October 13, 2014
A lawsuit can be an expensive, lengthy, and stressful process, but luckily some disputes can be settled out of court. Before bringing any dispute to court, it’s best to consider alternative dispute resolutions. Below are some settlement options to consider before bringing your dispute to a court of law.
Write a Proposal
Writing a proposal to another party is an alternative method as opposed to settling a case in court. A proposal is a formal document to the other party which suggests a practical solution in order to solve the dispute in a reasonable and timely manner. Written proposals can be tricky though because one must pay attention to how they choose their words. It’s important to clearly state that a proposal is for settlement purposes only and are in no way a binding contract if the dispute is brought to court.
Consider Mediation
Mediation is a good solution for parties who want to solve disputes informally and still keep a positive relationship—for example friends, neighbors, landlords, or business partners. The process of mediation involves the parties meeting and together, with a professional mediator, attempting to reach a fair solution that benefits all parties involved.
Have a Settlement Conference
A settlement conference is another alternative to bringing a dispute to court. Instead of a court litigation, both parties and their lawyers meet with either a judge or a neutral individual called a settlement officer to talk about various ways to settle the dispute without court time. The judge or settlement officer will evaluate the dispute and talk about the strengths and weaknesses of each party. By discussing the strengths and weaknesses of each side, many parties will be able to negotiate some type of settlement sans court.
Although there are situations where parties can negotiate a settlement out of court, sometimes you will need to take legal action and settle your dispute in a court of law. In these situations, it is imperative to have a hardworking team of legal professionals on your side. The experienced attorneys at Khonsari Law Group can help you settle your dispute and effectively defend your rights. Click here to visit KLG today.