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    Center for Legal Solutions News
Cobb Mediation, LLC is now The Center for Legal Solutions, Inc. More information

We will be closed on November 27, 28, December 25, 26 for the holidays.

We are proud to introduce Christopher Annunziata as the newest member of our Panel of Neutrals. Mr. Annunziata (A-nun-zi-ata) is an attorney who litigated commercial, employment, insurance coverage and corporate matters at a major international law firm prior to opening a full time mediation and arbitration practice.

See our latest findings: Empirical Analysis of Mediation Comments are welcome.

Christmas Tour The Historic Anderson Mansion will be a featured destination on this year's Marietta Pilgrimmage Christmas Home Tour and will be the site of this year’s Marietta Olde Marietta Tearoom. Visit us Saturday, December 6th and Sunday, December 7th from 10 am to 4 pm.

Strand Theater We recently hosted a special event for Marietta's Strand Theater. Attendees were treated to a preview of the restored Strand Theater and an opportunity to buy season tickets before they went on sale to the general public. See photographs of Strand Event.

GBJ The Center for Legal Solutions Director Barry Edwards' Article on Comprehensive Arbitration of Domestic Relations Cases in Georgia appears in the latest issue of the Georgia Bar Journal.

Mediation Links
These web sites offer more information about mediation:
$99 Arbitration Filing Fees
DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE
Overview of Complex Civil and Commercial Arbitration

Center for Legal Solutions' Complex Civil and Commercial Arbitration Service offers a prompt, just and efficient method of resolving fact-intense and legally complicated disputes. Binding civil or commercial arbitration under our Rules for Complex Civil and Commercial Disputes proceeds through five stages. The suggested comparisons to legal procedures are only meant to provide a quick and approximate description of the Rules for Complex Civil and Commercial Arbitration.

These Rules should produce a resolution within six months from the time arbitration is commenced. The time periods outlined in the Rules can be modified, if necessary. The expectation is that all participants endeavor to achieve a prompt, fair and efficient resolution of their dispute.

See Filing Instructions for Arbitration to get started.

Browse Profiles of Our Complex Civil and Commercial Arbitrators

Michael Ahlstrom, Esq.

Laura Austin, Esq.

Jim Holmes, Esq.

Hon. Andrew Lewis

Ellen Malow, Esq.

Hon. Timothy Wolfe

I. Commencement of Arbitration II. Early Planning and Discovery III. Pre-Hearing Conference IV. The Arbitration Hearing V. Written Arbitration Award
After the parties agree or are ordered to arbitrate their case, the parties exchange pleadings to provide notice of all of the claims they will make in arbitration. If the Parties haven't already done so, they select their arbitrator.

Attorneys may compare this stage of the arbitration to the exchange of pleadings in a litigated case.

This stage is intended to last one month.

APPLICABLE RULES:
At the Early Planning Conference, the arbitrator meets with the parties to create a orderly plan to conduct all necessary discovery. The Arbitator may also make temporary orders at the Early Planning Conference.

Attorneys may compare the Early Planning Conference to a scheduling conference in litigated cases.

The Early Planning Conference is scheduled approximately one month from the Commencement of Arbitration. The Parties than have three months to complete discovery.

APPLICABLE RULES:
At this stage, the arbitrator meets with the parties again to resolve all matters preliminary to the Arbitration Hearing. The parties will present their witness lists, stipulations of fact, and evidence marked for introduction at the Hearing.

The Pre-Hearing Conference may be compared to a pre-trial conference and summary judgment hearing in cases litigated in court.

The Pre-Trial Conference takes place at the end of the discovery period. The Arbitration Hearing is scheduled approximately one month after the Pre-Hearing Conference.

APPLICABLE RULES:
At the Hearing, the parties argue their respective claims and offer evidence in support to the arbitrator. It is a binding and adversarial proceeding.

The Arbitration Hearing compares to a courtroom trial.

The Arbitration Hearing continues day-to-day as long as necessary. Typically, Arbitration Hearings take less time than courtroom trials.

APPLICABLE RULES:
The arbitrator's written decision is delivered to the parties.

The Arbitration Award compares to a judgment. The Award is a written decision by the Arbitrator that decides all claims at issue by outlining the Arbitrator's findings of fact and conclusions of law.

The arbitrator typically issues his or her Award within one month of the Arbitration Hearning.

APPLICABLE RULES:
 
 
The Center for Legal Solutions, Inc.
65 Whitlock Avenue
Marietta, Georgia 30064
Phone: 770-693-3470   Fax: 770-419-4464