Managing dispute stages

Stages record the individual parts of a dispute. Available types are Mediation, Adjudication, Tribunal and Enforcement. Affinity does not require stages to be added in a fixed order.

Add a stage

1. Open an Open dispute and select Add Stage in Dispute Stages.
2. Select the Stage and Status.
3. Enter the stage Date.
4. If a meeting has been arranged, enter both Meeting Date and Time values. Otherwise leave both blank.
5. Add an optional Description.
6. If you select Completed, Cancelled or Withdrawn, enter an Outcome.
7. Select Add Stage.

Stage statuses

The statuses Pending, Scheduled, In Progress and Adjourned are unresolved. Any stage with one of these statuses prevents the overall dispute from being closed.

Completed, Cancelled and Withdrawn resolve a stage. Selecting one of these displays the required Outcome field, where you record the result or reason.

Adjourned remains unresolved and does not require an Outcome.

View and update a stage

Select a stage in the dispute’s stage list to see its details, associated notes and documents. Select Options → Edit on the stage to update it.

The stage Description is separate from notes added to the stage. Use the Outcome to record the result when resolving it.

Multiple stages and closed disputes

You can add more than one stage of the same type, and add stages while other stages remain unresolved.

A Closed dispute must be reopened before adding another stage or changing an existing stage back to an unresolved status.