Alternative Dispute Resolution
New Service to Rate Arbitrators
Posted Sep 28, 2009 4:22 PM CST
By Martha Neil
An influential non-profit that promotes alternative dispute resolution is partnering with a little-known small company to promote an arbitrator rating service.
The ratings, which will be made anonymously by lawyers who have used arbitrators listed on a directory maintained by Positively Neutral, will be available to members of International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution early next year, reports Corporate Counsel.
The arbitrators are expected to be charged a small fee to participate in the program, but the ratings will be free to CPR members.
P.D. Villarreal, who serves as associate general counsel at Schering-Plough Corporation USA and is a member of CPR's board of directors, says the group hopes the ratings will be, for those seeking an arbitrator, what the Martindale-Hubbell directory is to those looking for an attorney.
"It's another piece of information," Villarreal tells the legal publication, adding "And we crave that."
- How B of A’s GC Got Fired: Leave Now, and Leave Your BlackBerry Behind
- Schools Ranked by 'Super Lawyers' Produced
- Law Firm Price Wars Break Out as Some Try ‘Loss Leader’ Bids for Work
- Five Questions for Law Firms Abandoning Lockstep Compensation
- Judge Jails 2 Attorneys for Contempt in 4 Days
- Reed Smith Will Ask Nonequity Partners to Pony Up Possibly 15% of Pay
- Court Deputy Ordered to Apologize or Face Jail After Taking Lawyer's Paperwork
- Skadden Jumps on the Bonus Bandwagon
- ABA Executive Director Resigns
- Nasty Attitude to Co-Worker, Naughty Word in E-Mail Cost 2 Their Jobs
Should Supreme Court Justices Be Able to Review News Accounts Before Publication?
Comments
CS
Sep 29, 2009 10:48 AM CST
This may not be of any use to consumers, who are unlikely to be members of such groups, if they’re trying to chose a highly rated arbitrator. In fact, savvy consumers might find that ‘highly’ rated arbitrators are simply those that corporate clients liked—in other words, arbitrators that rule against consumers most of the time, regardless of the validity of the consumer’s case.
I have seen many rating type sites come and go, and have seen the criticism and descriptions of how the system can be gamed. One crucial measure of a rating system’s neutrality is whether anyone’s getting paid for the results. If so, it can lead to a source that shows there is bias, or excluded info, that makes the rating system anything from unreliable to a total farce.
If this is being marketed for the industry I’m sure it will serve them. If it’s being marketed as something consumers could use, (alone or through their attorneys), then I have suspicions that it isn’t going to help them very much. Wish I could be more positive but when it comes to arbitration, and ratings, I have seen plenty of reasons for consumers to be concerned about accuracy and fairness.
Flag this comment
Add a Comment
We welcome your comments, but please adhere to our comment policy.
Commenting has expired on this post.