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Settle Your Dispute Early With Anodyne Alternative Dispute Resolution
All judges require mediation before trial. 95% of lawsuits settle due to length, expense and emotions.
Bypass the litigation turmoil.
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I'm Lisa Pittman, and I have tried dozens of commercial business and personal injury cases over 25 years, and I know what flies and what doesn't. I can help your clients get realistic about the strengths and weaknesses of their case and the likelihood of success.
Anodyne ADR will reduce the dispute down to what it takes to resolve it – early, efficiently, and less painfully.
Mediation and Arbitration
Both mediation and arbitration aim to amicably resolve an otherwise contentious dispute in a manner that is largely fair to all parties. The parties can often agree to the parameters, scope, and procedure of ADR tailored to the situation at hand.
CANNABIS MEDIATIONS
I specialize in cannabis business law.
Since 2015, I have been working in cannabis law all over the United States, and the world. I assist business clients and governments in hemp, medical and recreational marijuana operations across numerous regulatory regimes and licensing platforms. I spent 2 years in Colorado during its hemp and marijuana heyday and have learned a thing or two about the laws, the nature of the industry, and the nature of the people in it. I’ve won awards, written and spoken extensively on these topics which you can read about at www.Pittman.Legal.
My decade of pioneering as a cannabis lawyer, combined with my 2.5 decades of business trials, makes me uniquely qualified to cut through the weeds of your business dispute set in the world of conflicting cannabis laws and contrarian players. I know what will make it to a jury and what will not. I know the unusual challenges and burdens cannabis businesses face. Because I will fundamentally understand your case, I can help you quickly solve your problem before the black hole of attorneys’ fees sets in.
Alternative Dispute Resolution refers to two avenues of solving disputes:
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Mediation: A confidential, non-binding process usually conducted with an independent mediator who evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the dispute, facilitates discussion between parties, and proposes a resolution or a binding settlement of the dispute. It usually occurs in a single day and the costs are fixed and always less than litigation. Mediation also allows for more creative resolutions than litigation would.
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Arbitration: Typically a binding, formal process that is similar to but replaces the full trial process, often with a panel of three chosen people to serve as private judges in your case. This can be less expensive than trial and keeps the dispute out of the public eye. Arbitration is also helpful in cannabis cases where contracts can be voided for being contrary to federal law. It is quite likely a contract governing your dispute contains an arbitration clause requiring you to arbitrate.
Ms. Pittman has direct experience litigating the following areas:
Banking
Breach of contract
Commercial transactions
Construction defect
Consumer disputes
Corporate disputes
Deceptive trade practices
Employment
Entertainment
Fiduciary duty
Fraud
Government regulation/administrative law
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Hospitality
Insurance coverage disputes
Intellectual property
Landlord/tenant
Licensing disputes
Nonprofits
Personal injury
Premises liability
Product liability
Professional liability
Real estate/property/land use disputes
Water/wastewater/utilities
Workers’ compensation
ARBITRATION
Arbitration is often required in contracts because of the perception that it is a private, expedited, and economical way to dispose of a dispute. While the arbitration process and award are private, a lawsuit filing remains public. It is debatable whether arbitration is cheaper and faster than regular litigation. Arbitration is subject to its own rules of procedure and evidence, and an Arbiter will determine what is admissible. Instead of a jury, a single or panel of arbiters will issue a decision on the dispute that is typically binding on both parties, and the ability to appeal it is extremely limited. A party elects, or is ordered, to arbitrate a dispute as a waiver of its right to a jury.
PRE-SUIT
Mediation is usually a single 4 to 8 hour event where each party presents its arguments to a mediator like an informal trial. After opening statements, the parties separate. The mediator evaluates the evidence with each side and illuminates the strengths, weaknesses, and likelihood of success of each position to guide the parties toward a final settlement.
The goal of mediation is a written compromise ending the dispute. But if no settlement agreement is reached, the mediation is usually not binding, so you can still proceed with your lawsuit.
It is never too early to mediate, and you have nothing to lose by it. It is a great chance to get real about the merits of the dispute. All lawsuits will be more expensive, emotional, and time consuming than you thought. Before getting in too deep, simply agree to disagree and allow a skilled neutral third party to resolve the dispute early on, at minimal expense and energy. You will be required to mediate before trial anyway, so start with it, avoid the grief and cost of litigation, and move on.
PRE-TRIAL
The stakes are high when you are between dispositive motions and the big trial date. Whether you are mediating a case under court order, voluntarily, or to test the strength of your case, your matter will be treated with the gravity and attention of a judicial proceeding or better. I want to help you solve these issues and will learn what I need to understand the issues. I request substantive briefing supported by evidence, and will treat the mediation as if the rules of procedure and evidence apply, unless otherwise requested.
The goal will be a complete resolution of the dispute and a binding settlement agreement. If settlement is not possible, a mediation can still prepare for trial by narrowing the disputed issues, shedding fresh light on old facts, and getting the Rorschach of a seasoned trial attorney and mediator.
CONTACT
LOCATION
OPENING HOURS
Email: Lisa@Pittman.Legal
Phone: 512-900-6310
1803 West Avenue
Austin, TX 78701
Mon - Fri: 9am - 6pm
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After-hour appointments available