Attorney Ron Weiner - Facilitator / Arbitrator in Southern Michigan
What Is Alternative Dispute Resolution?
Instead of going to trial, settlement is favored by attorneys and judges. To achieve this, facilitation or arbitration are alternatives to a jury trial which can be very expensive and time-consuming. Once a settlement is reached or an arbitration is held, there is finality. Trials often result in appeals, new trials, and a lengthy uncertain process.
What Is Facilitation?
A facilitator, also known as a mediator, meets with attorneys and their clients to help them settle their cases. The facilitator does not make any decisions or issue opinions but rather is a neutral participant. Attorneys submit summaries ahead of time outlining their view of liability, damages, and the likelihood of success at trial. The facilitator may point out the strengths and weaknesses of a case to encourage the parties to depart from their expectations and negotiate a compromise.
What Are the Advantages of Facilitation?
A facilitated settlement is a win for all involved. It has many advantages over a trial. Facilitation is often completed in less than a day compared to trials, which can last several days or weeks. Trial costs, especially in medical malpractice or complex tort cases, can reach tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Attorneys and their clients do not want to “show their cards,” so they rely on a facilitator to communicate settlement proposals. Facilitation is successful if the parties have frank discussions about their cases and realize that bringing closure to a dispute is more beneficial than having a jury decide the winner.
To better understand why facilitation might be the right choice for your case, watch the video for more information.
What Is Arbitration?
An arbitration is like a trial in that a case is actually decided by other people. Unlike a jury, which selects random people from the community, arbitrators are attorneys or former judges who have experience with the type of case being litigated. There can be a solo arbitrator or a panel of two to three arbitrators who must be approved by the parties and their attorneys.
Like facilitation, attorneys submit summaries of their claims and positions ahead of time to familiarize the arbitrators and opposing parties. Arbitration is also a less expensive alternative to trial and can often be completed in a day or two. While live testimony of witnesses, experts, and physicians is permitted at arbitration, many prefer to submit transcripts of testimony or medical reports.
My Legal Experience
Ron brings a depth of experience in many areas of the law. In his law career of 37 years, he has mediated and litigated cases involving:
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
- Multi-party litigation
- Industrial and manufacturing
- Automobile/no-fault
- Contractual disputes
- Section 1983
- Product liability
- Premises and property
Ron has earned a reputation for fairness and congeniality. In 2024, the Michigan Defense Trial Counsel honored him with the Respected Advocate Award. He is a member of the State Bar Negligence Section Council and is the next officer of the Michigan ABOTA chapter. Ron is a past president of the Michigan Association for Justice.
He has participated in seminar panels discussing best practices for mediation, judged moot court, and guest-taught law students on trial advocacy. At Lipton Law, Ron is known as the VOR (voice of reason) for his calm and analytical approach to dispute resolution.
Contact Ron Weiner for Mediation, Facilitation, and Arbitration in Michigan
If you’re looking for a way to resolve legal disputes efficiently and effectively without the stress of court, Ron Weiner at Lipton Law is here to help. Take control of the outcome and save time, money, and energy in the process. Contact Ron Weiner today to learn how he can provide the solutions you need faster and more affordably.
You can reach Ron Weiner by email: ron@liptonlaw.com or by calling 248-557-1688 to schedule your ADR matter.