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Now that the New Hampshire District Court Small Claims Mediation Program is underway, cases are getting resolved before they go to trial.  I know this because I am one of the mediators.

If you happen to find yourself in district court for a small claims case, you should seriously consider opting for mediation before you go in front of the judge.  That way, you have an opportunity to control the outcome of your case, and avoid the risk of having the judge rule against you.

If you cannot resolve your case after meeting with the mediator, then you will be given your hearing in front of the judge.  If you do resolve your case, you will be able to leave the courthouse a lot sooner in almost every case.  Plus, your mediated resolution will become incorporated into a court order, and will have the same force and effect.

So, if you find yourself in small claims court here in New Hampshire, you might want to give mediation a chance.