Arbitration has long been viewed as a faster, more efficient alternative to litigation. But anyone involved in construction disputes today knows that is not always the case. The process can be just as costly, sometimes taking as long as a court case. Yet one thing remains consistent, and it is the most important point for
Court or Arbitration? Why Contractors Can’t Afford to Get this Wrong
As a construction litigation lawyer, dispute resolution is a recurring issue. It starts before the project begins at the time of contract negotiation, where the parties decide whether to require litigation or arbitration of their disputes. During project performance, disputes can often be addressed formally or informally. And after the project is completed, the
New Tools, Streamlined Access: AAA’s Website Gets a Major Redesign
If you’ve handled construction disputes, chances are you’ve interacted with the American Arbitration Association (AAA). As one of the leading forums for alternative dispute resolution in the industry, the AAA is central to how many construction contracts manage conflict. According to a recently AAA announcment, it just got a lot easier to use.
Earlier this
One-Sided Arbitration Clauses: New Mexico Court Decides Fight Between Contractor and Subcontractor
As a single dad of seven, resolving daily disputes is a common occurrence in my house. Whether it’s whose turn it is to pick the next Netflix stream or who gets the last Crumbl cookie, disagreements are inevitable. Fortunately for my kids, they don’t need to go to an arbitrator or judge to resolve these
Home Builders and Developers Beware: SC Supreme Court Beats Up Hybrid Arbitration Clauses Mercilessly
Today’s guest post is by one of my favorite construction lawyers and friends, Burr partner Ned Nicholson in our Columbia, SC office. Ned regularly represents clients in construction defect and compensation claims, manufacturer/dealer disputes, and insurance coverage lawsuits. He is also a South Carolina certified mediator. Ned can be reached at nnicholson@burr.com or (803) 799-9800.
9 Best Practice Tips for a Schedule Analysis of Construction Delays
Arbitrator: Produce Those Construction Documents . . . And Me: You Have No Authority!
Construction disputes often involve voluminous amounts of discovery, including documents in the hand of third parties. And if the case is subject to arbitration, it is likely that there will be a dispute about whether the arbitrator has the authority to compel production of third-party documents or witnesses for deposition.
On September 18, 2019, in
Construction Contracts And Arbitration Provisions: Is The Word “May” Mandatory? Maybe!
You don’t always say what you mean. And you don’t always mean what you say. In construction contracts, parties attempt to use plain and ordinary words to describe their respective obligations.
As an example, when the parties use the word “shall” in their agreement, they generally understand that the obligation specified is mandatory. Or
Tony Piazza and Eric Green: Ask The Experts Any Mediation Question!
When it comes to identifying the best mediators in the country, Tony Piazza and Eric Green are at the top of the list. And, on October 8, 2015, they will be sharing the stage in Austin, Texas for the Construction ADR Summit (pdf) sponsored by the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law.
The
Revised AAA Construction Rules Take Effect July 1, 2015
The past week has been one of sweeping changes. (…no comment…) But one set of non-controversial changes is the Revised Construction Industry Arbitration and Mediation Procedures released by the American Arbitration Association.
The Rules, which take effect July 1, 2015, can be downloaded here. The major revisions include:
- A mediation step for