Fort Bend County Dispute Resolution Center

01/22/2016

Must have been some disputes in the chicken coop last night. Word must be out of the diversity of cases the DRC can mediate and the success of our volunteer mediators in helping all parties come to a workable agreement.

11/08/2015

40 Hour Basic Training Course a huge success!!!

06/09/2015

Myth: Cases can reach a negotiated solution without a mediator.

Fact: Mediation improves the likelihood of settlement

Many people find it difficult to extract themselves from a dispute, even though they recognize that little is gained from continuing. Mediators help people in conflict recognize the benefits of a settlement by engaging them in a collaborative effort to find a solution adequate to their needs. Unlike a typical negotiation where advocates try to “sell” the other party on the terms of settlement, mediators “sell” the process of settlement by helping the parties see things from the other side’s perspective.
Settlements reached through mediation are more successful and are usually honored by all parties. Mediated agreements have the buy-in and support of the parties and are generally perceived as a fair resolution of a dispute. Because the process is voluntary, participants should not feel taken advantage of or “railroaded” into a settlement Of course, there is always a chance that a party will suffer from “buyer’s remorse” after settling, but that same party would probably feel much worse if they lost at trial.

06/08/2015

Please visit our website for more information on the Fort Bend County DRC, and to download confidential mediation intake forms. http://www.fortbenddrc.org/

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06/08/2015

Mediation Myth: Mediation is unfair to low income individuals

Fact: Mediation provides an opportunity to develop a solution equitable to all parties.

The driving forces of mediation are empowerment and self-determination. In mediation, parties are empowered to reach a decision for themselves rather than having a judge or jury render a decision for them. As neutral third parties, mediators facilitate the discussion and exchange of information. Mediators do not make decisions about the outcome of the dispute and therefore cannot impose an agreement upon the parties. The mediator gives each party an equal platform to participate in or to leave the process.
Disparities in bargaining power are not unique to mediations involving one or more low-income parties. Litigants and their representatives in all cases need to carefully consider mediation in light of the alternatives. However, because the poor face power imbalances in almost all decision-making situations and have been conditioned by society to yield to the “powerful,” in deciding whether to mediate, impoverished parties must consider whether the mediator has been trained or oriented to deal with the special circumstances present when the dispute involves people of poverty. One of the resources identified at the end of this brochure is an on-line CLE program that introduces mediators to these circumstances and suggests ways to handle them.
A perceived or actual disparity in bargaining power should not prevent using mediation; instead it requires the litigants and their representatives to consider the advantages of using mediation to resolve the dispute and carefully strategize as to how to maximize their advantages in mediation.

06/08/2015

Fort Bend County Dispute Resolution will be offering a 40-Hour Basic Mediation Course over two weekends, October 23-25 and November 6-8, 2015. Registration is now open. Class is limited to 12 participants, so register now to guarantee your spot!

06/08/2015

The Fort Bend County Dispute Resolution Center is a non-profit agency providing effective, cost saving mediation services for people who have pending litigation within the State of Texas.

05/17/2015

Rule 1 for an effective mediation:

-- The decision makers must participate.

Who is a decision maker? This seems like an easy question. When a party in a lawsuit is an individual person, then that person is the decision maker. But when a party is a business or other entity, the answer is less clear. When it comes to businesses and other entities involved in a mediation, the person who needs to participate is someone who has the power to accept any offer of resolution made by the other party.

Participating in a mediation means being personally involved in all of the events that occur during any mediation session, getting the opportunity to gain a realistic understanding of the dispute, and having the chance to voice opinions and concerns. The best form of participation is physical presence, but video conference or speaker phone may be appropriate when physical presence isn't possible.