Filing a lawsuit is one route in seeking to reach a legal result. Clients and attorneys should recognize that there are other means of achieving results without litigating.
Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is just what the name says, an alternative to litigation. The parties place in writing an agreement establishing that a neutral person, often an attorney, shall act as a mediator or as a means of attempting to resolve a dispute without the need of going to through the many steps of filing a lawsuit and being heard in court. Alternative dispute resolution often leads to a result that may be better than an extreme loss or win in a court of law. The process is relatively efficient and often more cost effective.
For the past five years I have provided alternative dispute resolution as a volunteer at the Howard County District Court and occasionally at the Circuit Court for Howard County. The first year that I acted as a volunteer, I received an award for outstanding ADR person. Approximately 10% of the volunteers received awards and the awards were based on effectiveness, number of cases resolved, attendance, and survey rankings from the parties.
At the Law Offices of Fredric G. Antenberg, we inform clients of alternative dispute resolution, particularly where it is appropriate, and we encourage clients to pursue alternative dispute resolution.
