When you live in close proximity to other people, disputes may sometimes arise. However, these common disputes do not need to need to disrupt your relationship with your neighbor. By choosing mediation to resolve your dispute, you can realize several benefits, including:

Subject Matter Expertise
With mediation, you and the other party can select the mediator. This is different than the typical litigation process in which a random judge or jury is assigned to the case. Therefore, you can select a mediator who has experience in real estate law or brokering agreements between neighbors.

Non-Adversarial Process
Mediation is ideal for cases in which the parties want to continue to enjoy a positive relationship with each other but are confronting a legal issue that is disrupting it. Mediation is a non-adversarial process. It is founded on the concept of cooperation and mutual respect. The mediator lays out the ground rules and the behavior that is expected during this process. If the parties are able to mutually communicate, they may be able to align their interests and work out a compromise without having to resort to the adversarial litigation process.

Time and Cost Savings
Mediation can be much more time- and cost-efficient than litigation. It can be scheduled much sooner before the parties are too committed to their opposing stances on a subject. They can also split the costs of mediation so that it is not a burden on either party.

Unique Resolutions
In mediation, the parties are free to reach an agreement based on their own terms. They may make any agreement that is legal.

Discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, family status, age, disability and other protected class characteristics is often illegal under employment, housing and other laws. When a private business is confronting allegations of discrimination, it is important that it considers cost-efficient alternatives to litigation like mediation. Here is what you can expect from this process.

Parties Involved
The parties or their representatives attend mediation. They may each have their own lawyer who represent their interests. An insurance representative may also be present. The mediation process is guided by the mediator, who is a third-party neutral who facilitates communication between the parties, explains the options available to them, helps them brainstorm solution and guides them toward an amicable settlement of the claim.

Where Mediation Is Conducted
Mediation is an informal process. Unlike litigation, it does not occur in a courtroom. It usually occurs in the mediator’s office or board room. Depending on the parties and the mediator’s style, the parties may be separated into separate caucuses where the mediator meets with each party one-on-one. The parties may also participate together during joint sessions.

The Process of Mediation
Mediation begins by the mediator giving a brief explanation of the mediation process and his or her role during it. The mediator describes that he or she has no authority to impose a judgment on the parties. Instead, he or she listens objectively to each side. The mediator may offer feedback during these exchanges, such as pointing out how similar decisions were decided in court pertaining to these issues. The mediator can also discuss statutory damages that the business may be responsible for if the court rules against it. The mediator may also exchange offers and counteroffers from the parties during these sessions. The mediator may also encourage the parties to brainstorm possible solutions. If the parties reach an agreement, the mediator draws up this written agreement and the parties sign it.

The coronavirus outbreak seemed at first to threaten the world with a standstill, but it has had to settle for less. Several governments have, in a bid to combat the coronavirus disease, enforced isolationist policies along with social-distancing restrictions and have prescribed hefty punishments for non-compliance. Human contact is being severely limited to such extent as is necessary to curb the spread of the disease.

But contact is vital to nearly every human endeavor and one cannot overstate the toll that these restrictions take. Essential human activity must continue to mitigate the ripple effects of this crisis on business, professional and individual lives; and most especially, our ability to deal with conflict and disputes. Courts already suffer just as much as other public services. In some countries, courts are closed; in others, the default position is that face-to-face hearing in courts will only happen where they are completely unavoidable. Whether good or bad, that generally puts things at when the crisis ends.

Since mediation and other alternative methods are known for their flexibility, there will most likely be an increase in case traffic to cater to both final hearings and new cases. The effect is that family mediation may soon be as busy as the family court. However, the important thing is that it remains easily manageable if that ever happens. Family mediation has been digitizing for a long time now. Written agreements, a hallmark of mediation, which used to require a lot of physical and strenuous work have been made easier through word processing.

Thanks to further and significant increases in internet capabilities, the movement to online mediation will be massive and easily conducted in the circumstances. Already, changes are being made to family mediation programs and practices, to accommodate and expand online access to justice. Canada, the UK, China, and The Netherlands are now well into the process of integrating online proceedings into their family justice systems.

For the families in question, these represent a mild change in fortunes. The readiness to resolve the impending caseload and mitigate the effects of the crisis may necessitate that disputes are heard faster and more expeditiously. It is also reasonably foreseeable that current fears andimpressions surrounding the present crisis will encourage parties to make more concessions and be more willing to resolve their disputes. Challenges and opportunities will evolve, going forward. It is unlikely, that mediators and participants will be forced to conduct their affairs online. There is also great promise for ease in respect of parties that are not comfortable being together in the same room and also where they are too far away to be physically present.

Mediating online, however, brings to light its own set of challenges, one cannot expect it to be the same as if it were physical. There is a seriousness factor if participants will be truly able to grasp the seriousness of the proceedings. But it has been humorously noted that no one has ever gotten a bloody nose online. In circumspect, if necessity is the mother of invention, the question should not be whether the coronavirus will negatively impact family mediation. It is simply necessary for the circumstances that it does not.

Sharon Bayus
http://innovativealternatives.org/

Fair housing is an important aspect of living in many communities. Because some populations have historically been the subject of discriminating tactics, there are severe penalties for fair housing violations. Here, we discuss common violations, potential penalties and how to avoid them.

Common Violations
Many fair housing violations have to do with treating families different from single people. For example, housing administrators cannot ask prospective clients about how many children a person has or if they are currently pregnant. Additionally, it may be a fair housing violation to make rules that restrict the actions of children but not other residents.

One of the most common fair housing violations is refusing to accept an application from a potential tenant for any reason other than not meeting the state qualification criteria. These criteria should be transparent.

Additionally, fair housing violations may include not providing reasonable accommodations to tenants, such as not allowing residents to have a service animal or ignoring a request for a handicap parking spot.
Housing organizations must take steps to properly train all staff on fair housing laws to ensure that no discrimination occurs. Providing ongoing training to keep staff informed of changes in the law or new understandings is important.

Penalties
Fair housing violations can include expensive fines that are tens of thousands of dollars per violation, payment of attorney fees for the discriminated tenant and punitive damages. Fair housing violations may involve hearing in front of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development administrative law judge or the U.S. Department of Justice. Additionally, courts may issue injunctions if immediate action is required.

Methods of Resolution
These disputes can wind up in front of a civil judge or administrative law judge. However, parties may also agree to resolve these types of disputes in mediation for a faster and more affordable solution.

If you are a business owner who has decided to end your marriage or your spouse has approached you about divorce, you need an attorney. It is important to work with someone who not only understands the divorce process but who also knows what it takes to protect a family business.

The approach to dealing with a family business and keeping your divorce from affecting the business depends on your specific arrangement. If you own a business with your spouse, there is little chance the divorce will not affect your business arrangement, even in a minor way. If you own a business separate from your spouse and you want to make sure your divorce does not damage the business, you will be taking an entirely different approach.

Owning a Business with Your Former Spouse

If you and your soon-to-be-ex owned a business together, there are a few things you can do if your marriage ends in divorce:

Your first option is to continue co-owning the business and running it together. Your divorce might have very little bearing on the business, as long as you are still able to behave professionally and maintain a successful business. You will both keep your interest in the business and remain in contact with one another as business owners.

Your second option is to buy out your spouse’s half of the business or have him or her do, so for your half of the business. In this case, the business would be considered an asset in the divorce and would be treated as such. You will need to have the business valued by an appraiser and then create an arrangement that accommodates the buy-out in the divorce settlement.

Your third option is to sell the business and split the process. It would be divided like any other asset according to your divorce settlement.

No matter which of these three options you choose, if you co-own a business with your spouse and you are moving forward with divorce, it is important to speak to an attorney who can help you through the process.

Owning a Family Business that is Separate from Your Spouse

Your soon-to-be-former spouse cannot force you to sell a business you own outright or with other family members. However, the income you earned from that business will likely be part of the divorce settlement, at least in part.

As a business owner, it is essential you work with an attorney who understands the process of dividing assets in divorce and protecting what is rightfully yours. Your ex will have some claim to your assets, but you want someone to help you mitigate the damage as much as possible.

No matter your situation, you are getting divorced; it is important for you to work with an experienced divorce attorney who will help you make decisions and guide you through the process. If you are a business owner dealing with the end of your marriage, the support of an experienced attorney is even more important. Peter Wifler can help. For more information or to schedule a time to speak to Peter about your situation, contact him at 847-438-6153.

Peter Wifler
www.salvisalviwifler.com