Dispute Resolution

Description

Strengths and weaknesses of each form of dispute resolution within the New Zealand system.
sarahmusuku
Flashcards by sarahmusuku, updated more than 1 year ago
sarahmusuku
Created by sarahmusuku almost 9 years ago
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Resource summary

Question Answer
What is litigation? (judicial) The process of taking a case to a court so a judgement can be made. - The most high-profile approach to dispute resolution.
What are the strengths of litigation? (PBPCS) - Public enunciation (proclamation) of community values: occurs in a public forum. In a successful murder trial the sentence shows how society views this crime. - Creation of principles and precedent: People can be guided by the principles or precedents set in future dealings. (Negotiation/mediation guidance would be lost) - Binding decisions: Principles are upheld because the final decision is binding, they can be enforced using the resources of the legal system e.g. police force and court officials. Guarantee to parties of a resolution - Protection from power imbalance: All parties in trial are subject to the same strict rules of evidence, the presence of a lawyer also counters any initial power imbalance, substitutes for their clients skill or lack of. - Security for the legal system: Ensures parties have a reliable and enforceable system to fall back on
What are the weakness of litigation? (CTDL) - Cost: Very expensive, many can't afford legal representation - Time: Can take up to months or several years, these delays are costly in fees, loss of time and opportunities (in relationship settlements e.g. divorce, delays are unsettling for children) - Damage to relationships: Aim is to reach the 'correct' decision, in this process relationships can be destroyed, after verdict is reached relationships are often already beyond repair. - Limited range of remedies: Offers a limited range of solutions compared to negotiation and mediation, the best outcome may not available through litigation
What is negotiation? The most common form of dispute resolution used in NZ's legal system. 'Encourages us to separate the person from the problem, rather than see the person as the problem.'
What are the strengths of negotiation? (FTP) - Time and cost: Quicker and cheaper than litigation, also cheaper for the government therefore tax payers - Preserving relationships: Assists in preserving relationships that could be destroyed in court trial. - Flexibility: A lot of flexibility as solutions are potentially unlimited. Parties have complete control over the process and outcome, it's agreement by consent.
What are the weakness of negotiation? (LNP) - Power imbalances: Negotiation doesn't include a third party, so power imbalances could undermine the dispute resolution process (Contrast in how experienced the lawyers of each party are = dangerous for weaker party) - Lack of public enunciation of community values: private nature of negotiation doesn't allow principles to be publicly enunciated, and precedents don't follow negotiated settlements. - No guaranteed binding decision: Negotiation is consensual therefore parties may not consent to agree.
What is mediation? Can be described as 'assisted negotiation' assumes the presence of a third party to 'mediate' between the parties to dispute.
What are the strengths of mediation? (BCCCRT) - Relationships: Mediation revolves around how to preserve and strengthen relationships, mediators are experts in resolving conflict. - Confidential nature: Helps create an environment where relationships can be improved - Cost: Relatively inexpensive, it is the most cost-effective as the main cost is only the mediator's fee - Time and flexibility: It's generally less-time consuming, definitely faster than litigation although it cannot be rushed - Cultural feminism: Associate with a more 'feminine' approach to our legal system, based on inter-personal communication and relationship building - Better outcome: As mediators control the process but parties are in charge of the substance
What are the weaknesses of mediation? - Mediator bias: The mediator could attempt to correct a power imbalance and end up favoring a particular party. Could inappropriately impose their own views on the parties. - Lack of procedural safeguards: There's uncertainty with the legal system - Lack of public enunciation: It's confidential in nature - No guarantee of binding decision: A binding decision often results but isn't guaranteed - Inappropriate for some areas of law: E.g. criminal law cases
What is Maori Dispute Resolution? - Largely holistic, where the actions of an individual are seen in the context of the whole whanau. - Has become more influential in NZ over the past decades
What are the advantages for Maori using Maori Dispute resolution? NZ's legal system is generally impersonal/individualised. Whereas MDR: - Recognises that the mana (status) of the whanau is affected collectively. Whakapapa (ancestry) is taken into consideration. - Its basis is whanaungatanga (family support and community togetherness) - Uses whakamama (shame) to graphically illustrate the damage the offender has caused e.g. through family group conference - Focus on Utu (maintaining balance in society) executes principles of inclusiveness and accountability, allows opportunities for all to be heard - A judge with an understanding of tikanga Maori (style) could decide a warning is enough as opposed to a conviction
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