It can be challenging enough just to run a business nowadays. The frustration and expense of business litigation may only add to your already high stress level. However, keeping litigation costs down could start with a phone call to your Florida business attorney. Mediation may be offered as an alternative way to handle traditional, cumbersome business litigation.
What is Mediation?
It’s a process where an objective and trained person (the mediator) meets with opposing sides of a legal disagreement.
Typically, mediation is voluntary. Participants have some control over:
- who serves as mediator,
- when the mediation will be held, and
- where the mediation will take place.
While informality and flexibility are two advantages to mediation, this type of alternative dispute resolution often serves as a way of keeping litigation costs down. Mediation is not always the answer, but it typically offers a less expensive way to settle your legal disagreements.
What Are Some Typical Litigation Costs?
Courts require most plaintiffs to pay filing fees when filing the complaint or petition that gets the litigation started. You usually need to pay someone to serve the complaint on the other parties.
Of course, you need to hire legal counsel to represent you in the litigation. As the case proceeds, you may incur expenses for:
- Expert witnesses,
- Travel,
- Court reporters, and
- Copying and postage.
Preparing for and attending a trial is where much of the litigation costs occur. You and your attorney can expect to spend long hours together, sometimes for weeks.
The hidden costs of litigation include the emotional, physical, and financial toll on you. Your business and family may also suffer.
How Will Mediation Help with Keeping Litigation Costs Down?
The final reduction in litigation costs depends on the type of case you have and how far your case has progressed. You and your attorney will have to do some preparation before going into mediation. Otherwise, you may not understand the case well enough to get a good result from the mediation. However, unless you decide to mediate right before your trial date, you should experience significant cost savings.
You may have expert witness reports before mediation but might be able to avoid deposition and travel costs. Since your case does not drag through the courts for years, you save on every expense, including legal fees.
Finally, and most importantly, mediations can be scheduled for half days or whole days. Many mediations are completed in one day. Mediation costs for one day should be much lower than the litigation costs for even a short trial.
Learn More About Keeping Litigation Costs Down
Attorney Richard Sierra at the Florida Small Business Center assists clients like you with business and litigation matters. As always, Our Goal Is to Help You Succeed™. For an appointment, you may call us at 1-866-842-5202 or use the contact form on our website. We represent clients throughout the State of Florida, including Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Pompano Beach, Sunrise, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Deerfield Beach, Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Orlando, Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Tampa, and surrounding communities.