This research will look at the possibility of applying the English system of Adjudication as an alternate dispute resolution technique (ADR) in the United States Construction Industry. I focused on Construction law adjudication in the United Kingdom during my 2010 fall semester in London, and my research continued in the spring semester of 2011 when I returned to Texas A & M and began to focus my study on the American legal system. I am testing the idea that if adjudication were to be implemented into construction contracts in the United States, there would potentially be cost and time saving benefits without deducting from the justice served to the parties. I also attended a Construction Lawyer's conference in San Antonio, Texas to have a roundtable discussion with industry leaders about the possibilities and challenges of statutory adjudication. The feedback was promising for future research on the topic and the possibility of legal application. I have also submitted an abstract using this research to the 2011 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors legal research symposium on law and dispute resolution to be considered for publication in the International Journal of Law in the Built Environment.

For some years there has been growing dissatisfaction with litigation and arbitration as a means of settling construction disputes, and increasingly parties have been turning to adjudication and alternative dispute resolution (ADR). This trend was given a major impetus by the introduction of the 1996 Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act and the Scheme for Construction Contracts, which resulted in statutory adjudication being introduced in most of the main building and engineering standard forms. This book surveys the growth of ADR and looks in detail at the various methods: * adjudication and expert determination * mediation and conciliation * dispute review boards and disputes advisers * other forms, such as mini-trial and mediation-arbitration It discusses the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act and the Scheme for Construction Contracts, and their effect on adjudication and construction contracts considering both procedural and legal issues. It looks in detail at the adjudication clauses of all the main building and engineering contracts.

Many construction conflicts and disputes are not limited to particular jurisdictions or cultures, but are increasingly becoming common across the industry worldwide. This book is an invaluable guide to international construction law, written by a team of experts and focusing on the following national systems: Australia, Canada, China, England and Wales, Estonia, Hong Kong, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Oman, Portugal, Quebec, Romania, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the USA. The book provides a consistent and rigorous analysis of each national system as well as the necessary tools for managing conflict and resolving disputes on construction projects.

Summary: This book examines how disputes arise in the construction industry and suggests ways of avoiding them by identifying problem areas. It introduces the principal means of dispute resolution, litigation, arbitration, ADR and adjudication - it explains how each operates and considers the advantages and disadvantages of each method. The book is written in a straightforward approach and is clear, concise and practical. It has been prepared by a team of lawyers who work for one of the leading law firms engaged in this area. The book is aimed at all of the professions engaged in the construction industry. Contents: Introduction Dispute avoidance Litigation Arbitration Alternative dispute resolution Adjudication

"The challenges facing all members of the construction industry are enormous, but not unachievable... I am confident that the ACE Client Guide 2000 will help all members of the construction industry, whether consulting engineers, architects, surveyors, contractors and their clients, better understanding the challenges facing us and encourage appropriate actin to be taken" Jim Dawson, ACE Chairman 1999-2000. Providing an overview of the market, its structures and external influences, this invaluable guide will help members of the construction supply chain to understand their clients' business needs and equip them to invest appropriately for current and future market developments and take advantage of emerging opportunities. The ACE Client Guide 2000 has been prepared in the ligth of feedback on the first edition, which was published in November 1998, and developments both within the construction industry and in the wider economy over the past 12 months, the facts, perceptions, commentary and sources set out in the ACE Client Guide 2000 provide a basis for individual firms to examine: - What to do - Why they do it - How they do it - How well they do it - Where improvements could be made - How such improvements could be achieved

Assembled from Dispute Resolution Journal - the flagship publication of the American Arbitration Association - the chapters in the Handbook have all, where necessary, been revised and updated prior to publication. The book is succinct, comprehensive and a practical introduction to the use of arbitration and ADR, written by leading practitioners and scholars. The Handbook begins with chapters on specific strategies and tools to help manage risks and avoid disputes in the construction field. It discusses ADR as it relates to subcontracting and labor disputes, the use of a neutral architect, the importance of site visits, and the significance of understanding ADR procedures before agreeing to them. The option of using mediation to resolve disputes is explored, including guidelines and tools for successful mediation, the expert’s role in construction mediation, and what works and what doesn’t work in construction disputes. The use of arbitration is also looked at in depth and guidance is provided for both the arbitrator and for the advocate. There is an entire section devoted to partnering (the creation of a working relationship between a building owner and a contractor which further involves subcontractors, design professionals, and other agencies), discussing its benefits and providing useful tips. Lastly, advice is provided for both small and complex construction claims, and the use of Dispute Review Boards (comprising panels of three technically qualified neutral individuals). The chapters were selected from an extensive body of writings and, in the main, represent world-class assessments of arbitration and ADR practice. All the major facets of the field are addressed and provide the reader with comprehensive and accurate information, lucid evaluations, and an indication of future developments. They not only acquaint, but also ground the reader in the field.

This synthesis report will be of interest to transportation agency administrators, including contract administrators; construction, design, claims, and scheduling engineers; project staff and managers; attorneys; and construction contractors. This synthesis describes the state of the practice with respect to procedures used throughout the United States to resolve disputes to avoid construction claims. Fair and timely resolution of contract disputes may help lessen highway construction project administrative costs, benefitting the public, the agency, and the contractor. This report of the Transportation Research Board examines the underlying reasons for contract disputes and identifies methods for dispute avoidance and resolution. It complements the information in NCHRP Synthesis of Highway Practice 105: Construction Contract Claims: Causes and Methods of Settlement, which focused on the causes of disputes. This synthesis further emphasizes finding ways to settle disputes at their inception, before they become formal claims or lawsuits.