“Arbitration” does not identify one universal process. The controlling record may include a contract clause, later submission agreement, insurance policy, employment document, court order, administrator rules, scheduling order, and written stipulations. Those documents can answer different questions and may not use the same terms.

An arbitration-control sheet should identify the agreement, parties, covered controversy, governing law and rules, decision-maker, hearing procedure, award terms, court role, and each unresolved interpretation question.

Locate the complete agreement and related records

  • Document title, parties, signatures, date, version, amendments, attachments, incorporation language, source, and complete copy
  • Exact arbitration clause or submission language, defined terms, covered and excluded claims, remedies, limits, conditions, and survival provisions
  • Choice-of-law, forum, venue, administrator, procedural rules, filing method, notice address, fee terms, and selection method
  • Later correspondence, demand, response, stipulation, reservation, order, or waiver position that may affect the process

G.S. 1-569.6 addresses the validity of an agreement to arbitrate and allocates specified questions between a court and an arbitrator. The actual agreement and controversy must be identified before assuming that arbitration applies.

Build an authority-and-scope table

  • Person or entity asserting arbitration, person or entity bound, and the source of each claimed relationship
  • Claim, issue, party, remedy, amount, policy, contract, or event said to fall within the clause
  • Question for the court, question for the arbitrator, condition said to be satisfied, and objection preserved
  • Deadline, notice method, response, supporting document, decision owner, and unresolved conflict

Read the selected procedure rather than assuming one

G.S. 1-569.15 addresses the arbitration process, including the arbitrator’s authority over evidence and specified hearing matters. The agreement or selected rules may add procedures. Record conferences, motions, disclosures, discovery, subpoenas, witnesses, exhibits, objections, hearing method, notice, schedule, and the source governing each step.

  • Arbitrator identity, disclosure, appointment source, challenge, compensation, and communication protocol
  • Issue list, burden questions, stipulated facts, contested facts, witnesses, exhibits, demonstratives, and requested relief
  • In-person, remote, documents-only, or mixed hearing; location; access; recording; transcript; interpreter; technology; and confidentiality terms
  • Order date, revision, responsible person, due date, service method, completion proof, and any requested correction

Track the award and post-award path

G.S. 1-569.21 addresses an arbitration award and delivery. Preserve the signed award, date, service, findings or explanation if provided, relief, allocation, interest, fees, costs, performance dates, and any ambiguity.

G.S. 1-569.23 identifies grounds and timing provisions for a motion to vacate an award. It does not create a general rehearing of every disputed fact or legal conclusion. Record any correction, modification, confirmation, vacatur, judgment, payment, satisfaction, or appeal step from its actual source and deadline.

Do not import assumptions from mediation or trial

  • Do not promise that arbitration will be faster, cheaper, private, informal, or final without the governing documents and facts
  • Do not treat a settlement discussion, mediation statement, court-ordered arbitration, contractual arbitration, and private submission as interchangeable
  • Keep disputed authority, scope, procedure, evidence, remedy, and review questions visible instead of resolving them in the control sheet
  • Obtain matter-specific legal review before waiving an objection, missing a deadline, signing a submission, or acting on an award

The related guide to preparing for mediation in a North Carolina injury case covers a different process centered on negotiated resolution. This page owns the document-based task of identifying what controls an arbitration.

Rosensteel Fleishman Car Accident & Injury Lawyers provides information about North Carolina personal-injury claims. Arbitration rights and procedures depend on the governing agreement, applicable law, rules, orders, and case-specific decisions.

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