AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE AAA'S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ARBITRATION RULES EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 1996

The construction Industry Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") have been amended for cases filed on and after April 1, 1996.  Set forth below is a summary of the significant changes.  The rules pamphlet should be consulted for the specific changes, as well as minor stylistic changes that appear throughout.

                                                      Background
In June 1994, the AAA created the Construction ADR Task Force, comprised of 55 representatives of the construction industry and it advocates. The mission of the Task Force was to undertake a comprehensive review of the AAA’s Construction Dispute Avoidance, Management and Resolution Services, including rules, administrative policies, panels, binding and non-binding forms of ADR, education and training programs, and outreach, with a goal of improving AAA services and helping the AAA be more responsive to the needs of the construction industry.