Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Meet D1’s Neutrals Series: ROBBIE MACPHERSON


Company:
 Cokinos | Young
Location: Manasquan, New Jersey
Email: rmacpherson@Cokinoslaw.com 
Webpagehttps://www.cokinoslaw.com/attorney/robert-j-macpherson/
Law School: Seton Hall Law J.D. 1980
Types of ADR services offered: Arbitration, Mediation, DRB and custom designed processes
Affiliated ADR Organizations: AAA
Areas served: Primarily New York and New Jersey but will travel


Q: Describe the path you took to becoming an ADR neutral.

A: My first major matter was acting as second chair at an arbitration in 1981. I began to arbitrate cases in 1985 and mediate cases in 1990.

Q: What percentage of your current legal practice is spent on ADR work?

A: I spend 30-40% of my time doing neutral work and the balance as a construction lawyer representing clients in transactions and disputes.

Q: Describe your background and experience mediating and arbitrating construction cases.

A: I have been mediating construction cases since 1990. Matters range from multi-family defects cases to industrial, power plant, and heavy civil public and private projects. I have 35+ years’ experience as a construction arbitrator in a wide range of cases as a single panel member, member of a panel, and panel Chair.

Q: Mediators are oftentimes described as “facilitative,” “evaluative,” or “transformative.” Do you have a style?

A: Evaluative and facilitative as required.

Q: Do you have any practices that you find make you particularly effective as a mediator?

A: I believe I am a good listener, understand the mediation process and honestly believe any dispute can be settled.

Q: What are your thoughts on requiring mediation as a contractual prerequisite to litigation or arbitration?

A: To the extent such a provision gets a reluctant party to at least talk to the mediator they help. However, if the mediator gets the impression a party just wants to “check the box” saying they complied, the mediator should let the other party know as soon as possible.

Q: What can attorneys do to best position their clients for a successful mediation outcome?

A: Helping the client understand mediation is all about compromise, not winning.

Q: Are virtual mediations as effective as in-person mediations?

A: While in person mediations are the best practice, virtual does work. Many cases were successfully mediated in virtual proceedings during the COVID pandemic. When in-person sessions are not possible use of a virtual platform should be considered. I also recommend the consideration of a mix of in-person and virtual sessions.

Q: What techniques and strategies do you use to help parties overcome impasse?

A: I’ve used reality testing, playing devil’s advocate, bracketing, providing an advisory opinions on discrete issues, and baseball arbitration. There is also just old-fashioned listening and answering questions about why a settlement is the best alternative.

Q: What ingredients are required for a successful mediation?

A: Mediation should be a conversation between individuals committed to resolving the dispute, who have knowledge of the issue in dispute, the authority to resolve those issues, and access to the necessary expertise regarding technical issues. This is known as the late John P. Madden’s CAKE Recipe for Mediation.

Q: What advice do you have for parties when considering whether to choose a single arbitrator or a panel?

A: A single, experienced arbitrator should suffice for all but the most complex cases. An alternative to a three-member panel is a two-member panel, with one member designated as the tie breaker in the event of the two cannot reach a consensus, which most arbitrators will tell you is a very rare occurrence. The identity of the tie breaker is not known to the two members until they advise the parties, they have reached an impasse. This is known as “The Bastianelli Solution.”

Q: Do you think limits should be placed on discovery in the arbitration context?

A: Yes. I think limits should be placed on discovery in both arbitration and litigation. Discovery is an expensive process that does not necessarily deliver value commensurate to the cost. The only way to ensure arbitration will be less costly and more efficient to litigation is if we treat it as arbitration, not litigation, and make sure the attorneys involved know the difference.

Q: What role should traditional rules of evidence play in the arbitration hearing?

A: Other than privilege, the traditional rules of evidence expressly do not apply under most arbitration rules. Of course, there may be the rare exception, but understand they are rare, and you must make a very compelling case to apply the rules of evidence.

Q: In what way do you use technology in the arbitration process?

A: I encourage the use of technology to make the presentation of evidence effective and efficient. For example, using a virtual platform makes sense to present the testimony of a witness who will only be on the stand for a few hours, but who most travel a full day to appear in person.

Q: Do you have any words of wisdom for parties who are contemplating exercising a contractual right to appeal an arbitration award?

A: Yes… be careful what you ask for. Someone is going to lose. Never make the decision to appeal without also considering the possibility of a cross appeal.

Q: What are some of your interests or hobbies outside of your ADR Neutral practice?

A: Rock-n-roll; current events; biographies and history.

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

VIDEO IS AVAILABLE -- Extreme Winds on Built Environment and Recent Changes in Building Codes

Here is the link to Division 1's Extreme Winds program from September 8, 2022.  



To learn more about this topic, please contact Mike Lane (mike@lanelaw.co) or Can Simsir (csimsir@walkerconsultants.com).  

To learn more about planning virtual or in-person programs with Division 1 (Litigation & Dispute Resolution), please contact Tom Dunn, Chair of Division 1 at rtdunn@PierceAtwood.com.  

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

What's Up at Division 1 (No. 17) -- SEE YOU IN MEMPHIS!

The Forum is going to Memphis, TN (for the first time I think) from September 28-30th.  Register here for the meeting and practicum.  If you cannot make it in person, you can sign-up for the virtual program to receive the great CLE.  

Division 1 is holding its annual planning retreat on September 28th at 9am.  Please email me (Tom Dunn, rtdunn@PierceAtwood.com) to learn of the room name/location and/or receive the Teams invite to participate remotely.   Come and bring your ideas to plan out the 2022/2023 Bar Year which started at the beginning of September.  We will have some new Division 1 braded gifts at this meeting for D1 leadership so please try your best to travel early to attend.  

We will be hosting a construction trial skills practicum in the afternoon on September 28th.  Jason Rodgers-da Cruz lead our team to plan this practicum on openings and jury selection.  The space is limited to 25 people and it is almost sold out so register as soon as possible.  

We are doing our social event also on Wednesday night at 6:30PM in Memphis.  We are going to Itta Bena just down the road from The Peabody.  It is part of BB King's Blue's Club and is fine southern dining.  This dinner will cost $75/person thanks to the generous sponsorship of Breakwater Forensics LLC.  Register for the dinner here.  


Our lunch program will be on Thursday, September 29th.  Brett Henson and Jade Davis coordinated this lunch program on early dispute resolution with their colleague, Peter Silverman, from Shumaker


You can join this meeting via zoom by clicking on this link on 9/29 at 12:30pm CT. 

Extreme Wind Virtual Program -- 9/8/2022

Our speakers and moderator (Mike Lane) did a great job on the extreme wind / building code program on September 8th.  The video will be ready soon and I will post it.  Here is the flyer and some screenshots for now:



 

Next Toolbox Talk - 9/22 at 12PM ET

Such a great program is scheduled for Thursday, September 22nd.  Register Here.  It is on ethical conduct in mediation.  


Pretty soon we will be planning our our TTS programs for 2023.  If you want to join the committee putting these 30 minute programs together, contact me.  

Concepts Book Team

We formed a concepts book team led by Marissa Downs and Brett Henson.  If you want to join that team to propose programs / publications for next Bar Year, please email me and we will add you to this committee.  This is a great way to get in the pipeline for speaking opportunities.  

End of Summer / Start of the Fall

Summer went by TOO QUICKLY for me this year.  I went to the Forum's Summer Conference in Lake Tahoe, NV and attended the Forum's Leadership Planning Retreat there as well.  In addition to the CLE, we had a fantastic time with other Forum members and their families including parasailing, white water rafting, and other fun stuff.  I hope you all had a relaxing summer and I look forward to kicking off a productive ABA Bar Year with you in Memphis.  Here are some photos from Tahoe:










Thursday, September 8, 2022

Are Dispute Boards the Solution for Good Flow in Construction Projects?

The construction world is a complex one where each piece and/or phase should align with one another. Like in a washing machine, if one gear does not comply with its function properly, it will affect the rest of the system.

Subcontractors, suppliers, vendors, and others are important factors in construction projects. Even disputes have their role in construction projects because if a dispute affects the continuity of the project, it will affect the subsequent phases.

Unfortunately, it is all too often common for that to occur. A subcontractor not performing its work correctly or on time will sometimes result in a legal dispute. How to correct the subcontractor’s fault? The first option usually used by contractors (at least in Mexico) is a lawsuit.

This reactive method affects more parts of the washing machine. The natural consequence of filing a lawsuit not only hurts the commercial relationship, it further affects the on time delivery of the project.

One potential solution may be the use of dispute boards. Three factors to consider:

  1. The early find and notification of a rift. Under some model contracts (like FIDIC), the contractor who finds an issue has a short time for notice. The failure to notice the issue on time may result in losing rights to arbitration. Early notice may help to find early on specific situations that can affect the project, and may force contractors to manage the project more strictly.
  2. No suspension of work. One potential benefit of dispute boards is that the project work continues. In other words, the project will continue while the parties are attempting to resolve the dispute.
  3. Impartial members appointed by the parties. The board resolution or recommendation is typically by a panel, usually three members, who the parties appoint at the beginning of the project. The panel is impartial in nature because the members are typically external to the project and to the parties.

The three points above are typical of many dispute boards. These are three good reasons to increase the use of dispute boards in complex construction projects. However, there are still jurisdictions (like Mexico) that continue to reject the use of this kind of alternative dispute resolution.

From my perspective, the increased use of dispute boards would benefit public projects due to the complexity and urgency of those projects.  It would be very helpful to have a board, external to the interest of the parties, conscious of the flow of the project, knows the background, and is ready to solve a claim without stoppage of work.

What are then the reasons to reject the use of dispute boards? One potential answer (at least in Mexico) will be provided in the next submission.

Author Juan Pablo Sandoval is a Jr. Partner at COMAD, S.C. His email address is jpsandoval@comad.com.mx.