Los Angeles Jury Mediation: Is it Right for You?
It’s a term you may have heard in passing… but what is jury mediation, anyway? Jury mediation is essentially another way for two conflicting parties to sort out their case and points of contention before (or instead of) going to trial. This is a favorable method for many parties because it gives them a chance to 1) see how a realistic jury may realistically respond to a case and 2) can often eliminate the need to ever go to trial… saving potentially hefty court costs and, of course, time.
Are you wondering if jury mediation may be right for your case? While we can help you decide if it’s right based on your specific situation, several types of cases are especially suited to this type of mediation. They include…
Differing interpretations of evidence
When two parties have different interpretations about evidence, its meaning and how it may be perceived in court, there may be a reason to seek out a third opinion. While a mediator alone can help you better understand your evidence, only a mock jury (made up of real, demographically representative people) can show you how a true jury might respond to it. If your view of the evidence is completely at odds with what the jury believes, you may be risking lots of time and money by going to court with it.
Questions about how a witness may be received in court
As is the case with evidence, witness testimonies can receive a wide variety of reactions in court. Even if you believe that your witness can help you win your case, it may not be the case when a real jury is asked to respond and offer their opinions. For this reason, it’s important that you weigh the risks of your witness testimonial by “running it by” a realistic jury beforehand.
Conflicting dollar amounts
If you’re at the point in mediation when you and the other party just can’t seem to agree on a fair dollar amount, that’s where jury mediation can help. The way your jury responds to certain figures can help you better understand when a number may be too high or fairly reasonable, more so than you or your mediator alone may be able to.
Cost/time sensitive cases
No matter what “side” you’re on, it’s likely that you would prefer to spend as little time and money as possible to achieve a positive outcome in your case. This is how a jury mediation can help you save your valuable resources. By taking your case to jury mediation, you can see how a real “true to life” jury would respond to your case—and if the results aren’t favorable, you may find that settling out of court is more appropriate for your case.
If your case doesn’t resolve with jury mediation alone, don’t be disappointed. The insight you gain from this innovative type of mediation can allow you to better present your case in court, preventing the need for a long and costly trial.