the film “Little Big Man,” the Native American grandfather decides it is time to die.
He climbs a nearby mountain, wraps himself in a blanket, and lies down to wait for the Great Spirit to take him away. When it begins to rain a little while later, he realizes he is still alive. “Sometimes the magic works, and sometimes it doesn’t,” he says.
The same is true of mediation. The fact that it works far more often than not is probably small solace to those who find themselves in the unfortunate minority. But even if your mediation didn’t end in a settlement, there is still hope that your dispute can be resolved without a painful court fight. This chapter examines the range of options that may be available to you.
A.