SCHEDULE A MEDIATION
SCHEDULE A MEDIATION
Grounded in Law. Guided by Fairness.

What is Arbitration?

Arbitration is a private dispute resolution process in which parties submit their dispute to a neutral arbitrator in lieu of traditional court proceedings. The arbitrator reviews the evidence, considers legal arguments, and issues a written decision – known as an arbitration award – that is final and binding, subject to very limited judicial review.

Unlike litigation, arbitration offers parties greater flexibility in process design, enhanced confidentiality, and a more efficient path to a definitive resolution.

Arbitration is widely used in commercial contracts, healthcare agreements, employment matters, construction disputes, partnership conflicts, and complex civil litigation — essentially wherever parties seek a binding decision outside the courtroom.

The Process: How Do Arbitrations Work?

Arbitration follows a structured adjudicatory process similar to litigation — but conducted in a private forum, on terms the parties help shape.
1. Agreement to Arbitrate
The parties agree — through a contractual arbitration clause or a pre- or post-dispute agreement — to resolve their dispute in a private arbitral forum rather than through court litigation.
2. Selection of a Neutral Arbitrator
The parties select a qualified arbitrator (or panel of arbitrators) with subject-matter expertise relevant to the nature and complexity of the dispute.
3. Preliminary Case Management
The arbitrator conducts an initial conference to establish scheduling parameters, define the scope of discovery (if any), address threshold legal issues, and set procedural protocols tailored to the matter.
4. Arbitrator’s Supervisory Authority

Throughout the proceeding, the arbitrator exercises active oversight of the process — resolving discovery disputes, ruling on procedural applications, deciding dispositive motions where appropriate, issuing scheduling and evidentiary orders, and addressing jurisdictional or arbitrability challenges. The arbitrator’s authority is defined by the parties’ agreement and governed by applicable arbitration law.

5. Arbitration Hearing
Each party presents documentary evidence, witness testimony, expert opinion, and legal argument in a structured evidentiary proceeding before the arbitrator.
6. Final Award
Following the hearing, the arbitrator evaluates the evidentiary record, resolves contested issues of liability and damages, and issues a written award setting forth the decision and its basis. Upon confirmation by a court of competent jurisdiction, the award may be entered as a judgment and enforced in accordance with applicable law.

Types of Arbitration

In addition to traditional binding arbitration, Saviñón Mediation & Arbitration Services offers structured arbitration formats designed to calibrate risk, control exposure, and promote disciplined valuation.

High-Low (Bracketed) Arbitration

Pre-established minimum and maximum award parameters reduce volatility while preserving full adjudication on the merits.

Baseball (Final-Offer) Arbitration

Each party submits a single proposed figure; the arbitrator selects one in its entirety — incentivizing reasoned, defensible valuation and discouraging extreme positions.

Non-Binding Arbitration

An evaluative adjudication that provides a reasoned award without waiving the right to trial — often used to facilitate resolution, test case value, or narrow contested issues before full litigation exposure.
These structured formats allow parties and counsel to align the dispute resolution mechanism with the strategic and practical demands of the case.

Benefits of Arbitration

Privacy and Confidentiality

Arbitration proceedings are not part of the public court record – protecting sensitive business, financial, and personal information from disclosure.

Efficiency and Cost Control

Arbitration typically proceeds more efficiently than litigation through streamlined procedures, focused discovery, and limited motion practice – reducing time to resolution and overall costs.

Decision-Maker Expertise

Parties select an arbitrator with specialized experience in subject matter of their dispute – including complex civil litigation, healthcare and long-term care matters, professional liability, medical malpractice, wrongful death, corporate governance, and complex damages analysis.

Procedural Flexibility

The process can be tailored to the complexity of the dispute — with customized discovery parameters, briefing schedules, and evidentiary protocols designed to fit the matter, not the other way around.

Finality

Binding arbitration provides a definitive resolution with limited appellate exposure — offering closure without the uncertainty of prolonged post-trial proceedings.

Arbitration Services at Our Firm

Arbitration Services at Our Firm

Integrity in Every Step. Impartial in Every Decision.

Saviñón Mediation & Arbitration Services provides private, high-integrity arbitration services for complex civil disputes — including healthcare matters involving long-term care, skilled nursing, assisted living, and post-acute providers, as well as broader negligence and professional liability claims. When litigation risk is significant and the stakes demand a decisive, enforceable outcome, proceedings are structured to deliver clarity, efficiency, and finality.

Arbitration proceedings are managed with the rigor of a courtroom and the efficiency of a private forum — ensuring every party receives a fair, thorough hearing without unnecessary procedural delay.

This is not volume-driven dispute resolution. Each matter receives deliberate attention, structured oversight, and decisional precision.

For parties and counsel who value preparation, discretion, and decisional integrity, Saviñón Mediation & Arbitration Services offers a private forum built for serious disputes.

Submit your case for arbitration today

Arbitration Fees & Terms

1. Fee Structure

Hourly Rate: $350 per hour, billed in 0.25-hour (15-minute) increments. Hourly rate applies to hearings, conferences, documentation review and study time, order/award drafting, administrative case management, and any additional consultation that a party to the arbitration requests or the arbitrator deems necessary. Rate subject to prospective adjustment upon prior notice.

2. Fee Allocation

Allocation of Fees: Unless otherwise provided by the parties’ arbitration agreement or final award, Arbitrator fees and expenses are shared equally by the parties.

3. Billing & Payment

Invoicing: Invoices are generally issued monthly and are due upon receipt.

Late Payment: Past-due balances may accrue interest at 12% per annum beginning 30 days after invoice date. The Arbitrator may suspend proceedings for nonpayment.

Final Hearing Total Reservation Fee: A retainer of $2,500 per hearing day (up to seven hours per day) is due upon reservation of final arbitration hearing date(s). The total reservation fee equals $2,500 multiplied by the number of hearing days reserved. This is a single reservation retainer—assessed per matter, not per party—and is credited toward final hearing time and related administrative services.

4. Administrative Terms

Cancellation Policy (Strict): 50% of the total reservation retainer is refundable only if the final hearing is cancelled in writing more than 30 calendar days before the scheduled hearing date(s). No refund if cancellation is not made in writing at least 30 calendar days prior to the scheduled hearing date(s).

Rescheduling: If new hearing date(s) are reserved following cancellation or continuance, a new reservation retainer may be required.

Nonpayment: The Arbitrator may suspend scheduling and further work until all past-due amounts are paid.

Court Reporter & Transcript: A certified court reporter is required for the final evidentiary hearing unless waived in writing by all parties. Costs of the court reporter and original transcript are shared equally unless otherwise agreed. Any party requesting expedited transcripts, additional copies, real-time reporting, video, or enhanced services bears the incremental cost.

Administrative & Scheduling Authority: Final hearing dates may be rescheduled only upon a showing of good cause and with prior written consent of the Arbitrator.

Expedited Arbitration – Flat Fee Program

Did you know we offer expedited binding arbitration for a flat fee of $5,000 for disputes with an amount in controversy of $50,000 or less?

For smaller disputes where efficiency and cost predictability matter most, Saviñón Mediation & Arbitration Services offers Expedited Arbitration for a flat fee of $5,000 for claims valued at $50,000 or less. This program is designed to provide a streamlined, business-focused resolution without the time and expense associated with full-scale arbitration or litigation.

Key Features

Flat Fee
$5,000 total arbitrator fee for eligible claims valued at $50,000 or less. Unless otherwise required by the parties’ arbitration agreement or allocated in the final award, arbitrator fees and expenses are shared equally by the parties.
Limited Discovery
Expedited matters involve minimal to no discovery, unless the arbitrator determines that limited targeted discovery is necessary.
Preliminary Conference

A prompt scheduling conference is held to:

  • Address any threshold or procedural issues
  • Define the scope of the hearing
  • Establish deadlines
  • Set the final hearing date
One-Day Final Hearing

The evidentiary hearing is limited to one day. If the arbitrator determines that additional time is necessary for fairness or completeness, additional time will be scheduled and billed accordingly.

Efficient Resolution

Expedited arbitrations are typically resolved within approximately 90 days from appointment of the arbitrator.

For additional details, including eligibility, fee structure, and program features, please review the Expedited Arbitration – Flat Fee Program under Custom ADR Services.

Engaging Our Arbitration Services

Parties seeking to engage Saviñón Mediation & Arbitration Services for arbitration should submit a completed Arbitration Intake Form, together with a copy of the applicable arbitration agreement(s) and any pleadings or court orders referring the matter to arbitration, to intake@savinonADR.com

Upon receipt and review of the submission, we will contact the parties to confirm availability, circulate the Arbitration Engagement Agreement, address any preliminary case management considerations, and coordinate next steps.

Download the Arbitration Form

Disclaimer: Submission of this Arbitration Intake Form does not create an attorney-client relationship. The arbitrator acts solely as a neutral and does not represent or provide legal advice to any party. Submission does not constitute acceptance of an appointment. Information submitted may be used for conflicts checks and availability and may not be treated as confidential unless and until the arbitrator has been formally appointed and an Arbitration Engagement Agreement has been executed.