ABSTRACT
Throughout the country, and particularly in Florida, the use of mediation has grown dramatically in recent years. Mediation is now being employed to resolve disputes of all types involving family law, environmental issues, 1 criminal law, neighborhood disputes, and personal injury. In some states, including Florida, courts are now mandated to require mediation of certain types of disputes and are permitted to mandate mediation in other dispute categories as well. 2 Court-connected mediation, both mandatory and voluntary, has typically been well received. Mediation users are generally satisfied with the dispute resolution technique and perceive that it saves time and money while offering a fair way to resolve disputes in an amicable, lasting fashion. 3
