Serving the High Plains
An online service for resolving debt-collection lawsuits was implemented statewide by New Mexico courts this week, including Quay County.
Online Dispute Resolution is a free service that allows both sides in a lawsuit to negotiate an agreement through private online messages from any location with internet access.
The system works on all computers, smartphones and other mobile devices and is available 24 hours a day.
“It is difficult and time-consuming for people in rural areas to travel long distances to a courthouse,” 10th Judicial District Court Judge Albert Mitchell Jr. stated in a news release. “Online Dispute Resolution offers a way for people to resolve a consumer debt lawsuit from the convenience of their home or business without the need to take time off from work to appear in a court hearing.”
Debt and money-due cases include lawsuits in which a bank sues a person over credit-card debt or a hospital seeks payment for unpaid medical bills.
About 31,000 debt and money-due lawsuits were filed in New Mexico from April 2018 through April 2019.
ODR has been available since June in the 2nd, 6th and 9th judicial districts and was expanded statewide Sept. 1 to all district and magistrate courts. The 10th Judicial District covers Harding, Quay and De Baca counties.
“It gives the parties an opportunity to resolve their money conflicts among themselves in a non-threatening and reasonable way,” Harding County Magistrate Court Judge Karen Mitchell stated. “I am proud state courts are offering this service to our citizens, especially those in rural New Mexico, where mediation options are limited at best.”
The online system asks questions of each party what they want to potentially resolve the lawsuit, and offers are exchanged. The online system automatically prepares a settlement document and electronically files it in court if an agreement is reached.
During the first two weeks of negotiation, both sides involved in a dispute may ask for the help of a trained online mediator.
If no agreement is reached after 30 days, the online negotiation ends, and the case moves forward in court.