Under CCP § 583.310, an action must be brought to trial within five years after it is commenced against the defendant. An action “commences” on the date the original complaint is filed with the court against the defendant. If other defendants are later added, those actions will have a different date of commencement.
Arbitration is often used to resolve disputes in labor and employment matters. For example, an employee might file a grievance with his or her employer, alleging that the employer has violated the terms of the employment agreement.
Cases that are $50,000 or less must go into arbitration. Examples include a personal injury case from an automobile accident, a disagreement about a contract, or some other type of case that doesn't involve criminal charges.
If your case involves factors like privacy concerns, the need for a quicker resolution, or the desire to avoid a public jury trial, arbitration might be an ideal solution. However, if you're worried about the finality of the arbitrator's decision or the potential for bias, you might prefer the traditional court route.
Most general civil cases valued at $50,000 and under may be ordered to judicial arbitration or to civil, court-ordered mediation (Local Rule 3210 (pdf )). Eligible case types include personal injury, business, contracts, collections, employment, and certain real property matters.
Arguments should flow easily from the relevant facts and applicable law. Avoid exaggerating the strengths of your case as well as disparaging the opposing side. Remember that professionalism and credibility are critical to persuasiveness.
A claimant will typically start arbitration by sending a document known as a “request for arbitration” or a “notice to arbitrate” to its opponent.
If your case involves factors like privacy concerns, the need for a quicker resolution, or the desire to avoid a public jury trial, arbitration might be an ideal solution. However, if you're worried about the finality of the arbitrator's decision or the potential for bias, you might prefer the traditional court route.
Always get straight to the merits without berating the other side or whining about how badly it has treated you. Another threat to your credibility is the “kitchen sink” arbitration demand or a response that includes numerous claims or defenses that have little chance of succeeding.
An orderly presentation of one's own witnesses, with an outline of the case at hand to make certain that every point is made in the right order, and perhaps a summary of the case presented to the arbitrator in typewritten form to make doubly certain that nothing is forgotten when the time comes to write the decision, ...