What is one of the goals of early neutral evaluation in ADR?

One of the primary goals of early neutral evaluation in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is to assist parties in assessing the strengths and weaknesses of their case. This process involves an impartial expert who provides an evaluation based on the information presented. By doing so, parties gain valuable insights into the merits of their arguments and the likelihood of success if the matter were to proceed to trial. This evaluation can lead to more informed decision-making, potentially mitigating the need for more prolonged and costly litigation.

The early neutral evaluation encourages open communication and can facilitate negotiations, guiding parties toward a settlement by clarifying expectations and revealing the potential outcomes. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses can directly influence how parties approach the dispute, whether they decide to negotiate, settle, or continue toward litigation.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the primary function of early neutral evaluation. Providing a binding legal decision would contradict the voluntary and non-binding nature of this ADR technique. While early neutral evaluation may indeed speed up the resolution process, this is more of a beneficial outcome rather than a core goal. Summarizing all evidence does not encapsulate the primary purpose either, as the focus is on the evaluation of case merits rather than merely summarizing information.