Almost all law suits are settled without a trial. However, usually that point is reached only after costly discovery and depositions, expensive trial preparation and numerous delays. Mediation has been found to be a very effective and cost efficient method of resolving civil cases without incurring the high cost and uncertainty of a jury trial. It is for these reasons that many lawyers and litigants seek alternative means to resolve their disputes.

Mediation offers satisfactions that the litigation system cannot hope to offer. These are:

1. Speed
2. Choice of mediator
3. Flexibility as to time and place
4. Low cost
5. Privacy and confidentiality
6. Mutually acceptable results
7. Control of the outcome

As a neutral third party, the goal of the mediator is to solve the problem which exists between the parties. Fault-finding, or assessing blame is a function of the jury and is not part of the mediation process.

Harry Goldberg is one of the Firm's managing partners and has been a certified civil court mediator since 1995. He has an outstanding record of assisting litigants and their attorneys in settling their cases. He is chairman of the Alternative Dispute Resolution section of the South Carolina Bar. He has participated in numerous Continuing Legal Education programs on mediation as well as speaking to various non-lawyer audiences on the benefits of mediation. Harry has appeared on television discussing the benefit of mediation in South Carolina. (Click link to see video) http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8192730126540811328&hl=en

Presently, mediation of civil cases is mandatory in many counties in South Carolina, including Richland County.