Consider Mediation to Settle Disputes

Sarah L. Catz’s article (“Middle-Class People Often Can’t Afford a Much-Needed Day in Court,” June 28) is important because it addresses the sense of futility and frustration encountered by the middle class when they need to settle disputes. However, it is not only the middle class who suffer the stress of trying to resolve their conflicts through our legal system. All people suffer regardless of their status while trying to seek justice and a fair resolution to their disputes.

I was hoping at some point in her excellent article and very real concerns that the option of mediation/arbitration would be mentioned as a workable and viable alternative to court action.

The benefits of the decision to mediate outweigh the litigation choice. While all disputes are not successfully mediated, it does offer an initial step to explore possibilities for problem-solving before the court becomes involved in the dispute.

Mediation offers a win-win solution for both parties as opposed to the win-lose of the litigation process. It is more empathetic than adversarial, more private than public, more cooperative than confrontational and lower cost.

Many of the disputes mentioned in the article would be successfully handled by mediation.

I encourage your readers to consider mediation as an alternative dispute resolution to their problems.

PEGGY DARNELL

Corona del Mar