The Arbitration Timeline to Expect 60 to 90 days: During this next three-month period, all parties will exchange information and prepare for a hearing. 91 to 100 days: At this point, the arbitration hearing will take place, which could be just one day or several days.
How do I choose arbitration? All parties must agree to arbitration and complete and sign DWC Form-044, Election to Engage in Arbitration. There is a deadline. The completed form must be filed with DWC by the 20th day after the benefit review conference.
Validity of Arbitration Agreements Under Section 171.001 of the TAA, written agreements to arbitrate are generally valid and enforceable in Texas. This section ensures that, barring any specific legal exceptions, parties bound by a written agreement to arbitrate must settle their disputes outside of court.
To file the parties' request for arbitration, mail or fax DWC Form-044 to: Chief Clerk of Proceedings, Hearings. Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation. Hearings, Mail Code HRG. PO Box 12050. Austin, TX 78711-2050. or. 512-804-4011 (fax number)
Without a valid arbitration agreement, no arbitration can take place or award can be rendered. In other words, a valid arbitration agreement is the cornerstone of any arbitration proceedings. Townsend, J.M., Drafting Arbitration Clauses: Avoiding the 7 Deadly Sins, Dispute Resolution Journal, 2003, p. 1.
The Request must: be written in English, French or Spanish (the official languages of the Centre) include the name and contact details of all parties (including e-mail, street address and telephone number) be signed and dated by the requesting party or its representative.
A claimant will typically start arbitration by sending a document known as a “request for arbitration” or a “notice to arbitrate” to its opponent.
Arbitration is a procedure in which a dispute is submitted, by agreement of the parties, to one or more arbitrators who make a binding decision on the dispute. In choosing arbitration, the parties opt for a private dispute resolution procedure instead of going to court.
Arbitration tends to be less expensive than litigation because it typically involves fewer procedural hurdles and streamlined processes. Additionally, arbitration can be faster, often resolving disputes more quickly than court cases, which can drag on for years. Another advantage is confidentiality.