Mediation, Facilitation, & Arbitration

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“Alternative Resolution is a different approach to resolving disputes. Parties derive satisfaction in successfully reaching their own agreements with the help and guidance of their neutral facilitator, such as a mediator.” 

                    Christine L. Crilley

In 1999, Christine became a Mediator with her training at the Iowa Peace Institute.  She has been practicing in multiple areas of dispute resolution since that time in a variety of areas of law. 

 Alternative Dispute Resolution can work for a many different areas such as family issues, real estate/construction disputes, probate disputes, guardian/conservator disputes,  organizational conflicts (workplace, offices, churches) and civil litigation. 

 And, just as there are multiple areas of dispute, there are different approaches to resolving those disputes such as mediation, facilitated settlement, small/large group discussion facilitation, and arbitration

  Crilley Mediation Services is pleased to be able to offer this wide range of alternative forms of dispute resolution:

MEDIATION                                                  

Mediation provides a non-adversarial environment for the participants to  "let-their-guard-down" and work together with the Mediator to explore alternative ideas and ways to reach agreement. The Mediator is a neutral facilitator working to create a positive atmosphere conducive to settlement. 

Participants may attend with or without their attorney.  Since Covid, Mediations are usually occurring by the use of Zoom video conferencing with attorneys regularly attending.  The Mediator goes back and forth between the virtual Zoom rooms.

 Benefits of Mediation can include:

• Save money on Litigation expenses
• Move through the Litigation process more quickly 
• Parties control their own decision making -- not the Court
• Mediation Agreements typically are longer lasting than Court Ordered resolution 

The Mediator looks for opportunities of joint gain or “win/win.” Self-determination by the Participants in resolving their disputes is definitive, yet the Mediator guides that discussion between the Participants.   

FACILITATION

The neutral facilitator helps guide the parties through their own settlement of their disputes. Attorneys usually attend with the participants. Often is used with larger groups of Participants.  

Note:   MEDIATION & FACILITATED SETTLEMENT may occur in a joint session with all parties and the mediator present.  Or, the session may be conducted in caucus style, meaning the participants are in separate rooms and the mediator works back and forth between the participants’ rooms.  

ARBITRATION

Participants submit their disagreement to an impartial Arbitrator, usually agreeing that the Arbitrator's ruling in the dispute will be binding and final.   Non-binding Arbitration is not final and is not binding and may be used to evaluate the respective positions of the Participants.   Attorneys usually attend with the Participants for both binding and non-binding Arbitration.

If you are interested in a particular area of dispute resolution services, please contact our office (319) 363-5606.