Litigation Practice -
ADR / Mediation Practice

While the traditional form of litigation remains the cornerstone of our legal system, it is a well-known fact that approximately 85%-90% of all cases are resolved short of trial. In 1985, the attorneys at May Oberfell Lorber were active statewide in developing alternative methods to resolve disputes. The purpose of these efforts was to save clients money and to drastically shorten the time it took to solve clients' problems.

We believe that, whenever possible, through careful planning and strategic negotiation, alternative ways to resolve disputes can be used to avoid costly and time-consuming lawsuits. Our lawyers have a great deal of experience in successfully concluding disputes without going to trial. Several widely-accepted resolution techniques are now used in the legal system, with each technique requiring skill and training to achieve the most effective results.

The following methods have proved to be effective in finalizing disputes quickly and efficiently:

  • Mediation - Utilizes an impartial person who is educated on the particular facts and legal issues in the case and then communicates directly with the parties and their counsel to focus solely on the settlement of all issues.

  • Arbitration - Binding and non-binding arbitration involves the use of individuals who sit in judgment of the case and render a specific opinion, essentially replacing a judge or a jury. This method is often used to resolve a dispute quickly if time is a factor.

  • Summary Jury Trial - Each party and their counsel present their respective positions before a panel of jurors, which then issues an advisory opinion regarding liability and damages. That opinion is then used in an effort to resolve the case.

  • Mini-trial - Each party and their counsel present an abbreviated version of the case to a third party who is knowledgeable about the particular complexities of the case. That person then assists the parties in resolving the dispute.

If you think your case might be resolved using any of these methods, please contact May Oberfell Lorber today.