There is no appeal process in mediation either. For all of these reasons, mediation is much more direct and to the point, and, consequently, less time-consuming and costly than litigation. In mediation, there also are no attendant costs, such as filing fees, expert witness fees, and extensive photocopying and exhibit preparation costs. Further, parties normally share mediation fees, reducing the costs incurred by each side. Conflicts that may take years in court can be resolved in days, and at a fraction of the cost, through mediation.
Mediation provides two layers of confidentiality.
First, the process, by its nature, is deemed confidential. Second, the parties have the ability during the mediation to meet with the mediator separately. In these separate sessions, the parties are able to share information with the mediator that they might otherwise not want to share with each other. The mediator is obligated to keep this information private, unless the party expressly grants the mediator permission to share that information with the other party. One of the most wonderful benefits of mediation is its flexibility.