Perrysburg Municipal Court
   Wood County, Ohio

WHAT IS MEDIATION?

Mediation is a process in which a third party promotes and facilitates communication between the parties to help them resolve their differences.  Most disputes which reach the court could have been settled more quickly and easily through better communication.  Mediation provides for informal communication in a relaxed atmosphere.

A mediated agreement not only saves valuable court time and resources, but also, and just as importantly, results in a disposition which the parties have made themselves -- as they have deemed most fair under the circumstances, and one which is more likely to be adhered to than a court imposed judgment.

The mediation procedure is generally voluntary, but because this court’s mediation program operates on a post-filing basis, it is necessary for all parties involved to consent to mediation.  Post-filing simply means that all mediation cases originate from the filing of a small claim or civil complaint.  The only fee charged is the filing fee at the time of filing the complaint.  There is no additional fee for mediation.  If the dispute is not settled in this manner, the claimant has lost nothing, and the case is referred back to the court for hearing or trial.  If the case does settle at mediation, the inconvenience of a full-scale trial for claimant, respondent, and their respective witnesses is avoided.  In addition, both sides win with neither side risking the loss of having the judge decide against them, saving the expense of attorney fees, and the time, effort, and money that could be spent gathering evidence.

All mediation sessions are scheduled through the court, with no additional fee to either party.  As a final reminder -- if the matter is settled now, the parties will have the satisfaction of having solved their own problem(s) without regard to who won or lost -- all involved will be winners.

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