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Issue
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Small Claims
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MBA
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|
Dispute Amount
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Anything less than $5000
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For up to $10,000
|
|
Cost
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$55 filing fee
$15 serving fee
|
$500 filing fee
Arbitrator fees
Administration fees
Room fees if necessary
|
|
Judge
|
Yes
Judge Rules
Elected to the position
|
No.
Arbitrator is the judge
Not an elected official.
|
|
Jury
|
Yes
Usually 6 of your peers
|
No.
Arbitrator is the judge and jury
|
|
Procedure
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You present your case to the jury.
Follows rules of the law.
Held in public
|
You present to the arbitrator
Follows arbitrators rules only.
Held in secrecy
|
|
Witnesses
|
Yes
You can bring in witnesses
|
No.
Arbitrators have denied witnesses
|
|
Discovery
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Attorney required
|
Optional
|
Mandatory
|
|
Binding
|
No
It can be appealed
|
Yes
The decision is final
|
|
Time required
|
2 months
|
Unknown
|
|
Alternatives
|
District court
|
Mandatory Binding Arbitration is the ONLY alternative
|
|
Results
|
Public Record
Available for all to review
|
No.
Held in secrecy
|
