First and foremost, since my last post was on Thanksgiving, please allow me to say Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and a Happy New Year! - I hope I did not forget anyone.
Over the holidays I found my self in a very interesting dilemma. I was following up on a few cases I had mediated, but not yet settled and ran into a problem. It appeared that I had absolutely no problem of getting to one side, but not the other side of the disputants. When the defense was available, the plaintiffs were not and vice versa. It seemed that one side would accept the terms, but I was unable to get the okay from the other side in order to close the deal. This got me thinking, "Am I able to accept the terms temporarily without the other sides approval?"
Of course not! However, it did give me another challenge as a mediator - stretching time in order to create a resolution. Please not, that at not time during any of these proceeding did I lie about the reason for buying more time. On the contrary, I was very honest and used all the finesse I could muster. Without going into much detail out of respect to the confidentiality between me and parties, I do want to say one thing. When you have a lot of money (or any amount of money) riding on something and a pretty strict deadline, keep you cell phone on and check your voice and email messages as often as possible.
RTM was established not only to provide affordable mediation services, but also to educate the public, and to introduce the advantages and benefits of this alternative dispute resolution. In 2007 RTM merged with American Mediation and history in virtual alternative dispute resolution was made.
