The ODR Process

When an online case commences, a dispute web file is opened and the parties and their representatives are invited to interact online. Parties must then follow a three stage strict security process in order to participate in the online mediation.

Each dispute file contains a set of message areas. The message areas displayed will vary for each participant. The reason for this is because each participant is strictly controlled as to access to and, use of, the message areas. If they have access to an area, then the system will control whether such access allows the participant to post messages or only to read them. For example, one area will be accessible only to the mediator and one party and his or her lawyer, if any, and another by the mediator and the other party and his or her lawyer. In this way the mediator can have private and confidential sessions with each side. There will be another area in which the mediator can post messages to both sides, who can read them but not respond to them and also ,at his option (some mediators prefer not to) , he can access an area where he can keep private notes to which no-one else has access.

Every time a message is posted to one of the message areas, everybody with power to read such messages receives a system generated email alerting him or her to the fact that a new message has been posted with a link to the site.

Multiple party disputes are also catered for and in all versions full confidentiality can be maintained within the various groupings of participant.