The USe of ADR Involving Local Governments: The Perspective of the New York City Corporation Counsel

Alternative dispute resolution can sometimes be a very useful and powerful tool in resolving social problems in which local governments find themselves. But ADR is not the answer to resolving much of the litigation involving disputes over governmental policy. Generally, there are three different types of governmental disputes potentially susceptible to ADR treatment: Money disputes, land use and enironmental controversities, and claims by a particular group of people that a specific social policy being pursued or not pursued by the government is somehow illegal.