Dispute Resolution Program

The Dispute Resolution Programs Act of 1986 (DRPA) allows counties to choose to create and fund their own local dispute resolution programs. The purpose of the DRPA is to encourage the establishment and use of local dispute resolution services as an alternative to formal court proceedings.

On November 12, 1991, the Orange County Board of Supervisors authorized a $3 increase in court filing fees effective January 1, 1992, to help finance dispute resolution programs. On May 25, 1993, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution increasing the DRPA proportionate share of civil filing fees from $3 to $8.

The Dispute Resolution Program has proven to be a cost-effective and efficient method of resolving various types of conflicts. Conflicts can be resolved immediately, rather than having disputants wait for the mandatory period of up to six months before an initial civil hearing date is scheduled. The out-of-pocket costs to both the petitioner and respondent are applied on a sliding-fee basis, as opposed to paying attorney fees and civil filing fees that may include a filing fee, motion fee(s), and an answer fee. 

In addition to the savings in time and expense for the petitioner and respondent, there is no need for disputants to take valuable time off from work to resolve their conflicts. Mediations have the flexibility to be scheduled during evenings or weekends at a time and place that is mutually convenient for all parties. Proceedings are initiated in most cases within 30 days of first contact with a DRPA agency.

Mediation services can be used to settle disputes between landlords and tenants, neighbors, consumers and merchants, businesses, and employers and employees, as well as small claims cases.

Types of Mediation Services Provided

• Domestic disputes

• Police and community disputes

• School-related matters

• Homeowners associations

• Mobile home park issues

• Accidents

• Harassment

• Small claims/civil – limited and unlimited

• Judgment/debtor hearings

For more information on the Dispute Resolution Program, please call (714) 480-2948.