Negotiation – Directly for Customers – If you have a situation in a setting where you think you would like to have help or feel you need a negotiator to work with you in determining an outcome to a conflict with another party, I am available to consult with you and suggest alternatives that may help you come to a more favorable solution. Negotiation is a strategic (deliberate, intentional, planned or thought through) communication process (a two-way process of actively exchanging and understanding information) directly between two parties in a dispute, in an effort to resolve their opposing interests, by reaching an agreement and make a deal. Negotiating directly with the opposing party in the conflict can be an intimidating process, and we can guide you and represent you as you go through it so that it helps you maximize gain while understanding that the other party is likely entitled to express their interests and also expects some gain from the current stalemate.  This integrative process helps create innovative ideas that allows both parties to gain as much as possible and lose as little as possible.¹ By assisting you in negotiating with the other party, we provide you with guidance in developing a plan and process to come to the best possible solution to the conflict. While I have a Master’s Degree in Legal Studies, I am not an attorney and cannot offer any legal advice.

Civil Mediation – Civil law is described as law that deals with (a perceived) harm to an individual (as opposed to society). A civil case involves a private action (lawsuit) brought to enforce an individual right or gain payment for a perceived individual wrong or to prohibit it from continuing (by injunction).²  Consequences may include forced payment of various penalties or damage awards or to perform some action, such as carrying out the terms of a contract.²

Mediation can be defined as a more formal assisted negotiation for both parties.  It is a process where a neutral third party (the mediator) helps both disputants reach a viable agreement by helping them understand their goals, values and needs underlying their positions and overcome their differences.⁴ I am a Michigan courts certified mediator for civil and/or agricultural disputes you may be involved in.  The parties in the dispute are free to select their own mediator to assist in their attempt to resolve the dispute before any additional action is forced upon them, or the court may appoint one for you.

Agricultural Mediation – The Michigan Agricultural Mediation Program (MAMP) provides training for mediators to assist when issues arise between producers and creditors, USDA agencies, agricultural credit, wetland determinations, and compliance with farm programs. If you have such a situation and need a mediator, I have also been trained in this type of mediation.

If you have a mediation that involves agricultural issues beyond specifically what the MAMP situations involve, I have extensive experience dealing with many agricultural issues and am available to negotiate or mediate in these situations as well.