How Alternative Dispute Resolution Can Help Your Company

COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS FROM BUSINESS LAWYERS SERVING WEST VIRGINIA, KENTUCKY AND OHIO

There are many ways to resolve conflicts. Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) grew out of the belief that there are better options than going to court to settle disputes. When litigants or potential litigants use alternative dispute resolution techniques, such as mediation and arbitration, they avoid economically draining and time-consuming trials. Our ADR lawyers at Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe provide this practical and cost-effective option to businesses and insurance companies throughout West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.

HOW WEST VIRGINIA ATTORNEYS USE ADR

ADR can be effectively use to resolve workplace disputes, labor and management issues, environmental and public policy issues, healthcare disputes, family business concerns and insurance coverage disputes. Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process in which a neutral third party facilitator helps adversarial parties discuss difficult issues and negotiate an agreement. Basic steps in the process include gathering information, framing the issues, developing options, negotiating and formalizing agreements.

HOW MEDIATION WORKS IN WEST VIRGINIA, OHIO AND KENTUCKY

Parties to mediation create their own solutions. The mediator does not have any decision-making power over the outcome. Mediators attempt to gain the trust of all parties so the participants confide in them about their priorities, possible options for settlement and their alternatives to agreement — critical information that opposing parties often do not wish to share. In this way, the mediator may discover areas of agreement when the parties’ lack of trust in one another, or fear of appearing weak or excessively eager to settle, may prevent them from revealing their true interests or bottom lines. Confidentiality is of utmost importance to the process. The mediator does not divulge any information obtained unless specifically directed to do so by the parties. Communication of these interests is often impossible in the litigation setting, but it is the core of the mediation process.

Our attorneys at Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe use mediation to allow the parties to individually craft their own win/win resolutions. Even after litigating a case through trial, both parties may feel they have lost because the time, cost and stress on may be enormous. Sometimes neither side is satisfied with the results. In the end, any relationship that may have existed between the parties is likely to have been severely strained or even destroyed.

Our goal through mediation is to help preserve ongoing business, professional or personal relationships. Our experienced mediation lawyers can help clients in a variety of ways, including:

  • Settling all or part of the dispute much sooner than the litigation process
  • Saving time and money
  • Permitting a mutually acceptable solution that a court would not have the power to order
  • Increasing satisfaction in the outcome

Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe attorneys promote cost-effective resolutions

Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe’s attorneys maintain an extensive alternative dispute resolution practice in order to provide our clients in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky with practical and cost-effective alternatives to litigation. Call us at 304-344-0100 orcontact us online to begin a relationship with a law firm that is nationally recognized for experience and quality while remaining dedicated to its community and employees.