My Quest There was a time when I believed that
the best way to resolve a dispute was to take it to court. But after 20 years as a
magistrate, trial lawyer and more recently as a mediator, I no longer feel that way. Trial lawyers learn a lot about human
nature. Over the years, I have seen the financial and relational devastation that happens
when disagreements end up in court. With every case, I became more convinced that there
had to be a better way to settle disputes. So I put my research skills to work.
The first goal was to offer my clients a greater return on their legal investment by
decreasing costs, both financial and emotional. I also wanted a method that was an
efficient, predictable alternative to trials so that appeals and more rounds of litigation
would not be necessary; in short, one that works. On a more personal level, I sought a way
to use my talents and skills positively to promote peace. My research paid off. The answer was
mediation. As
Old As Water... Today, even people unfamiliar with our justice system know something about delays due to crowded court dockets and the expense of a trial. So it’s no surprise that mediation is staging a comeback. And because it’s a completely private and confidential process that can work in almost any type of dispute, a growing number of individuals and businesses are experiencing its value first hand. My Mission... My mission is peace through mediation. Free Consultation... Please call me to discuss any dispute. Together, and at no charge, we will explore the mediation option to see if the dispute can be resolved in this new- old-fashioned way. If you like, I will even contact the other side to see if they will agree to mediate. What's New? I am President Elect of the Dispute Resolution Center of West Michigan; Secretary for the Michigan Council for Family and Divorce Mediation and immediate past president of its West Michigan Chapter; a member of the ADR Oversight Committee for the Kent County Circuit Court; and actively involved in many mediation initiatives throughout Michigan. Over the past two years, I have mediated over 100 cases and logged over 250 hours as a mediator. You
may view my CV by clicking this line.
The links on the left will guide you though these pages: Disputes We Mediate - Lists of the types of cases we typically mediate. Q & A - Answers questions about mediation that I am frequently asked. Advantages - Compares mediation to arbitration and litigation, a court trial, and contains a handy chart summarizing the features of each method. Article - Here you'll find an article I wrote entitled Arbitration Clauses - Proceed With Caution! Client Feedback - comments my clients have made about their mediation experience. Contact Me - a handy form to fill out and fax or e-mail back to me. |
