Mediation is a process of negotiation between two or more private parties outside of the court with a third party Mediator acting like a referee. This referee mediator is used to help the private parties resolve a dispute. Many mediators will create a formal process where both sides can present there issues, objectives and there feelings in a dispute. In some private contracts the requirment to mediate first is writen into the contract to avoid going to an expensive court proceeding. In other cases a court may mandate that some private cases go to mediation first before they are presented in court. The mediator just like a referee can make a call or opinon for the parites that will effect the outcome of the final results. However the mediator does not have a court power to make a final decision on behalf of the parites. There must be an agreement to all the parties involved in mediation.