MASSENA -- Small claims cases in the village will now be handled outside of a trial setting, according to Mayor Tim Currier.

The program is an effort between the mayor’s office, Rural Law Center of New York’s North Country Conflict Resolution Services and Massena town and village courts.

“This program is advantages for our citizens for many reasons. Most notably is the high success rate it has in resolving cases peacefully and it will reduce the burden on our very busy local court and judges,” Currier said.

“Mediation will allow parties to fashion a result that works best for them and provide them with a quick outcome and great savings of their hard earned tax dollars,” Associate Director of North Country Conflict Resolution Services Diana Dufresne said.

According to Currier, advantages of Conflict and Resolution Services over traditional small claims trials include:

• A success rate above 95 percent.

• 31 trained mediators

• Is more flexible than local courts

• Reduces the courts case load

• Takes into accounts all parties needs

• Provides quicker results than court

• No cost to the participants or the court

• Prevents the escalation of disputes

• Outcome is mutually agreed upon by all parties

After discussing this program with Dufresne, Currier said he pitched it to Town Justice Gerald Sharlow and in a matter of a few weeks, they started the program.

More info: 769-2525 or http://www.rurallawcenter.org