We're In This Together
Having represented both sides as an attorney enables me to bring a balanced approach to the negotiation process.
ABOUT US
Charles Schoemaker bring more than 30 years of litigation experience to the dispute resolution arena in areas of major injury and complex litigation.
He has had the opportunity to resolve conflicts in business and contract disputes.
For a Consultation
As an attorney, I have representation both plaintiffs and defendants. I was a partner at a firm which handled the defense of major injury and complex litigation cases for insured and self-insured clients.
Each case is different, so civil mediation may last for different amounts of time. In some cases, civil mediation may take half a day. Many cases are resolved in a full-day session of civil mediation. However, others may take more than one day. As long as the parties are making progress, civil mediation can continue until the case is resolved in a mutually-satisfactory manner.
At civil mediation, a neutral third-party mediator helps guide the parties in structured negotiations. Using effective communication techniques and dispute resolution skills, the mediator uncovers the interests of the parties, helps them better articulate their positions and finds areas of agreement. If the parties reach an agreement, the mediator drafts this agreement.
The five stages of mediation include:
If all goes well, you will settle your dispute at civil mediation. Therefore, it is important that you are just as prepared for mediation as you would be if your case was going to trial. Be sure that you are familiar with the facts of the case and bring any evidence with you that supports your position.
A civil mediation agreement is typically a binding contract that can be enforced as such. However, the parties may need to take an extra step if there is ongoing litigation and they want the agreement to be made part of an official court order. In this situation, they may present the agreement to the judge to incorporate into the order. The agreement can then be enforced as part of the court order.