How does mediation work for a Florida construction dispute?

Construction disputes are among the most document-intensive civil matters, often involving the contract, change orders, schedules, inspection reports, pay applications, and lien records. Mediation gives the parties a structured setting to work through that record with a neutral and reach a practical resolution — a payment figure, a repair scope, or a schedule adjustment — without the expense of a construction trial, which can involve competing expert witnesses and extensive discovery. Many Florida construction contracts contain a clause requiring mediation before litigation or arbitration, and courts routinely refer construction cases to mediation as well.