Here are some examples to consider, taken from Nolo's book, Mediate Your Dispute, by Peter Lovenheim. Three neighbors are involved in a dispute over disruptive children. Mediation is provided by any of 400 nonprofit community mediation centers in the United States. A passenger in a car suffers leg and spine fractures when the driver hits a telephone pole. The passenger and the driver's insurance company cannot agree on the amount of compensation for these injuries.
Mediation is conducted by a private dispute resolution company.
Just before the trial is to begin, the parties decide to try mediation. Mediation is provided by private dispute resolution company. A divorcing couple with a house, two cars, bank accounts, pension plans and three children who are minors are trying to reach an agreement out of court as to the division of their property and the custody and visitation of their children. Mediation is provided by an independent divorce mediator in private practice. Six two-hour sessions over two months, plus five hours to prepare a written agreement.