Chandler offering free mediation program for neighborly disputes

The city of Chandler is offering residents a resource to resolve neighborly disputes outside of the courtroom. The free and voluntary program was developed with the Lodestar Mediation Program at ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.

The initiative is designed to address specific resident-to-resident issues, which could include HOA conflicts, property maintenance, noise complaints, and disputes between landlords and tenants.

Under the guidance of faculty, ASU law students will work with residents to find a long-lasting solution that works for both parties.

ASU law professor Art Hinshaw, the director of the program, says people have more at stake than the law in disputes like these.

“It helps our students understand that the law plays an important role, but it doesn’t play the only role in a lot of disputes that regular people face on a day-to-day basis,” he said.

The program does not handle disputes with local businesses or within the same household. Residents who are interested can sign up by completing an online mediation interest form on the city’s website.

“We want them to have the resources that they need,” said Tawana Mower, with the city’s Neighborhood Programs Office. “A lot of the times, it really just does take a third person who’s neutral to be a third person who is neutral to kind of be able to see both sides, you know, both perspectives and help the neighbors really just talk it through.”