With court and litigation costs rising to astronomical levels, and increasing delays in getting matters before a judge, Rande Sotomayor continues to offer mediation as a more economical and faster approach to the problem.
“With over 25 years of legal experience under my belt, my mediation practice is a welcome addition to the business community. People need to settle disputes in a reasonably efficient and cost-effective way,” notes Mrs. Sotomayor. “The courts are backed up with cases that are now being pushed back for years. In business, people can’t wait that long for these types of important decisions,” says Rande. What has happened is that over the past few years, more and more cuts have been made at the court level and waiting times have increased dramatically. Courts all over California have reduced services or closed because of budget cuts, and it’s not going to get better any time soon.
Mediation helps by bringing parties together to mutually agree on a solution that everyone involved can live with. Mediation sessions can typically take from two to eight hours depending on the issues. “I have found that, with mediation, the parties involved are nearly always happier and relieved that the issue can be concluded within a few hours. No more waiting years to go to trial and then having a decision handed down,” says Rande.