Mediation is an informal but effective way to resolve a dispute. The parties agree to meet in a neutral location with a neutral party (the mediator) who begins a dialogue with the parties to figure out what happened that caused the problem and hopefully to work with the parties to come to an amicable answer to the problem. The parties first gather in a meeting room and then are separated so the mediator can speak to each side privately. The mediator listens carefully to each side to understand what went wrong. The mediator does not find fault and does not give an award or judgment. Only the parties can come to a resolution that is agreeable to them. The mediator is not a judge or an arbitrator, so there is no need to "prove" a case. The parties are in control of their own destiny. If they want to end the dispute, it is in their hands.