What may be imposed if ADR is not pursued?

• A. The case will be dismissed.
• B. The judge will grant a relief to the other party.
• C. A costs sanction may be imposed on them at the conclusion of the proceedings.
• D. The parties must pay equal costs.

Answer: (C)

Not pursuing ADR can lead to a costs sanction because the purpose of ADR is to resolve disputes without going to trial. If a party unreasonably refuses or fails to engage in ADR, the court may order that party to pay the other side’s costs at the end of the proceedings. This penalizes unnecessary litigation and encourages parties to attempt settlement. The other options describe outcomes that don’t reflect the typical consequence of avoiding ADR: dismissal or automatic relief to the other party aren’t standard penalties for not ADR, and equal costs isn’t a general rule tied to ADR avoidance.