Disputes can affect society as a whole, not just individuals, but balancing must occur. Notwithstanding occasionally sharp criticism of plea bargaining, for example, we cannot afford to have every dispute resolved by litigation. Risks of error are inevitable whatever the procedure. If there is merit to a claim that the public interest is not being served, one way or another, any private solution is almost sure to be overturned. Finally, we should consider that merely having disputes resolved is often as important as the resolution itself.
Life can then march on.
Mr. Balmer is Chief Patent Counsel, Union Carbide Corporation and has been very much involved with alternative dispute resolution. P.L. 97-247 Sec. 8 See Saturday Evening Post, supra .