News

A message from Ross Hart

TO: CLIENTS OF FORUM DISPUTE MANAGEMENT AND HART ADR
RE: NEW CASE ADMINISTRATION COMPANY

Dear Clients:

For the past two years, my office has been managed by FORUM Dispute Management, a division of the Minneapolis-based National Arbitration Forum (“NAF”). Our affiliation with them allowed us to upgrade our systems and procedures, further develop our panel and enhance our market reach, and build programs that allowed us to serve a broader geography and clientele.

One thing we had been getting away from however was the ability to deliver the type of personal service and flexibility that can only come from local ownership and management. Accordingly, effective May 1, 2008 Los Angeles-based Arbitration Mediation Conciliation Center (“AMCC”) will be taking over the FORUM Dispute Management operation. Myself and our other nuetrals will no longer be affiliated with the National Arbitration Forum.

Our objective is to make the transition as seamless as possible. AMCC just signed a new three year lease of the same space we have been using at 3055 Wilshire and the phone and fax numbers will remain the same. AMCC is a locally headquartered and owned company which has operated for over twenty years administering arbitrations, mediations, dispute review boards and insurance appraisals. AMCC, its president Karen Smith and her staff fully understand the construction mediation and dispute resolution business. AMCC has administered thousands of cases and has worked with numerous private construction parties, public entities, sureties and carriers. AMCC is the sole provider to the State of California for the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) arbitration program and administers Insurance Code § 2071 appraisals for first party property carriers. John Horn will join AMCC management as Director of the Los Angeles office. John is a licensed California Lawyer and ADR professor with over twenty years experience in the ADR business having worked for American Arbitration Association, ADR Services and NAF.

I truly believe this change will benefit all of our clients with a more simple, streamlined and efficient approach to case administration handled by a local company. All the other mediators on our panel (Tom Craigo, Robert Mann, Matthew Argue, Don Bloss, Mike Bayard, Alex Robertson, Candace Matson, Robert Mann and Joe Liebman) and I look forward to working with AMCC and continuing to serve your needs.

All work performed through April 30, 2008 will be done under the Forum Dispute Management banner and will be billed and collected by Forum Dispute Management. Commencing May 1, 2008 all work performed will be billed and collected by AMCC. Any fee deposits made by parties to NAF/ Forum Dispute Management for post April 30, 2008 matters will be transferred to AMCC and applied as appropriate.

It is our hope and expectation that the transition will be seamless with as little disruption as possible. If any problems arise, please do not hesitate to contact John Horn at 213 487-8660 extension 204.

Thank you for your business and continued support over the years.

Very truly yours,

Ross R. Hart