Arbitration agreements are agreements found in many employment contracts that require employers and employees to resolve disputes through arbitration rather than the civil litigation process. Employers tend to prefer arbitration to litigation, as it is usually faster and cheaper, and many employees sign employment contracts containing arbitration clauses without even knowing that they are giving up their right to file a lawsuit.

At Martin & Bontrager, APC, we work hard to protect employee rights during the arbitration process. We will thoroughly review your contract in order to determine whether the arbitration agreement is enforceable in the first place and challenge it if it is questionable. In the event that you are required to arbitrate your dispute, an experience arbitration attorney will aggressively advocate on your behalf and work to resolve your case a favorably as possible.

Arbitration is a process in which the parties to a dispute agree to have their dispute resolved by an arbitrator, rather than a court. Typically, the arbitrator is a lawyer, retired judge, or person with experience and training that puts them in a position to be able to resolve a dispute. In arbitration, the parties can request and present evidence, call witnesses and be represented by counsel. It differs from traditional litigation, however, in that the ability to obtain documents is usually limited, the proceedings take place in a conference room rather than a courtroom, and the process is typically less formal.

If you have a dispute with your employer that may be subject to an arbitration agreement, you should speak to an attorney as soon as you can. To schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers, call our office today at 323.940.1700 or send us an email through our online contact form.