Practice Areas

Wrongful Death

Litigation of wrongful death cases can take years. By participating in mediation, possible resolution comes much faster, allowing closure for all parties involved. The key to a successful wrongful death mediation is understanding the legal arguments and survivors' psychological issues created by grief and loss.

Catastrophic Injury

A catastrophic injury victim needs claims resolved promptly to concentrate on healing and rehabilitation. Mediation can provide that in a setting that is empathetic yet fair.

Premises Liability

Slip and falls or other premise liability-related claims are well-suited for mediation. Mediation provides a setting for multiple parties to resolve liability cost-effectively.

Nursing Home

Few decisions are tougher on families than finding a safe, comfortable elder care setting. When disagreements about billing, care, or services arise, all sides want a quick resolution. Mediation can provide a platform to be heard and to facilitate a solution that is fair to all those involved.

Legal and Medical Malpractice

When harm results from alleged professional services neglect, mediation allows for greater control of the process and outcomes. Not only is it less expensive, but it provides everyone with a chance to be heard rather than just trading legal jabs during litigation. The result is reduced costs and expedited dispute resolution. Mediation and arbitration can protect your client’s privacy and save their career.

Product Liability

A claim for compensation linked to product liability can be highly charged, especially if serious injury resulted. By pursuing mediation, you can continue to evaluate the validity and strength of the claim with the help of a neutral third party. The process allows both sides to show clients how the case may be decided, which may move them toward a negotiated settlement that is best for all.

Toxic Torts

Some of the most costly, complicated, and emotionally-charged claims are injuries caused by toxic torts. By using alternative dispute resolution, you can avoid many years of expensive litigation. Mediation also provides parties the opportunity to provide individualized compensation packages that are fact-specific.

Trucking and Auto Liability

Mediation of truck and auto liability allows both sides to effectively communicate their case to avoid court backlogs that could push final resolutions out several years. Statistics show that these types of cases have about a 95% success rate of settlement through mediation.

Civil Rights

Civil rights cases can be highly charged and highly emotional. They are also exceptionally difficult to deal with because they are ripe for media attention. Mediating this cases—often presuit—can help avoid bad publicity and save money by avoiding expensive motion practice.

Defamation

Because mediation is confidential and private, it is an excellent alternative for defamation, where the claim concerns an alleged harmful statement. The last thing needed is a public airing of this grievance.

Municipal liability; and water runoff

Similar to civil rights cases, municipal liability of any sort is likely to be highly emotional and to have bad optics. This can be especially true when the homeowner is dealing with water intrusion that they believe has been caused by the municipality. It can often be worthwhile and cost-effective to mediate these claims early.

Construction Defects

The benefits of mediating construction defects are several-fold, and often contracts require mediation before litigation. Using a mediator to sort through the facts, understand the liabilities of multiple parties, and potentially address lien resolutions, makes this kind of dispute resolution less lengthy and saves money.

Contracts

Mediation of contract claims has a very high success rate. This type of dispute resolution settles about 80% of contract claims. Using a mediator for your contract claim allows the parties more control, reduces costs, and is much faster than relying on the courts.

Entertainment

When a dispute arises in the entertainment industry, the last thing the parties may want is public scrutiny. The success of creative projects often hinges on secrecy, which public legal fights undermine. A skilled mediator can also understand complex legal and technical issues in these cases more readily than a jury.

Family Law

When personal relationships are at the center of disputes, mediation provides a less contentious and less stressful setting, especially if children are involved. Importantly, it can be far less expensive and much less time-consuming. *I hold a specialization in handling mediation involving allegations of domestic abuse in the State of Georgia. These cases often have serious power dynamic concerns that can be addressed fairly, appropriately, and without judgment during mediation.