Settling a lawsuit doesn't mean much if the settlement isn't respected by the parties. This article explores the importance of this by examining two different areas. In the first, it examines a common commercial situation in which one side uses negotiation or mediaton as a tactic to gain greater advantage by acting in bad faith. Prognosis: very poor. In the second situation, a divorce, the author examines several different methods of resolving a dispute about spousal support and reaches the conclusion that the worst prognosis for a lasting settlement is through litigation, while the best, most lasting results, can generally be achieved through mediated settlement.