Arbitration is a form of dispute resolution which is growing in popularity. It is a process in which the parties volunteer to have their disputes resolved outside of the court system. However, unlike with mediation or negotiations, the parties are no longer attempting to reach a settlement. Instead, they are presenting their issues in dispute to a trained professional for a ruling. Arbitration has many benefits, including speed and expense.

The Process of Arbitration

The first meeting will be spent setting the “ground rules” for the Arbitration proceeding. It is at this meeting that decisions will be made as to what issues will be presented to the arbitrator, whether the Rules of Evidence will be applied, and when the arbitrators ultimate decision will be rendered. Any issue can be presented to Arbitration, but only if the parties agree.

Once the rules are set, the arbitrator will schedule the appropriate days of hearings during which time the parties, with their attorneys, will present there case to the arbitrator. Once the hearings have concluded, the arbitrator will declare the matter closed and prepare the final decision. This decision is considered binding on the parties and can only be appealed or set aside for very limited reasons. Because of this limited right of appeal, it is very important to pick an arbitrator that both parties have confidence in.

After receiving the final decision, either party may apply to the court to have the decision made binding upon the parties and adopted by the court, to set aside the decision, or to modify the decision if appropriate.

Benefits of Arbitration

• Control over the issues presented. Both parties must agree to the dispute, as opposed to an open litigation in which either party can raise any issues.
• Arbitration is private. Information provided in Arbitration is not made part of the public record.
• Not as time consuming as a court battle. Depending on schedules, Arbitration can be concluded within a few months, as opposed to waiting for a trial, which in certain counties could take years.
• The parties and the arbitrator control their schedule as opposed to being held at the mercy of the court system.
• Not as expensive due to effective use of attorney time.

At Celli & Schlossberg LLC, we have years of experience in mediation and Arbitration, and we enjoy our work. We find it very satisfying to offer our clients these options in order to resolve their important legal issues. If you need a trained and experience mediator or arbitrator, CONTACT US TODAY for a consultation. Meet us, and come to realize the benefits that our trained and experienced mediation and Arbitration attorneys can provide.