What follows is a partial listing of
civil rights cases that have settled via mediation since July
1, 1997. All of these cases were filed with the Iowa Civil Rights
Commission and all were settled with the help of Civil Rights
Mediators.
Civil Rights Mediators work to resolve discrimination disputes
amicably, through a voluntary, no-fault settlement process called
mediation. Most of the mediators working for the Commission are
volunteers. Many are attorneys. All have donated their time to
help the Iowa Civil Rights Commission and the people of Iowa fight
discrimination.
In many of the cases settled through mediation, no money exchanges
hands. The dispute is resolved when the parties communicate their
positions and negotiate a compromise. Sometimes the employee is
brought back to work with a clearer understanding of job expectations.
Sometimes, in housing cases, the landlord and tenant are able
to work out their problems just by talking it over with the help
of a neutral mediator. But in some cases, money does become a
necessary term of settlement.