Originally from Journal of American Arbitration (JAA)

Preview Page

I. INTRODUCTION 

II. A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF ARBITRATION 

A. Historical Precedents and the Development of Modern  Arbitration 

B. Enactment of the Federal Arbitration Act 

III. OBJECTIVES OF ARBITRATION 

IV. HOW ARBITRATION BEGINS 

A. The Agreement to Arbitrate 

B. The Arbitration Clause 

V. INITIATING THE ARBITRATION 

A. Arbitration Agency or Ad Hoc Proceeding 

B. Notifying the Arbitration Agency of Request for Arbitration 

C. Choosing the Arbitrator 

D. Notification Requirements 

E. Scheduling 

F. Arbitrator Disclosure Requirements 

G. Tendency to Delay 

H. Time Required 

VI. PRE-ARBITRATION MATTERS 

A. Discovery 

B. Subpoena Power of Persons and Materials 

C. Pre-Hearing Issues 

VII. THE HEARING 

A. The Place 

B. Marking Exhibits and Other Preliminary Matters 

C. The Evidence 

D. Theory of the Case 

E. Opening Statement 

F. Burden of Proof 

G. Swearing the Witnesses 

H. Out of Sequence Witnesses 

I. Direct Examination 

J. Use of Visuals 

K. Cross Examination 

L. Redirect Examination 

M. Re-Cross Examination 

N. Hyper-Aggressive Advocates 

O. Closing Arguments versus Post-Hearing Briefs 

VIII. THE DECISION 

A. Use of the Contract, the Law, and Public Policy 

B. The Requirement of a Reasoned Decision 

C. Procedural Requirements for a Decision 

D. Sending the Decision to Reporting Bodies 

E. Ability to Appeal an Arbitration Decision 

IX. PROBLEMS WITH ARBITRATION 

A. Adhesive Nature of the Contract 

B. The Problem of Neutrality 

C. Limited Discovery for Even Complex Cases 

D. Process Too Complicated, Too Slow, Too Expensive 

E. Non-Lawyer Oriented 

F. Arbitrability of Statutory Rights 

G. Lack of Transparency 

H. Arbitrator’s Lack of Power and Control 

I. Punitive Damages are Unusual Even when the Facts Warrant 

J. No Better Result Than Litigation 

K. No Review or Appeal 

L. Is the Process of Arbitration to Achieve a Final Decision or to Seek  Truth and Find Justice 

X. CONCLUSION