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Business Disputes
When contracts break down, or partners find they can no longer work together, business people usually face two choices: fix blame, or fix the problem! "Sue the bastards" is no longer an alternative: the cost of litigation, and the amount of time it takes away from the business is often far too high for the stakes involved. In these situations, mediation has important bottom-line benefits:
Mediation is far less expensive than litigation. Parties usually split one mediator's fee, instead of each paying for teams of lawyers.
Participants control the resolution. This is a major benefit because they are the ones who have to live with the outcome and how it affects their businesses.
The process and result are private. Confidentiality promotes candor, so parties can safely say what's on their minds without being observed by competitors and creditors.
Mediation is much faster than litigation, so you can resolve problems quickly and get back to business. In addition, when you suggest mediation, the others involved will recognize and appreciate your interest in finding a solution that works for everyone.
Mediation will rarely help collect a plain old bad debt, but whenever it's important to your business to preserve working relationships for the future, or shorten a runaway lawsuit, mediation is the smart alternative.
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