Sample Cases
ADR Works professionals have arbitrated or mediated these recent cases.
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The parties began the personal injury mediation with a settlement demand more than 50 times the amount of the initial settlement offer. After working with the parties through great resistance, the mediator persuaded them to adjourn rather than calling it quits. Many telephone conferences finally resulted in the parties returning to the table with an agreement to negotiate within a range that was still very broad. A few hours later, an amount was agreed upon. Both parties and their counsel expressed satisfaction with the outcome.
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A disability discrimination case involved significant risks of legal liability for the improper actions of an employee who was later fired. The employer’s manager took moral responsibility for the employee’s actions, and the sincerity of his apology opened the way for serious negotiations between the parties. The result was a fairly small financial settlement coupled with significant changes in the policies of a major national franchise that will make things easier for its disabled customers throughout the country.
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A contract arbitration presented a difficult question of credibility upon which hinged a significant financial result. Rather than avoid the issue and produce an unsatisfactory compromise, the arbitrator "bit the bullet" and wrote a decision clearly stating his ruling on the crucial credibility issue and granting a significant award to the prevailing party.
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A family business had been run very well for years, until the father’s death left all management responsibilities in the hands of two brothers with very different personal styles. Amid great conflict and growing hard feelings between the families, the mediator helped the parties achieve a division of the business that paved the way for sibling reconciliation through mutual recognition and for commercial cooperation between the two new entities.
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A very complex series of contracts for a number of governmental buildings led to a lawsuit between contractors, which was filed in 1989. A second suit was filed, and both litigated by the mid to late 90's, but issues remained. A third court date was set and an experienced construction mediator was appointed in 1999. In less than 5 hours, a settlement was reached. Document production alone on the 10 year history of this dispute was estimated by the attorneys to be greater than $500,000.
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