persuasive argument to negotiate a payment. It is not until they are served with a lawsuit that they start thinking about a repayment plan.

Whenever faced with a case between a homeowner association and a tenant, there is always a way to resolve this issue and prevent a judgment. Remember, once a judgement is entered there is very little desire for the association to negotiate, since all they will have to do at that point is to garnish wages and levy bank accounts. However, prior to the judgment many deals can be struck.