Chinese courts try mediating disputes in cyberspace

Judge Chen Liaomin not only helped a struggling mother solve her dispute with a hospital, but also changed her impression of legal authorities. These effects came about through an online mediation workshop run by Chen, a 40-year-old judge of Xihu District People's Court in Hangzhou, capital of eastern China's Zhejiang Province. Such services are on the rise as China's legal system embraces modern technology. A woman teacher surnamed Yu in southwestern Chongqing Municipality, lost a lawsuit against a local hospital where her son contracted a skin disease while receiving injections. The mother felt the verdict unfair as she was sure she could win. In the online mediation workshop, Chen made Yu, who lived several thousand km away, aware that lack of evidence caused her to lose the case. The judge encouraged her to be confident. Following Chen's advice, Yu finally reached a deal with the hospital about the lawsuit. "Her patience changed my impression of judges. They helped me understand how to face lawsuits and build up my confidence in law," says Yu of Chen. The Hangzhou judges's online workshop was opened in September last year. It has got since 450,000 hits and offered legal advice on 732 cases through audio, video or text communication. "Due to lack of knowledge about law and their legal rights, some people do not know how to seek help when facing disputes and often feel anxious and helpless," says Chen. "Sincere exchanges with judges in cyberspace can allow opponents, who either live in different cities or are unwilling to sit face to face, accept mediations," she explains. She believes successful mediations on civil disputes could reduce the number of such cases which need to be handled in courtrooms. In another case, the online mediation center of Xuhui District People's Court in China's business hub Shanghai, has solved dozens of civil disputes since it began operating in October 2011, according to Ma Chao, a publicity official of the court. The center recently helped Liu Leiyan, a woman in central China's Wuhan City, retrieve 47,513 yuan (about U.S. dollars) owed to her by a former boss. Zhang Youde, a professor at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, explains courts in China are facing an increasing number of lawsuit cases. "Making good use of the Internet to carry out mediation and solve disputes will save a lot of cost," Zhang says.