American Arbitration Association Revises Rules for Construction Arbitration
On July 1, 2015 the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) issued revisions to its Construction Arbitration Rules and Mediation Procedures intended to address preferences of users for a more streamlined, cost-effective, and tightly managed arbitration process. The AAA’s press release announcing the rule amendments, which became effectively immediately, states that the changes “reflect what the [AAA] learned from focus groups conducted across the country” structured to “ensure that all industry sectors had the opportunity to provide input.”
Perhaps the most significant change to the rules is the new “mediation step”, which provides subject to any party opting out, all cases with claims that exceed $100,000 must proceed to mediation at some point during the arbitration. The new mediation step rule requires mediation in accordance with the AAA’s Construction Mediation Procedures and provides that unless specifically agreed to by all parties, the mediator may not be appointed as an arbitrator in the case. According to the AAA, the mediation step is a “novel approach” to dispute resolution “intended to further assist the parties with the quick and economical resolution of their disputes.”
The amendments also include a new rule regarding a “Preliminary Management Hearing” that generally should take place very soon after the arbitrator is appointed. The purpose of the hearing is to allow the parties and the arbitrator to “discuss and establish a procedure for the conduct of the arbitration that is appropriate to achieve a fair, efficient, and economical resolution of the dispute.” The parties and the arbitrator have the option of conducting the preliminary management hearing in person or telephonically.
Other changes brought about by the amendments give the arbitrator a greater degree of control over the discovery process, the power to impose sanctions upon parties that fail to comply with the mandates of the arbitrator and the ability to allow parties to file dispositive motions. Finally, the amendments contain a new mechanism that will allow the AAA to appoint an emergency arbitrator within one day to rule upon requests for emergency relief (but only for claims arising from contracts entered into on or after July 1, 2015) and contain time limits and filing requirements intended to streamline the consolidation and joinder processes.
More information about the AAA’s changes to its Construction Arbitration and Mediation Processes is available on the AAA’s website.