Examples - St. Mary's County Community Mediation Center

Examples

The following example is provided for learning purposes only. This example is not based on real people and any similarity to real people is not intended.

The District Court judge strongly recommended mediation for Mr. and Mrs. Fish and Mr. and Mrs. Johnson after suit and counter-suit were filed by these parties with the District court.

A dispute of long standing existed between these next door neighbors that involved the following complaints: a) the parking of a large motor home on the street that made it difficult to enter and exit driveways safely, b) failure to adequately supervise young children and pets c) excess noise late at night, d) harassment in the form of frequent calls to the Sheriff, Department of Social Services, and Animal Control, and d) insulting and menacing behavior towards one another.

Included in the mediation, with the consent of the Complainant and Respondent, were several neighbors and one additional family member. Initially the exchange of complaints and charges and counter charges was loud and angry. The mediator reflected back to the parties the feelings they expressed and their views of the problems. This slowed down the angry exchanges and helped both sides see their own feelings and views in a new light and better understand the feelings and motivations of the other side.

It took some time but with an opportunity to state their frustrations and to better understand the other parties’ point of view the focus shifted from anger and blame to the basic issues. It was then increasingly easy for the disputants to think of creative options to the many conflicts between them.

The Fish’s agreed to complete a tall privacy fence on the property line to keep children and pets in their own yards. Mr. Johnson thought of a different way to park the motor home to improve the view of traffic on the street. The parties agreed to call one another to try to trouble shoot problems before making complaints to law enforcement or other agencies. They agreed on an acceptable noise level and an evening cut off time for the music. And very importantly they agreed to ask again for mediation if their efforts to fix problems failed.

These families did not necessarily leave mediation liking each other any better. They did, however, have a better understanding of the other families’ view of things and more confidence that they could address problems before they escalated into court battles.

Next Example: Conflict over childcare

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Examples The following example is provided for learning purposes only. This example is not based on real people and any similarity to real people is not intended. Neighbors in Conflict The District Court judge strongly recommended mediation for Mr. and Mrs. Fish and Mr. and Mrs. Johnson after suit and counter-suit were filed by these parties with the District court. A dispute of long standing existed between these next door neighbors that involved the following complaints: a) the parking of a large motor home on the street that made it difficult to enter and exit driveways safely, b) failure to adequately supervise young children and pets c) excess noise late at night, d) harassment in the form of frequent calls to the Sheriff, Department of Social Services, and Animal Control, and d) insulting and menacing behavior towards one another. Included in the mediation, with the consent of the Complainant and Respondent, were several neighbors and one additional family member. Initially the exchange of complaints and charges and counter charges was loud and angry. The mediator reflected back to the parties the feelings they expressed and their views of the problems. This slowed down the angry exchanges and helped both sides see their own feelings and views in a new light and better understand the feelings and motivations of the other side. It took some time but with an opportunity to state their frustrations and to better understand the other parties’ point of view the focus shifted from anger and blame to the basic issues. It was then increasingly easy for the disputants to think of creative options to the many conflicts between them. The Fish’s agreed to complete a tall privacy fence on the property line to keep children and pets in their own yards. Mr. Johnson thought of a different way to park the motor home to improve the view of traffic on the street. The parties agreed to call one another to try to trouble shoot problems before making complaints to law enforcement or other agencies. They agreed on an acceptable noise level and an evening cut off time for the music. And very importantly they agreed to ask again for mediation if their efforts to fix problems failed. These families did not necessarily leave mediation liking each other any better. They did, however, have a better understanding of the other families’ view of things and more confidence that they could address problems before they escalated into court battles. Next Example: Conflict over childcare Back to About Mediation page	Working Together Community Peacemakers
St. Mary's Community Mediation Center st.marys.mediation@gmail.com phone: 301-475-9118 Friend us on Facebook 41620 Courthouse Drive, Rear Entrance, P.O. Box 853, Leonardtown, MD 20650