1. What types of cases are mediated?
We can do a mediation with you before you
begin litigation or after one has started. Most
courts have an ADR plan in place and all you
need to do is select a mediator.
 General Civil: contract disputes,
personal injury, property matters,
employment, insurance claims for
example.
 Probate Matters: contested
guardianship or conservatorship,
disputes regarding a will or a trust.
 Domestic Relations matters: divorce
issues, post-judgment parenting
issues, custody modifications.
 Juvenile matters.
 Small Claims Court.
 Virtually any situation where
parties are in conflict.
Who We Are
About Us
We work with individuals and organizations
facilitating discussion to reach a resolution to
disputes. James A. Carolan, JD, CWS®
Attorney, Mediator, and Certified Wealth
Strategist, as an estate planning attorney and
bank trust officer has extensive experience
with probate, trusts, wills and estate matters,
and well as with labor and employment
issues. Jim was the Personnel and Labor
Relations Manager for a large state hospital
for many years before entering private law
practice and was called upon by other state
offices to assist with labor relations matters .
He is trained in General Civil Mediation as
well as Domestic Relations matters and
qualified to work with you before or after
filing a law suit.
Contact Us
Phone: 810-479-5140
Email: jcarolan75@gmail.com
Web: www.carolanlawfirm.com
JAMES A. CAROLAN
MEDIATION SERVICES
2920 Pine Grove Avenue
Port Huron, MI 48060
JAMES A.
CAROLAN
MEDIATION
SERVICES
Helping those in conflict find
resolution

2. What is Mediation?
Mediation is an alternative dispute resolution
process – in other words, an alternative to
court. With Mediation, you stay in control of
the outcome. While we hope that with the
assistance of a trained mediator the parties
are able to reach common ground and find a
resolution, not reaching a resolution is
always your choice as a participant. The
mediation process is entirely voluntary and
confidential. Anything disclosed in mediation
cannot be used in court. Mediators don’t
impose a solution upon you, a mediator is not
a judge; we only help you find the solution
that is acceptable to the parties.
How do we work?
Every mediation is different so we work with
the participants to determine the best
approach for their matter. Jim is flexible and
able to work with a variety of methods from
shuttle diplomacy to all joint sessions. His
personal style leans to the facilitative model.
“The biggest problem in
communication is that we
do not listen to understand.
We listen to respond
instead.”
The Facilitative Model
Encourages keeping the parties together for
open discussion as much as possible. The
focus is on the parties to the
litigation/dispute and encourages them to
make opening remarks about their matter.
The facilitative mediator asks questions but
without revealing any opinion he may hold.
He remains neutral. When the time is
appropriate a caucus with the parties to
explore further with them will be called.
Call us to set up your mediation and find resolution.
Mediators are Neutrals and Don’t Impose
a Resolution
We offer a true neutral, who does not impose
a decision upon the parties. Throughout the
process you remain in control of the outcome.
As a mediator we do not tell you what to do,
but allow you to reach your own conclusion
as to what you want to resolve the matter.
The goal is to get the parties talking, find the
common ground, explore the areas that need
further discussion, and let the parties
determine the outcome. That outcome may
be that there is no agreement the day of
mediation – that is the choice that the parties
can always make. Our hope though is that
through our discussion in joint sessions and
in caucus that we will end the day of
mediation with an acceptable resolution. If
we do not resolve matters that day, the
discussion usually helps the parties to find
the acceptable resolution later.