Giving Tuesday Campaign
Tuesday December 3rd, 2024
Your chance to Give Back
The Congress of Neutrals has been a vital presence in the Contra Costa Superior Court since 2001, providing mediation, free of charge, to litigants in Unlawful Detainer, Civil Harassment, Small Claims and Family Law Contempt cases. Take a brief look at what we have done and are able to accomplish. Your financial support will continue to offer these free services to the community.
Unlawful Detainers
We work with landlords, tenants, and attorneys to resolve unlawful detainer cases that come before the court. We have helped thousands of landlords and tenants come to a mutual resolution with an over 80 percent success rate. The benefits for both parties include: (1) not going to trial, having to argue your side, and leaving the uncertain outcome in the hands of the court, (2) working out successful payment plans, (3) getting a date certain for move-out or a plan for tenants to stay. (4) Avoiding and/or masking a judgment for the tenant is key to allow the tenant to move forward to rent elsewhere.
Civil Harassment
Neighbor to Neighbor disputes, workplace conflicts, relationship problems – The Congress of Neutrals has been able to mediate and resolve civil harassment cases that come before the court. Nearly all cases that come before this court require clear and convincing evidence for petitioners to be granted a restraining order for any length of time, hence few are granted. Mediation and a settlement agreement allows petitioners and respondents to meet separately with the mediator and come to a workable solution. In many cases, it may be a carefully written agreement to leave each other alone or mending a relationship to keep the peace. This most often stops and reduces any further escalation and lets parties live peaceful lives.
Small Claims
Proving monetary damages in a small claims case requires solid evidence. Our mediators can work out a solution that not only includes an agreement that satisfies both parties, but also an agreement to make payments, something the court can’t collect even after a judgment may be issued.
Family Law Contempt
Mediation can be ordered by the court in these cases, where litigants are not following orders of the family law court and could face fines, loss of custody and even imprisonment. Our mediators have been able to work with both parties to come to a solution where parties agreement to comply with court orders to avoid undesirable consequences. We have provided these mediations with the family law court successfully since 2017.
Please give what you can to help The Congress of Neutrals promote peace, harmony and conflict resolution to our community. (All Donations are tax-deductible EIN #94-3400705)
Click the Giving Tuesday logo or here to donate to The Congress of Neutrals.
Testimonial from a litigant who mediated:
“I was a litigant in an unlawful detainer case during the aftermath of Covid.
The situation was dire for my husband and I, and we also had children to consider.
We are good people, experiencing bad circumstances, and had no choice but to face the impending consequences honestly and determinedly.
We went to court expecting the worst; eviction and imminent lockout. With no place to go, little money to spare, the situation took a toll on us emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually.
The Congress of Neutrals’ Mediator was present in court during our appearance and had the opportunity to hear me speak about our situation. Our circumstance looked ideal for mediation, and upon agreement by both parties, we began the process.
We were able to negotiate a settlement agreement that was of the highest desired outcome for all parties involved. My husband and I met every requirement, and although we experienced continued hardship for sometime after, were able to get back on our feet and acquire a new home for our family.
The intercession of The Congress of Neutrals helped facilitate a far better outcome than one without the help The Congress of Neutrals
Through the diligent efforts of mediators with The Congress of Neutrals, I was inspired to assist those in my same circumstance. I subsequently took the Mediation training course through The Congress of Neutrals, and am now a Court Mediator assisting in the local courthouses in the expressed effort to help others who are seeking alternative means to resolving conflict and disputes.
I am humble, thankful, and grateful for the concerted effort of The Congress of Neutrals, an organization that is focused on people and resolution.”
Testimonial from an Unlawful Detainer Attorney
We are so fortunate here in Contra Costa to have the opportunity to work with such skilled mediators through the Congress of Neutrals; they are indispensable. I mediate every case. We get better results than we would if we negotiated directly with the opposing party because the mediators are there to explain things in a neutral manner, so neither party feels taken advantage of by the other, and it truly feels like a compromise. Everybody wins.