Procedures to help settle disputes without litigation, including arbitration, mediation, and negotiation, are collectively known as what?

• A. Alternative dispute resolution - ADR
• B. Liberal remedy
• C. Direct litigation
• D. Summary trial

Answer: (A)

Disputes resolved without going through formal court litigation are handled through a set of processes aimed at reaching a resolution outside the courtroom. This group is known as Alternative Dispute Resolution, or ADR. It includes negotiation, where the parties directly bargain to settle; mediation, where a neutral mediator facilitates discussions but doesn’t decide the outcome; and arbitration, where a neutral arbitrator hears the case and issues a binding decision similar to a court ruling but usually more streamlined. ADR can be voluntary or required by contracts or statutes and often saves time and costs while preserving relationships and privacy. The other terms don’t describe this broad, non-litigation framework: liberal remedy isn’t a general term for dispute resolution; direct litigation and summary trial are both court-based approaches, not outside processes.