Arbitration does not require the use of court rules or procedures and is viewed as a simplified private court proceeding. Each side will present their case to the arbitrator who will then decide the issue. Once the matter is decided the case is over and in most cases the court will enforce the arbitrators decision.
Opting out of the arbitration agreement isn't damaging to you. You can always do arbitration if you would prefer that, although if you'd like to join class actions or sue the judge will throw out your case if you are still in this agreement.
Arbitration might be the right choice for some cases. Limited discovery rights and costs might be useful when less is at stake. Arbitration might feel less adversarial, which could be an advantage where ongoing relationships are hoped to be preserved. Arbitration lends some confidentiality.
Arbitration agreements require that persons who signed them resolve any disputes by binding arbitration, rather than in court before a judge and/or jury. What is binding arbitration? Binding arbitration involves the submission of a dispute to a neutral party who hears the case and makes a decision.
Employees should evaluate whether the agreement is voluntary, fair, and balanced—especially regarding costs, arbitrator selection, and remedies. There are strategies to negotiate more favorable arbitration terms. Arbitration can significantly limit rights such as access to discovery, public trials, and appeals.
This depends on the facts of your job, how the “agreement” is presented, and the court jurisdiction that controls your situation. If you do sign it, you will probably be stuck with arbitration as the only method of legal redress for any job-related problems.
You and the Company use a neutral, trained arbitrator to resolve the dispute instead of a judge and jury. By agreeing to resolve their disputes exclusively through binding arbitration, the parties agree that they are waiving their rights to a trial in a court with a judge or jury.
Top 10 tips for drafting arbitration agreements Introduction. Scope of the arbitration agreement. Seat of the arbitration. Governing law of the arbitration agreement. Choice of rules. Language. Number and appointment of arbitrators. Specifying arbitrator characteristics.
To give you an idea of the process that arbitration typically involves, the American Arbitration Association describes artibtration as having five main steps: Filing and initiation. Arbitrator selection. Preliminary hearing. Information exchange and preparation. Hearings. Post hearing submissions. Award.
In conclusion, an effective opening statement will tell the arbitrator in a concise, courteous fashion exactly what the factual situation in the case is, what the issues are, how the advocate wants the arbitrator to rule on the issues, and exactly what relief is being requested.