The New Jersey State Office of Dispute Settlement (ODS) provides mediation and other neutral dispute resolution services to the public and private sectors.

These services include:

ODS' role is always that of a neutral third party, and all settlement procedures it conducts are strictly confidential.

ODS has served as a court-appointed mediator in over 750 cases involving a wide range of subject, including a 40-party, $500 million environmental insurance coverage dispute, a $100 million class-action involving the proposed demolition of
high-rise public housing in Newark, and a major oil spill in the waters between New York and New Jersey.

ODS also has extensive experience mediating public policy disputes involving such subjects as the environment, housing and resource allocation. The office has received the CPR Legal Program National Award for Outstanding Practical
Achievement in Dispute Resolution.

In addition to its role as mediator, ODS also designs and administers dispute resolution programs. The office administers hundreds of cases each year involving disputes between new home owners and the builders of their homes, pursuant to
the State New Home Warranty Program. ODS also assists government agencies and communities to implement consensus-building approaches to address difficult policy issues.

The office also makes presentations and provides training in dispute resolution to the judiciary, the New Jersey Bar Association and government entities. Such presentations have been made to the Third Circuit Judicial Conference, New
Jersey Judicial College and major law firms throughout the state. Training programs have been conducted for Administrative Law Judges, the Attorney General's Office, the Department of Environmental Protection and several Bar Associations.

The office is located in the Hughes Justice Complex, Trenton, New Jersey. For further information, phone (609) 292-1773 or FAX (609) 292-6292
E-mail:ODS_PD@opd.state.nj.us