Special Masters are often appointed by courts in complex litigation to oversee discovery and resolve discovery disputes between litigants. Yes, they are an added expense, but their ability to quickly and efficiently resolve disputes among the many parties is minimal compared to the litigation stakes. But with more discovery disputes arising in non-complex matters and congestion growing in local courts, a trend is increasing to use special masters and mediators to resolve discovery disputes. This is particularly true in light of the recent budget cuts to several courts in California.