Judicial conciliation between occasional and repetitive litigants in consumer relations

challenges and perspectives

Abstract

The research analyzes the effectiveness of judicial conciliation in consumer disputes, focusing on litigation between large corporations and occasional consumers. The central issue investigated is whether conciliation can be a fair and efficient means of resolving such disputes, given the power imbalance between the parties. The study aims to identify the barriers faced by vulnerable consumers and assess the effectiveness of conciliation in ensuring fair resolutions. The justification for the study lies in the need to evaluate conciliation's ability to level these disparities, contributing to a more equitable justice system. The methodology adopted includes qualitative and quantitative analysis of data from institutional reports, legislative reviews, and case studies, focusing on the challenges faced by occasional litigants. The results indicate that, although conciliation offers advantages in terms of cost and time, its effectiveness depends on measures that address consumer vulnerabilities, including adequate legal representation and policies that ensure transparency in the process. The research suggests that without these safeguards, conciliation may not be sufficient to guarantee equitable justice in imbalanced consumer relations.