Mediation Services
Resolve Common Interest Community Disputes — Without Litigation
What is Mediation
Mediation is a private, confidential, and inexpensive way for parties to solve disputes. In mediation, the participants mutually seek to resolve their differences using the services of a trained, neutral, third-party: the mediator.
Communities & Persons Served
WSCAI’s Mediation Program is designed to serve common interest community associations, their board members, owners, occupants, managers, and vendors. We include all forms of common interest properties such as single-family homeowner associations, condominiums, cooperatives, master and sub-associations. We serve both members of WSCAI and non-members. The program serves all of Washington State.
How The Mediation Program Works
The parties each agree to use the service, complete their intake form, and pay their portion of the fee. WSCAI confirms its intake of the mediation requested.
WSCAI will then assign a mediator. The mediator will communicate with the parties concerning scheduling. The mediation will typically be set within 30 days.
Mediation in-person is preferable but may be arranged to occur virtually or through remote communication technology if requested or appropriate due to public health requirements or geography.
The mediator will use the information provided on the intake form and other information provided during the mediation to facilitate dialogue between the parties. The mediator will work to assist the parties to resolve their differences and to agree to a mutually acceptable resolution. The agreement will then be put in writing and signed by the participants.
The mediator will work to assist the parties to resolve their differences and to agree to a mutually acceptable resolution.
Who Attends the Mediation
The WSCAI mediation program assists private parties in resolving their disputes, directly with each other. Only the individuals directly involved in the dispute attend the mediation. The WSCAI mediation program works without attorneys speaking for the participants and without attorneys attending the mediation. A party may have an attorney or may have sought legal advice.
However, like small claims court, attorneys are not permitted to directly represent parties in this facilitative mediation program. If a case is more complex and both parties are represented the matter is likely better suited to what the attorneys would be familiar with as evaluative mediation, commonly known as shuttle diplomacy. Many qualified practitioners in this state offer private, full shuttle mediation services as an alternative to the WSCAI mediation program.
About Our Mediators
Our mediators include lawyers with years of experience serving community associations, managers holding advanced designations from the Community Associations Institute, and other recognized industry professionals approved by the WSCAI Board of Directors.
Why Use the Service
The resolutions created voluntarily through mediation are historically more lasting and durable than those imposed by a court. Mediation can be scheduled and completed more quickly and efficiently than litigation or arbitration. Facilitative mediation is far more affordable than litigation or arbitration.
The parties do not waive any rights if they cannot agree, and only resolve their dispute if they voluntarily reach an agreement.
Mediation as a process is designed to build voluntary agreement among the participants instead of hardening adversarial positions, which in general is a consequence of formal litigation. This can help to restore good working relations between neighbors who will have a continuing relationship. Mediation has the potential to improve the parties’ understanding and mutual respect, even if an agreement cannot be reached at the present time.