What is Mediation?

• Most disputes result from poor communication. Mediation is an opportunity to communicate better and to be fully heard, to present your story, and to search for mutually satisfactory solutions
• In mediation, people often communicate more effectively with one another than in arbitration or court
• Parties are directly engaged in the negotiation of the settlement   
• The mediator, as a neutral third party, can view the dispute objectively and can assist the parties in exploring alternatives which they might not have considered on their own
• Because mediation can be scheduled at an early stage in the dispute, a settlement
  can be reached much more quickly than in litigation
• Parties generally save money through reduced legal costs and less staff time
• Creative solutions or accommodations to special needs of the parties can become a part of the settlement
• The outcome of mediation generally produces more satisfaction and compliance among its participants than those who use litigation
• Another advantage of mediation is that innovative solutions to a problem may be explored. You can create your own solutions rather than have a judge or arbitrator impose a decision on you. Thus, you maintain the power to decide rather than have someone else decide for you
• A mediator tries to obtain a candid discussion of the issues and priorities of each party and then can selectively use the information derived from each side to:
  • Reduce the hostility between the parties and help them to engage in a meaningful dialogue about the issues at hand
  • Open discussions into areas not previously considered or inadequately developed
  • Communicate positions or proposals in understandable or more palatable terms
  • Probe and uncover additional facts that might be helpful to resolving the dispute
  • Help each party to better understand the other parties’ views and evaluations of a particular issue, without violating confidences
  • Narrow the issues and each party’s positions, and deflate extreme demands
  • Gauge the receptiveness for a proposal or suggestion
  • Explore alternatives and search for solutions
  • Identify what is important and what is expendable
  • Prevent regression or raising of surprise issues
  • Structure a settlement to resolve current problems and future parties’ needs

IAS' unique approach differs from most others in that mediation occurs remotely, via the Internet.

• Disputants and mediator never meet face-to-face
• In fact, in many instances the mediator deals individually with the disputants, as opposed to a real-time situation where disputants become combatants, and little gets accomplished
• Our method offers a more relaxed atmosphere, where no one is intimidated by being in the presence of another
• A more open exchange of ideas and information flows, and this modality can be quite effective when attempting to reach an amicable settlement
• Most importantly, it provides much more flexibility for the Inspector and Client, in that there is no lost time, and expenses are typically kept to a minimum