Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) refers to any means of settling disputes outside of the courtroom. ADR typically includes arbitration, mediation, early neutral evaluation, and conciliation. As burgeoning court queues, rising costs of litigation, and time delays continue to plague litigants, more states have begun experimenting with ADR programs. Some of these programs are voluntary; others are mandatory. Baltimore Mediation has assisted in and led the design of ADR programs for courts and agencies statewide and nationally.
Alternative Dispute Resolution has greatly expanded over the last several years to include many areas in addition to arbitration of commercial disputes. Mediation has become an important first step in the dispute resolution process. Arbitrators act as neutral third parties to hear the evidence and decide the case. Mediators, on the other hand, act as neutrals to reconcile the parties’ differences, often successfully replacing the need for arbitration or litigation. Baltimore Mediation can help you design an ADR program tailored to your business needs.