In North Carolina Superior Court, all cases are sent to mediation for an attempt to settle a claim economically before going to trial. If you have already filed a law suit in Superior Court, the judge will allow for the parties to mutually choose a certified mediator within 21 days of the judge issuing your Order to Mediation. If the parties cannot agree or do not meet the 21-day deadline, the judge will choose a certified mediator for your case.
We recommend that parties to a potential case should attempt to settle their claim through mediation prior to filing a law suit. However, if the law suit is filed, hiring a mediator to facilitate your settlement discussions is the most effective strategy to keep your costs down.
The mandatory mediation program in North Carolina has been in action since the early 1990s and has turned great results. Costs to the tax payers are down, saving on the Court’s time and trials. Costs to the parties are down, saving on the expense of trial preparation.
Some of the types of cases that appear in North Carolina’s Superior Court involve matters invoving:
- Real Estate Disputes
- Personal Injury Disputes
- Car Accident Disputes
- Business Contract Disputes
- Employment Disputes
- Collection Matters
- Zoning and Land Use Issues
To learn more about the mediation process or to schedule your next mediation, give Pete a call at 919-828-4200.