Court Settlement for Quick and Quality Resolution of Legal Disputes

(Patria) - Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina whose cases are pending in first and second instance courts have the opportunity to resolve their cases through a court settlement in an abbreviated procedure, and within the framework of the Court Settlement Week from September 21 to October 2, it was announced by the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HJPC BiH). 

As further stated, a court settlement is a faster and cheaper way to resolve legal disputes, which involves mutual agreement between the parties to the dispute. In this way, the parties and the court are spared the lengthy conduct of court proceedings, unnecessary procurement and presentation of evidence, postponement of hearings, and potential appellate proceedings, thus avoiding numerous additional costs of regular court proceedings. Court Settlement Weeks are organized at the initiative of the HJPC BiH in all courts in BiH to resolve a larger number of cases peacefully, in an abbreviated procedure, which is more economical and faster for the parties. 

"Parties who are interested and wish to resolve their cases through a court settlement can independently, through their representative, or in agreement with the opposing party, contact their court or the presiding judge, and propose the conclusion of a court settlement through a written proposal or in another way. The presiding judge will, in accordance with the proposal and the will of the parties and the provisions of the Law on Civil Procedure, strive to resolve the dispute through settlement throughout the procedure," it is stated. 

The HJPC notes that this method of peaceful dispute resolution is not sufficiently utilized in the court practice of BiH, and that it represents an effective way to resolve all types of civil and non-litigation cases, especially cases related to the collection of utility and similar low-value services, labor disputes, payment of debts and collection of receivables, compensation for damages, division of property and real estate in joint ownership, boundary demarcation, material benefits, and others. Parties can conclude a court settlement at any time, regardless of the timing of the Court Settlement Week, which is realized by the HJPC BiH in cooperation with all courts in BiH, according to the announcement.