Alternative Dispute Resolution

Frantz Ward’s Alternative Dispute Resolution practice group assists clients across industries in resolving disputes efficiently and effectively outside of court. Our attorneys serve as neutral arbitrators, mediators, and advocates in matters, bringing practical experience and deep institutional knowledge to each stage of the dispute resolution process.

Within the settlement process, mediation, or arbitration, we represent clients in a variety of matters, including but not exclusive to the following areas:

• Business
• Commercial
• Consumer
• Construction
• Labor and Employment
• Real Estate

Whether mediating a dispute between the purchaser and seller of a closely held business or arbitrating on behalf of clients with collective bargaining agreements, clients turn to Frantz Ward as our team is well versed with alternative dispute resolution options.

Our attorneys are members of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF), in which they serve panels to resolve issues brought before them. These roles strengthen their abilities to function as arbitrators and provide a strong ethical code for handling alternative dispute resolutions. We also have experience handling matters before the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services and JAMS.

Representative Matters

• Successfully defended equipment manufacturer against $40 million claim in multi-week arbitration, resulting in an award of money owed to the manufacturer.
• Defense award for a construction surety in AAA arbitration (and related bankruptcy court action) defeating claims over $32 million based on allegations that its bonded principal, a mechanical contractor, improperly installed millions of dollars’ worth of process piping.
• Defended construction surety in AAA Arbitration and resolved claims more than $18 million based on allegations of negligent design and construction of a hospital curtain wall system in downtown Chicago.
• Negotiated an eight-figure settlement in favor of a specialty subcontractor in a dispute on a project in Queens, New York.
• First chaired mediation in eight-figure dispute on behalf of Fortune 200 project owner against prime contractor for design defects, schedule delays, and performance guarantees.
• Litigated differing site conditions and equitable adjustment claims on behalf of a contractor performing a tunneling project in Chicago, Illinois, and negotiated a favorable settlement worth more than $3.5 million.
• Represented a claimant construction company in a consolidated AAA arbitration proceeding and obtained a $2.65 million settlement based upon the respondent owner’s failure to pay remaining contract balances on three separate construction projects, as well as money owed under an asset purchase agreement, loan, and settlement agreement.
• Successfully defended against $4.2 million construction-defect claim and won arbitration award in excess of $600,000 for a contractor on a multi-project, international and domestic contract dispute and confirmed arbitration award under the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards.
• Successfully mediated a multimillion-dollar lawsuit in a case involving alleged defective work relating to construction of medical facility in Akron, Ohio.
• Successfully mediated a $10+ million lawsuit involving multiple parties and the alleged defective installation of a fire suppression system in a high-rise commercial building in downtown Cleveland that resulted in extensive flooding and property damage.
• Successfully pursued damages for delays and extra work in connection with a public utility and road construction project and obtained an award on behalf of the prime contractor in arbitration of more than $2 million.
• Defended a contractor from a multi-million-dollar delay and additional cost claim relating to a public transit project in Singapore over the course of an arbitration in the International Court of Arbitration.
• Mediated matters on behalf of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and successfully resolved several actions.
• Member of a three-person panel in a multi-week arbitration involving a dispute among the members of a limited liability company in connection with the failure of the company’s business.
• Presiding arbitrator of a panel in a complex healthcare provider-insurer dispute with claims and counterclaims related to contract breaches.
• Served as mediator in a dispute between family members in a closely held family business.
• Obtained $750,000 in damages for a regional health care client in a dispute involving the defendant’s failure to make payments under several contractual agreements between the parties, including counterclaims by the defendant that were completely dismissed by the arbitrator.
• Multiple representation of securities broker/dealers and registered representatives in FINRA arbitrations.
• Successfully obtained a settlement payment from a service provider and vendor in the marijuana industry after filing a deceptive trade practices lawsuit.
• Successfully represented executor and settled a will contest action brought by disinherited heirs of the decedent.
• Attained a full defense arbitration award on behalf of global corporation on state and federal age discrimination and retaliation claims.
• Served as lead counsel in the successful defense of class grievance arbitration on behalf of an area hospital system regarding the closure of specialty units.