The CCAP Mission
Our mission is to promote access to justice by providing mediation services to litigants with cases in the Collin County courts, including affordable sliding scale options to income-qualified individuals. Through the commitment of volunteer attorney mediators, we foster fair, efficient, and compassionate resolutions to legal disputes—empowering parties to reach meaningful, lasting agreements outside the courtroom.
Directors
George Crumley
Neda Garrett
Emily Hahn
Lisa Hernandez
Deborah Mackoy
Courtney Schmitz
Dana Stewart
Hannah Stroud
Judicial Liaisons
Judge Jennifer Edgeworth of the 219th Judicial District Court
Judge Kathryn L. Pruitt of the 494th Judicial District Court
What Mediation Through CCAP Can Do For You
Mediation is a cost-effective, quick means of resolving legal disputes of all kinds. Instead of going to trail (costly, time-consuming), you and the other party work toward an agreement in a flexible process focused on solutions. Mediation can be used to settle legal disputes for a wide range of legal issues.
CCAP is partially funded by the Collin County Commissioners Court and fees collected by Collin County under the Texas ADR Act.
Attorneys local to Collin County work as mediators for CCAP. They generously volunteer their limited time to give more parties in Collin County access to fair, efficient, solution-focused mediation.
The Benefits of Mediation
Mediation is available for many different types of legal disputes, including divorce, real estate disagreements, business disputes, personal injury claims, and more.
Fast
Rather than waiting months for your case to make its way through the court system to a hearing or final trial, your case can be settled in one mediation. You may be able to mediate an agreement that would have taken years to reach a final trial otherwise.
Cost-Effective
Trials of any sort can be extremely expensive. Retainers for jury trials often start well into the 5-figure range, and we’ve seen costs soar above 6-figures on more than one occasion.
Mediation costs are often only a few thousand dollars that you pay your attorney (in some cases, even less). Many mediators (including our mediators) work on a volunteer basis, with your fees only going toward operating costs.
The cost of mediation is determined by the level of your case. It’s kept low thanks to generous donations from the Alternative Dispute Resolution fees collected by Collin County, and with the support of the Collin County Commissioners Court and equally generous donations of time from many local attorneys.
Enforceable
Mediated settlement agreements can be enforced just like any other contract. They’ve consistently been upheld in courtrooms in Texas (and the rest of the United States).
Reduced Uncertainty
When you mediate, you have far more control over both the process and the outcome than you would otherwise. You don’t have to worry about what a judge or jury will ultimately decide (and you don’t have to wait for the months or years it may take to finally reach that decision).
The outcome will be one you’ve worked toward, that you feel benefits you, and that you believe you can live with.
Lower Stress
It can be extremely stressful to wait months for a court date that could have a profound impact on your life. The court process itself can feel overwhelming and frightening, especially if you have to face the person with whom you have a disagreement.
Mediations are far faster, with much lower waiting times, and don’t require you to go to a crowded courtroom or deal with the pressure of testifying.
Instead, for in-person mediations, you’re able to stay in a room with your attorney(s) and any supporters you want to bring.
You don’t have to worry about going on the stand, and only the mediator speaks to the other party. Online video mediations are also available in some cases.
Higher Compliance Rate
Mediation has a very high rate of compliance compared to an agreement imposed on parties by a judge or jury. When parties negotiate terms themselves and feel that they have more control over the agreement, they’re more likely to stick to its terms.
Highly Effective
Your mediator is chosen based on their expertise in a specific area of law and the level of your case. That expertise, combined with a non-confrontational atmosphere and attitude, often encourages both parties to listen, acknowledge issues, and work toward a solution.
This is especially helpful when communication has shut down completely and little trust remains between the parties. A neutral third party who has no obligation to either side is often the only person who can able to restart communication and keep it from degrading. They can help each party to see what kind of solutions are realistic and address the needs of both sides.
Mediation is ideal for parties who need to work together in the future. A mediated agreement that reduces issues and lets both parties feel like they’ve benefited is not uncommon. Future communications can be freed from the disagreements of the past, allowing both parties to move forward.
Private and Confidential
In a courtroom, parties often feel like they’re being heavily scrutinized. They may feel they have to take an extreme position or a position that leaves no room for negotiation.
In mediation, parties and their communications are kept confidential and private in most cases. There may be political, economic, or social reasons why parties feel they have to maintain a certain position and never waver, but in mediation, they have the privacy to explore other options.
This confidentiality is enshrined in the Texas ADR Act—here’s what it says about confidentiality:
“Unless expressly authorized by the disclosing party, the impartial third party may not disclose to either party information given in confidence by the other and shall at all times maintain confidentiality with respect to communications relating to the subject matter of the dispute.”
“Unless the parties agree otherwise, all matters, including the conduct and demeanor of the parties and their counsel during the settlement process, are confidential and may never be disclosed to anyone, including the appointing court.”
Flexible
In a courtroom, potential outcomes are often limited in many different ways. Judges and juries often have requirements imposed by the law that they have to stick to.
In mediation, you have more options, and you can often come up with creative solutions that would be impossible in a courtroom (but that are still viable and legal).
Other Options Are Still Available
If mediation doesn’t work out, you haven’t lost anything—unlike in a courtroom, where decisions are either final or require a costly and lengthy appeal process.
If mediation doesn’t work out, you can always mediate again in the future if circumstances change, and you still have the option of going to court.