The AAA Construction Rules and Mediation Procedures were developed with input from the National Construction Dispute Resolution Committee (NCDRC), an advisory group founded in 1966 by the AAA in cooperation with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and other industry, trade, and professional associations.

• The AAA has long been named a provider of mediation and arbitration services in the AIA standard contracts as well as included in the ConsensusDocs and other form contracts as a provider of ADR services.
• The Fast Track Procedures of the AAA Construction Rules limit the cost and time of a hearing and apply to all two-party cases where no party’s disclosed claim or counterclaim exceeds $100,000.
• The AAA Supplementary Rules for Fixed Time and Cost Construction Arbitration limit the cost and duration of arbitration proceedings and allow parties to calculate the maximum time to complete the arbitration, the number of hearing days, and the arbitration costs.

The AAA Construction Industry Panels of Arbitrators and Mediators are comprised of highly-qualified, diverse, and experienced construction attorneys and industry professionals.

The Construction Mega Project Panel members are top construction arbitrators specializing in construction mega projects, rated by a committee of attorneys and in-house counsel experienced in representing owners, contractors, design professionals, and insurers in disputes arising out of major construction and infrastructure projects.

Dispute Resolution Board (DRB)

• The AAA Dispute Resolution Board Guide Specifications
• Schedule A - AAA Dispute Resolution Board (DRB) Operating Procedures
• Schedule B - AAA Dispute Resolution Board Hearing Rules and Procedures
• Schedule C - AAA Dispute Resolution Board Fees
• Construction Industry Initial Decision Maker (IDM) Procedures

A Project Neutral, selected from the construction panel, is familiar with the project plans and specifications and is on hand at the job site, staying in contact with the parties and keeping abreast of a job’s progress. Parties decide if their project neutral acts as an advisor providing non-binding opinions, a mediator facilitating the parties’ negotiations, or an individual vested with decision-making authority, as well as whether the project neutral serves on call or is more integrated into the project.

Partnering represents the commitment by all stakeholders to achieve the goals, objectives, and procedures that they have agreed upon prior to a project’s commencement. The AAA provides stakeholders with a list of qualified partnering facilitators for party selection and assists in the appointment process. If the parties wish, the AAA may establish the initial and follow-up facilitation workshops and monitor the partnering process throughout.

The revisions to our Home Construction Arbitration Rules and Mediation Procedures are effective August 1, 2018. The revised Rules include amendments that directly address user preferences for a more streamlined, cost-effective, and tightly-managed arbitration process to avoid the high costs of litigation.

To review the updated Rules, Fee Schedule, and Summary of Changes, click here. 

More information can be found at New Jersey Legislature, New Jersey Law Revision Commission and in the AAA NJ Residential Lien Arbitration Rules.

Real estate-related disputes involving owners, purchasers, lessees, and lessors include the market value for purchase/sale or lease of land or structures; common area and operating expense reimbursements; operational, occupancy, and use disagreements; real estate commissions; title disputes; partnership agreements; and tax, land use, and zoning issues.

Environmental disputes include pollution control, environmental cleanup, and chemical regulation for chemical plants, landfills, and other types of industrial projects. The AAA helps parties cut through the maze of multi-party and multi-jurisdiction disagreements.