SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FEE DETERMINATION IN A COMMUNITY-BASED DISPUTE RESOLUTION
There is provided a system and method for fee determination in a network-based dispute resolution environment. A request to resolve a dispute within a network-based community is received from a first disputant. A fee to resolve the dispute is collected from the first disputant. At least a portion of the fee is returned to the first disputant when an outcome of the dispute is in favor of the first disputant. A panel of one or more members of a network-based community determines the outcome of the dispute. The one or more members may be compensated based on overall performance.
1 . A method for fee determination in a community-based dispute resolution on a network, the method comprising:
receiving a request to resolve a dispute within a network-based community from a first disputant;
collecting a fee to resolve the dispute from the first disputant; and
returning at least a portion of the fee when an outcome of the dispute is in favor of the first disputant.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining an outcome to the dispute based on input received from a panel including one or more members of the network-based community.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more members are a general juror.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more members are a specialist juror based on qualifications.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the fee is higher if the panel includes one or more specialist jurors.
6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the dispute involves the first disputant and a second disputant, and wherein the panel is selected by the first disputant and the second disputant.
7 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising forming the panel from a pool of potential jurors.
8 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising forming the panel by inviting potential jurors based on preset criteria.
9 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising forming the panel using volunteering members.
10 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising providing compensation to the one or more members based on performance of the one or more members.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising monitoring the performance of the one or more members based on a length of time that the member takes to make a decision.
12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising monitoring the performance of the one or more members based whether a decision of the member is more often a decision of a majority of the panel resolving the same dispute.
13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising monitoring the performance of the one or more members based how often the member fails to provide a vote within an allotted time.
14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising monitoring the performance of the one or more members based a number of disputes the member has voted on.
15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising keeping the fee in its entirety when the outcome of the dispute is not in favor of the first disputant.
16 . A machine-readable storage medium in communication with at least one processor, the machine-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, provides a method for fee determination in a community-based dispute resolution on a network, the method comprising:
receiving a request to resolve a dispute within a network-based community from a first disputant;
collecting a fee to resolve the dispute from the first disputant; and
returning at least a portion of the fee when an outcome of the dispute is in favor of the first disputant.
17 . The machine-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises monitoring performance of one or more members of the network-based community who form a panel that settles the dispute, and compensating the one or more members based in part on the monitored performance.
18 . A system for fee determination in a community-based dispute resolution on a network, the system comprising:
a dispute resolution wizard to receive a request to resolve a dispute within a network-based community from a first disputant; and
a dispute fee management module to collect a fee to resolve the dispute from the first disputant and return at least a portion of the fee when an outcome of the dispute is in favor of the first disputant.
19 . The system of claim 18 , further comprising a performance module to monitor performance of one or more members of the network-based community who form a panel that settles the dispute, compensation paid to the one or more members being based in part on the monitored performance.
20 . A system for fee determination in a community-based dispute resolution on a network, the system comprising:
means for receiving a request to resolve a dispute within a network-based community from a first disputant;
means for collecting a fee to resolve the dispute from the first disputant; and
means for returning at least a portion of the fee when an outcome of the dispute is in favor of the first disputant.