AAAchar(39)s Commercial Caseload Up 46 Percent in 2007

June 16, 2008 -- The total number of commercial cases filed with the American Arbitration Association rose 46 percent in 2007, increasing from 14,211 cases in 2006 to 20,711 last year. Mediation and international case filings were also up 6 percent, according to the Association.

Within the commercial caseload category, the sectors showing growth last year include:

•Banking/financial services: Case filings jumped from 328 in 2006 to 413 in 2007, representing a 26 percent growth;

•Real estate: Case filings grew from 698 in 2006 to 729 in 2007, a 4 percent growth;

•Construction: Case filings rose from 4,085 in 2006 to 4,199 in 2007, a 3 percent growth.

Mediation cases filed with the AAA increased from 2,143 in 2006 to 2,281 in 2007. The 6 percent growth coincided with significant enhancements in the AAAchar(39)s mediation services last year, including the revision of its Mediation Procedures to provide a new pricing structure that lets parties file a mediation case at no cost.

In addition, the AAA expanded access to its mediation services by providing full-service, local mediation case management throughout its network of offices across the country. It also launched an online Mediator Profile Search Service, taking the guesswork out of finding a qualified mediator by providing around-the-clock access to profiles of hundreds of mediators on the AAAchar(39)s Panel of Mediators.

Cases filed with the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), the AAAchar(39)s international division, increased from 586 in 2006 to 621 last year. The 6 percent growth was driven by these areas within the international sector: real estate (55 percent increase), partnership/joint venture (47 percent), energy (45 percent) and insurance (36 percent).

　　2007年AAA商事案件从2006年的14211件上升到20711件，增长46%。调解与国际纠纷案件也同比上升6%。在商事纠纷仲裁案件中，去年各行业的增长幅度如下：

　　银行/金融服务：个案申请数猛增，从2006年328件升至2007年的413件，增长26％; 

　　房地产：立案数由2006年的698件升至2007年的729件，增长4％; 

　　建筑纠纷：立案数由2006年的4085件升至2007年的4199件，增长3％。 

　　在调解案件立案方面，AAA去年全年所立案件也从2006年的2143件升至2281件，增长6 ％，这与去年AAA推进调解服务，修改调解规则，使用新的调解案件收费办法以半价收取调解立案费用的种种举措有关。 

　　此外，AAA通过提供全程服务及利用网络办公室管理美国本地调解案件的方式扩大其调解服务的使用范围。同时还推出在线调解员的个人资料搜索服务，当事人可以通过24小时均可访问的数以百计的调解员小组的个人资料库，找到合适的调解员。 

 　　AAA的国际分支机构－－国际争端解决中心（ICDR）2007年的立案数 ，也由2006年的586件增至621件。 6 ％的增长由该国际部门的下列领域带动：房地产（增长55％），合伙/合资（增长47％），能源业（增长45％）及保险业（增长36％）。

（来源 : 美国仲裁协会）