Value Conflicts Explained

Value Conflicts

What is a Value Conflict? Conflicts are an inherent part of social existence because we are in constant competition for resources.   We also are in conflict because we have different goals and different ideas about our place in society, what our rights, duties, and responsibilities to other people are, and what constitutes right, wrong, …

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Transformative Moments in Commercial Mediation

Transformative Moments in Commercial Mediation

Mediation is a dynamic process. This can mean stepping back, leaning out, and adopting a process that empowers the parties to set their own agenda and seek outcomes that may greatly vary from the objectives set forth in the briefs by lawyers who are trained as advocates more than problem-solvers. In disputes where distributive bargaining …

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Confusing Dispute Resolution Jargon

Confusing Dispute Resolution Jargon

In response to my question, “Do you use “BATNA” wrong?,” I plead guilty with an explanation. With the patient teaching of my friends, Hiro Aragaki and Sanda Kaufman, I have come to see the error of my ways. I was concerned because BATNA – the Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement – has become part of the vernacular, …

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Protecting the Client in Mediations

Protecting the Client in Mediation

By Illece Buckley Weber As a civil litigator who has been involved in over 300 mediations, VSCs and MSCs, on three occasions, I was thrown for a loop when my clients suddenly changed their minds on continuing down the litigation path contrary to my recommendation.  The following cases taught me some good lessons. Mediation #1: …

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Organizations Need to Get Better at Detecting Conflict

Detect Conflict at Work

  By Zachary Ulrich Imagine a town where the streets are constantly filled with police, but where there are no burglar alarms. There may be so many police that crime is low, since every street corner is always being monitored, but the resources and manpower required to field such a large force is overwhelming. Now, …

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Oath in the Courtroom-Nothing but the Truth

Most people have watched a witness stand, raise their right hand, and state the oath in the courtroom before giving their testimony, either in person or by watching a show about the court.  A lot of people could probably recite the oath from memory as well.  Yet many people may not understand the purpose of …

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What is Capacity Building?

Capacity building

Capacity building is the process of evaluating a party’s ability to achieve their goals and solve issues that arise in their day-to-day operations.  Capacity building also evaluates the party’s ability to expand its operations and capacity to achieve more of its goals in the future.  Several broad types of capacity can be built as broad categories, …

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Mastering Your Emotions in Conflict Resolution

Mastering Your Emotions

Chances are if you’ve participated in any form of dispute resolution, there has been a point where you or someone working with you has suggested that you master your emotions.  The suggestion is much easier said than done, as emotions are strong and can often feel overwhelming and uncontrollable.  And in many circumstances, feeling and …

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Mall Smoothie Does Not Bind Teenager To Mom’s Arbitration Agreement With Credit Card

With respect to whether the daughter was bound by the plain language of the arbitration agreement, the Court had no trouble concluding she was not.   The arbitration agreement specifically applied to claims made by authorized users of the account.