SERVICES PROVIDED

 

My Practice is devoted to Alternative Dispute Resolution and Litigation Services

 

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) consists in large measure of mediation and arbitration. It is used by both the Court and private individuals to resolve disputed matters informally without the intervention of a sitting Judge and/or jury.

Mediation is a unique problem solving niche which exists within the framework of our adversarial system. In my role as a mediator, I act as a neutral facilitator assisting the parties in reaching a common ground where the dispute can be settled.

I believe that most legal matters can be best solved outside the Court Room where the parties play a pivotal role in assuming control of resolving their dispute thereby minimizing the emotional toll and expense of protracted litigation. Lawsuits can last two or three years and may result in a judicial award less favorable than what the parties could have negotiated themselves at a much earlier stage in the legal process.

Arbitration allows the parties to have their case decided by an impartial third party. The arbitration hearing is normally conducted outside the Courthouse at a neutral location. The arbitrator (or in some situations a panel of arbitrators) reviews the briefs submitted by the parties, hears the evidence, rules on objections posed by the parties, and ultimately renders an award. The rules of evidence, particularly the admissibility of testimony and documents, are relaxed in order to reduce the preparation time, lessen the need to call witnesses, shorten the length of the hearing, and minimize the cost of resolving the dispute.

Litigation Services

I have learned however that not all cases lend themselves to alternative dispute resolution and that some disputes can only be resolved by the parties having their day in Court. In this manner, I realize that each person needs to feel they have a strong advocate to advance their cause or defense through trial.

As a career litigator, I handle a wide variety of civil matters both in their pre-litigation and litigation phases. My practice areas include personal injury, product liability, landlord tenant, trucking, construction, premises liability, professional liability, toxic torts, insurance , business and commercial matters.