Hello. I. Am. Your. Mediator.

Indisputably.org has an interesting article about an online dispute resolution service available in New York City.

Cybersettle provides online mediation for smaller claims by replacing the mediator with a computer. All offers are communicated through the online service, thus allowing parties to negotiate without having to appear before one another.

I can see the appeal of the expedited, cheaper process, but can it really be considered mediation. To me the service looks rather extraneous and doesn’t provide anything more than a series of emails would allow with the exception of the anonymity provided to those who have the authority to make or accept the offers.

Is this a legit service or is it a simplified deviation from actual mediation?

The article can be found here.