Arbitration differs from mediation in that an arbitrator or panel of arbitrators renders a decision after hearing an abbreviated version of the evidence. After non-binding arbitration, any party may demand a trial within a specified period following the entry of the arbitration award. Mediation is a process in which a neutral facilitates settlement discussions between parties. The neutral has no authority to make a decision or impose a settlement upon the parties. The neutral attempts to focus the attention of the parties upon their needs and interests rather than upon rights and positions.
Any settlement is entirely voluntary.
In the absence of settlement, the parties lose none of their rights to a resolution of their dispute through litigation. Neutral Case Evaluation. Neutral Case Evaluation is a process in which a lawyer with expertise in the subject matter of the litigation acts as a neutral evaluator of the case. Each party presents a summary of its legal theories and evidence. The evaluator assesses the strength of each party's case and assists the parties in narrowing the legal and factual issues in the case.