Online Dispute Resolution
Summit County Common Pleas Court

If you do not want to participate in online dispute resolution, please contact the Mediation Department to opt out of using the ODR system. Mediation@cpcourt.summitoh.net or 330-643-8004.

ODR is an online, court-monitored messaging system designed to help you resolve your case.

If you received a notice from the court, simply follow the instructions to go to the site and start your registration. You and the other party can use this platform to communicate with each other and the mediator about the upcoming mediation.

No. ODR is a free service offered by the court.

A legal dispute can take months—sometimes years—to resolve through court. You'll probably need to take time off from work for court hearings and trials. For some, this is hard, if not impossible, depending on work schedules. Online dispute resolution is very flexible. You can 'talk' with the other party on your own time, quickly and easily and all online.

Online dispute resolution works just as well on any mobile device that can access the internet. Just go to the site on your device's web browser to access it just like you would on a desktop or laptop computer.

The ODR platform may be used to conduct negotiations and/or may be used to facilitate communication among the parties leading up to the mediation date. If no agreement is reached after mediation, then the case will be return to court. Once a case is returned to court as “Not settled”, the parties can no longer communicate using the ODR system.

Online dispute resolution is not a trial. The purpose is to resolve the case before it goes further through the legal system. If the parties reach an agreement they can document the agreement in writing and submit it to the court (if there is an active case), or use the agreement as a guide that will prevent future disagreements or lawsuits. You and the other party, not a judge or magistrate, get to resolve your dispute in a way that works for both of you.

If you are reading this online, you have everything you need to access ODR

ODR works with any device (computer, tablet or mobile) with web access (internet or cell-phone connectivity) 

ODR supports the latest browser versions of Chrome, Safari, IE/Edge and Firefox

It's a chance to end a legal dispute in a way that minimizes time spent at court and saves money. It offers a safe, private, online space to negotiate a satisfactory resolution with the other party. In some cases, this can reduce harm to your credit and help avoid wage garnishments or other collections procedures. Whatever is most important to you, the Online Dispute Resolution process can help you reach your goals.

Mediators are:

Trained, experienced, neutral third parties who will help you and the other party find a solution to your problem.

Parties generally find that dispute resolution is more useful when they're prepared and have a plan. Your mediation plan should identify your goals, the other party's goals, and how you might be able to propose a solution that will result in an agreement. Thinking through these things in advance will help you and the other party negotiate an agreement that works for everyone.