What does a mediator actually do in a complex Alabama civil case — and how is that different from a judge or an arbitrator?

A mediator is a neutral facilitator, not a decision-maker. Unlike a judge or an arbitrator, I don't rule, award, or impose anything — the parties keep full control of the outcome, and nothing is binding unless they choose to sign a settlement. My role is to move a case that's stuck: I meet with each side confidentially, pressure-test the strengths and weaknesses both sides would rather not say out loud in open court, carry offers and reasoning back and forth, and help the parties find a number and terms everyone can live with. In a complex civil matter — insurance, personal injury, products, medical liability — that usually means helping each side see its real litigation risk clearly, so the discussion shifts from positions to what the case is actually worth settled.