News and Updates

While watching Monday night's battle of the backup quarterbacks, I started thinking about the story of Richie Incognito, Jonathan Martin, and the Miami Dolphins and the potential for some very powerful mediations.  The information coming out paints a picture of a very ugly situation with lousy ramifications for all parties involved.    

The Miami Dolphins are concerned at a minimum about damage to the franchise, team unity, and potential liability for a hostile work environment.  The judgment ...

You may have read my thoughts about online dispute resolution in previous blog entries.  Now here's your chance to learn more for free.  The Werner Institute is hosting a free online virtual conference November 4-8.  Click here to learn more.  

Trick or Treat! 

While some scares can be fun, the scary feelings associated with a dispute are often anything but...especially if there is a lawsuit involved.  Litigation is no treat for anyone and can drain time, energy, and financial resources faster than a vampire drains blood.

Facing a conflict doesn't need to send a chill down your spine.  Mediation makes the process less daunting and allows you to take some control over the situation.  There might be anxiety about being in the same room ...

Earlier this week I had the chance to participate in a simulation of a landlord-tenant dispute involving a broken washer in the tenant's unit.  In the simulation the landlord was out of town, and the tenant needed the problem fixed asap.  The whole simulation was conducted online by the Virtual Mediation Lab:  http://www.virtualmediationlab.com/vml-mobile-mediation/example-of-online-mediation-tenant-v-landlord-dispute-acr-chicago-and-virtual-mediation-lab-16-min-video/

I have mixed feeling abo...

Lately I have been encountering a number of landlord-tenant cases while mediating at the Circuit Court of Cook County.  Mediation can be particularly useful in situations where the people involved have an ongoing relationship.  If a tenant wants to stay at their apartment, he or she will have to continue to deal with the landlord.  The same is true when a landlord wants to keep a tenant.  If the parties want to avoid litigation, mediation might be the answer.  Mediation can also be used in si...

I recently received a question asking how one avoids a "pointless mediation" when the other side makes an "obscene demand," but the court has ordered mediation.  As a form of conflict resolution, mediation can be productive even with difficult parties.  The first thing I would suggest is to look at the mediation as an opportunity to find out more about what the other side is thinking. 

In mediation you can ask why the other person thinks they are entitled to their demand. You can ask about wh...

If you live near Chicago and want to learn more about alternative dispute resolution, check out A Celebration of Conflict Resolution tomorrow night from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Much Shelist, 191 N. Wacker Dr., Suite 1800, Chicago, IL (sponsored by the Association for Conflict Resolution - Chicago Chapter).  

I am marking Conflict Resolution Day by volunteer mediating in the Circuit Court of Cook County tomorrow and then heading to the Celebration in the evening.

Saw an intriguing article on mediation and the government shutdown:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/mediation-key-to-resolving-labor-disputes-divorce-battles-why-not-the-government-shutdown/2013/10/10/f1847b6a-317e-11e3-ad00-ec4c6b31cbed_story.html

I am actually surprised a mediator has not been brought in, yet. A talented mediator might be able to help the parties find mutual interests. The use of a neutral could help diffuse heated emotions. Another benefit would be that both sides ...

Had a lovely night meeting nice people and spreading the word about mediation at the Park Ridge Octoberfest.

Convergence Mediation is officially open.  I look forward to helping consumers, small businesses, landlords, and tenants resolve their disputes!