Which of the following is NOT a method of settling fair housing disputes?

Litigation is the process of taking a dispute to a court of law where a judge or jury will make a final ruling. While effective, litigation can be lengthy, costly, and adversarial, which often makes it less appealing for resolving disputes, especially in fair housing cases where the goal is often to achieve a cooperative solution rather than an antagonistic one.

In contrast, conciliation, mediation, and negotiation are alternative dispute resolution methods designed to resolve conflicts amicably. Conciliation involves a third party who helps facilitate an agreement between the parties but may take a more active role than a mediator in this process. Mediation is a structured process where a neutral third party assists the disputing parties in reaching a mutually satisfactory resolution. Negotiation is a direct dialogue between the parties involved to reach an agreement without third-party assistance. Each of these methods encourages communication and compromise, which is particularly important in fair housing situations where relationships and community dynamics play a critical role.

Overall, litigation stands out as the method that is least aligned with the cooperative spirit typically sought in settling fair housing disputes.