By Thomas Franz
A new program launched by the Michigan Supreme Court has begun to provide a new way for the public to resolve disputes typically resolved in district courts.
A new program launched by the Michigan Supreme Court has begun to provide a new way for the public to resolve disputes typically resolved in district courts.
MI-Resolve is a free online service that allows parties to
resolve their disputes online with or without the help of a trained mediator.
Chief Justice Bridget M. McCormack said the program aims to help
those who don’t have flexibility in their schedules to access the court system on
their own time.
“For folks who need to solve a dispute and work standard work
hours, they’ll be able to do it from their smartphone or computer whenever it’s
convenient for them,” McCormack said. “They’ll be able to access all of the
dispute resolution services that they would’ve been able to if they went to
court, and it just allows them to do it more efficiently.”
The pilot program is initially available in 17 Michigan counties,
including Wayne and Macomb counties plus the Thumb and northeast Lower
Peninsula regions.
During the program’s pilot phase, case types are limited to small
claims, contract disputes, neighborhood disputes and landlord-tenant cases.
Users do not need to have a case filed to use the online system,
which walks the users through the steps to reach a resolution.
Michelle Hilliker of the State Court Administrative Office said
as long as users have internet access and know the other party’s email address,
the system will take the process from there.
“The second party will receive a notification that a case has
been filed, and then they are able to choose to work with the other party or
they can say they’re declining the offer to use the system,” Hilliker said.
The system allows for the parties to choose to talk with each
other or immediately ask for a mediator to join them.
“There are functions in the software for both of those options to
be available and they can choose to use a mediator or they can try to work it
out by themselves,” Hilliker said.
To be eligible to use the program, users must live, work or have
a dispute in one of the targeted counties. If the parties are able to come to
an agreement, it can be signed online.
Hilliker said the program has been in development for about 18
months.
“One of the common things we were hearing is that it was
difficult for people to be able to schedule an appointment to have a mediation
because of transportation issues or taking time off of work,” Hilliker said.
“I started thinking if there was a way to do this that’s a bit
more convenient for everyone. It seemed like with so many people conducting so
much of their business online, we could explore some options.”
McCormack said the program is partnering with the Community
Dispute Resolution Centers in three regions to provide mediators for
MI-Resolve.
“We’re starting small with just a few case types. We want to see
how it goes because we want to be able to spread it to the other counties and
other case types, but we want to see what demand is like and if we can meet
it,” McCormack said.
McCormack added that the program will benefit both the public and
the court system to create more efficiency.
“You’re never forced to use, but for those who want to because it
works better for them, it gives them more options. It reduces the court’s
dockets so they can focus more on the cases that have to be resolved in a
courthouse and in a courtroom,” McCormack said.
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