Weekend Story-The Wise Judge

A judge was famous for resolving disputes that had dragged on for years in other courts. When lawyers asked his secret, he explained with an example:

“Two neighbors came to me fighting over a fence. One claimed it was six inches on his property, the other swore it was on his. They’d spent thousands on surveys and lawyers.

I asked one simple question: ‘What do you actually want….. the six inches of land, or to stop fighting with your neighbor?’

They both wanted to stop fighting. We moved the fence to the property line, and they split the survey costs. Problem solved in twenty minutes.”

He smiled, “Most people aren’t really fighting about what they say they’re fighting about.”