What Type Cases Do We Mediate?
We mediate both covered and non-covered cases. Covered cases are at no cost to you and include:
- Disputes with the FSA
- Disputes with Farm Credit Lenders
- Disputes with:
Rural Development (RD)
National Forest Service (NFS)
Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS)
Risk Management Agency (RMA) - Disputes with neighbors
- Disputes under the National Organic Program
- Disputes involving wetlands
- Disputes involving leases
- Disputes involving family farm transition
- Credit Counseling assistance
What are the Benefits of Mediation?
Mediation offers you many advantages over other methods of resolving agricultural disputes because the process:
- Is voluntary and allows time to hear and be heard
- Offers parties an opportunity to start working on a resolution right away, without waiting through lengthy appeal process
- Allows parties to maintain confidentiality
- Allows parties who are most familiar with the dispute to create their own solutions
- Helps restore communication between disputing parties
- May preserve and improve important business relationships
- Provides an impartial setting in which to openly discuss all issues involved, including sensitive financial matters and personal issues that might not be considered in a formal appeal or courtroom
- Saves everyone the time and cost involved with the appeal process or a lawsuit
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“The mediator gave me her undivided attention…. I felt I was being set up for failure by this agency from start to finish, but at mediation they found out I had a side too.”
Neutrality
NCAMP and its mediators act as neutrals in all disputes. They do not act as advocates for either party. Instead, they help the parties discuss the issues and resolve the dispute.
Consent
Any settlement must be reached by mutual consent of both parties involved.
Confidentiality
All mediations are confidential within certain parameters that will be discussed at the mediation.
Location
Although NCAMP is housed at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC, mediations are held in the county where the parties work or reside.
Counsel/Experts
Mediation participants will be limited to interested parties (who may have legal counsel and/or experts present, at the discretion of the mediator).
Mediation Director: Judith Stilz Ogden
Judith Stilz Ogden received her law degree from Duquesne University School of Law, her LL.M. from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law, and an M.S. in Taxation from Robert Morris College.
She has spent over thirty years in higher education and is a Fulbright Scholar. She is an Emeritus Associate Professor of Business Law at Clayton State University in Georgia.
In addition to teaching at Clayton State, she was the Assistant Dean for the MBA Graduate Program, the Director of the Center for Business and International Negotiation, the Coach for the award-winning Mediation Team, and she also conducted faculty mediations.
She is a member of the Sierra Leone Program of Mediators Beyond Borders, Inc., providing training in Leadership and Conflict Resolution in that country. She is the author of over 18 articles dealing primarily with conflict resolution and employment law.
Executive Director: Debra Burke
Debra Burke is a Professor of Business Administration & Law in the College of Business at Western Carolina University.
She has a Master’s degree in Public Affairs and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas.
Professor Burke’s research interests include contract law, employment law and pedagogical studies. She was licensed to practice law in Texas.
Non-Discrimination Statement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, martial status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (Voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.