Author Archives: abfifer

Win-Win-Win

June 17, 2015 – 4:35 pm

I don’t usually write about my mediations, in order to protect their confidentiality. But this one is too rich not to share. (Some identifying details have been changed.) A business dispute resulted in a small claims action that went to mediation through our local Dispute Resolution Center of West Michigan. After each side told their […]

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Mediation to Address Church Bell Dispute

May 12, 2015 – 4:07 pm

Neighbors of a church in Burlington, Vermont, have agreed to go to mediation with representatives from Christ the King Catholic Church over the issue of the church’s bells. The neighbors complained to the City about the church bells, wondering whether the ringing violated the City’s noise ordinance. The Assistant City Attorney, Gregg Meyer, is quoted […]

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Agreement in Principle Not Enforceable

May 5, 2015 – 7:56 pm

Michigan’s Court of Appeals decided this week that a mediation agreement was too vague to be enforceable. It’s not unusual for a mediation to end with a hand-written document that contemplates another document to finally settle the dispute. In fact, it’s fairly common for the mediation of a litigated case, where parties are represented by […]

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Pilgrims Not at Rest

April 27, 2015 – 9:16 pm

An intra-church dispute is in the news – again. A couple years ago, a pastor and his secretary were both convicted of embezzling funds from their congregation, Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Grand Rapids. Former pastor Arthur Pearson was ordered by the Kent County Circuit Court to pay back $167,000; former secretary Gerolanita Bailey, […]

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Jon’s Ten Biggest Mistakes

April 22, 2015 – 1:36 pm

Jon March is a seasoned litigator with the Miller Johnson law firm in Grand Rapids, who has built a successful practice as a mediator. He published at article in the ADR Section January 2015 newsletter entitled, “My Ten Biggest Mistakes as a Mediator,” and he’s given presentations on this topic; I heard one yesterday at the Dispute […]

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