Arbitration involves a process whereby contending parties agree voluntarily to submit a dispute to a neutral party for decision and agree to comply with the decision.  

• Can be binding or non-binding based upon party requests or contract requirements
• Objective of arbitration is adjudication, not compromise 
• Informal process, similar to court trial
• Often preferred to litigation because parties can limit discovery and set their own rules for presenting evidence
• Usually a last resort, when other ADR processes like mediation have failed
• Grounds for modifying or vacating an arbitration award are narrow, so most Awards are “final”
• Parties may apply to the court to confirm the arbitration award 

Examples of Industries Using Arbitration

• Labor
• Securities
• Commodities
• International Trade
• Construction
• Medical Malpractice
• Maritime
• Escrow

Why Arbitration?

• Provides speedy resolution (5-60 days)
• Less costly than litigation
• Less discovery
• Final and Binding
• Private and Informal
• Expertise of specialized tribunal
• Easier to schedule hearing with arbitrator than with court
• Decision maker with subject mater expertise
• Courts are not well adapted to specific industry needs (e.g. labor-management relations)

Arbitration Experience

• More than thirty (30) Arbitration Awards for public sector labor and employment cases
• Arbitrated Issues:  breach of contract, arbitrability, bargaining unit work, discipline, insubordination, absenteeism, FMLA, leave, procedural due process, disparate treatment, past practices, manufacturer's warranty
• President, Labor and Employment Relations Association, Houston Chapter

Arbitration Panels
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services - Labor Panel, 2012
State of Texas Comptroller - Property Division, 2012

American Arbitration Association - Labor Panel, 2010
Better Business Bureau - AutoLine, 2010
United States Postal Service and American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO, 2007-2009

Arbitration Training

• Labor Arbitrator Training II - American Arbitration Association, 2012
• Labor Arbitrator Training I - American Arbitration Association, 2010
• Better Business Bureau - AutoLine Arbitrator Training, 2010
• Labor Arbitrator Training - National Academy of Arbitrators / Labor & Employment Relations Association, SW Conference, 2010
• Becoming a Labor Arbitrator - Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service, 2009
• Labor Arbitrator Training - National Academy of Arbitrators / Labor & Employment Relations Association, SW Conference, 2009

Speeches and Presentations

• History of Labor Arbitration, Arbitrator Role, Building an Arbitration Practice, Manousso Arbitration Training, 2011, 2012
• Interactional Justice:  Moving Away from the “Judge Judy and Executioner” Approach to Labor Arbitration, LERA / NAA SW Conference, Houston, Texas, 2010