Employment Mass Arbitrations are those cases where the American Arbitration Association® (AAA®) determines in its sole discretion that the following conditions are met:
- Twenty-five (25) or more similar demands for arbitration or requests for mediation are filed against or on behalf of the same party or related parties;
- Representation of the parties is consistent or coordinated across the cases; and,
- The Employment/Workplace Fee Schedule or the Consumer Fee Schedule applies.
In the context of employment dispute resolution, the American Arbitration Association is unsurpassed in its expertise. The AAA administers thousands of employment arbitrations every year, not including Mass Arbitrations. The AAA’s panel of arbitrators is experienced in deciding employment claims and is larger and more geographically diverse than any other dispute resolution provider.
As a not-for-profit entity, the AAA is committed to ensuring that its fees do not interfere with its mission of fair, effective, efficient and economical dispute resolution.
As the leader in this field, the AAA developed the Mass Arbitration Supplementary Rules to streamline the administration of Mass Arbitrations. The Rules and the additional guidance to parties on measures to consider for saving time and costs in a Mass Arbitration are intended to provide parties and their representatives with a fair, effective, efficient and economical path toward the resolution of Mass Arbitrations.
The filing requirements for Mass Arbitrations are set out in MA-2 of the Mass Arbitration Supplementary Rules. For any caseload that qualifies as a mass arbitration, the AAA requires the following:
- Case-Filing Spreadsheet: a spreadsheet that provides information about each Claimant. The spreadsheet must include information for each individual matter, and all columns must be completed. It also must include the individual address for each Claimant. Please see the sample data provided in the first two lines, which should be deleted prior to submission.
Click here for the spreadsheet.
- List of Representatives/Counsel: a separate list of all representatives/counsel. This list must include all individuals involved for both Claimants and Respondent, along with their email addresses and phone numbers. Representatives include those individuals who will need access to case documents and billing.
- Arbitration Agreement/Court Order: Pursuant to Rule 4 of the AAA’s Employment Arbitration Rules, the filing party must also include a copy of the applicable arbitration agreement. If the arbitration is pursuant to a court order, the claimant must provide a copy of the court order.
- Demand for Arbitration/Request for Mediation: a separate Demand for Arbitration or Request for Mediation submitted for each matter filed. Pursuant to MA-2 of the Mass Arbitration Supplementary Rules, each Demand or Request form must include the complete contact information for all parties and representatives.
Click here for the Demand for Arbitration. Click here for the Request for Mediation.
Each Demand for Arbitration or Request for Mediation must be saved with a unique identifier. The identifier should correspond with the information on the spreadsheet noted above. Please see the first column in the spreadsheet. For example, if the unique identifier on the spreadsheet is 1, then the demand for arbitration should be saved as and provided to the AAA as 1.pdf.
Submission Instructions:
Demands for Arbitration/Requests for Mediation must be submitted through a secure, shared file link, such as Citrix ShareFile. Alternatively, you may request a secure shared file link from the AAA via email at MassArbitration@adr.org. Send the completed spreadsheet, list of all representatives/counsel, arbitration agreement/court order, secured file link, and a cover email to MassArbitration@adr.org, with a copy to the opposing party.
Questions? Please contact us via email at MassArbitration@adr.org or by phone at 1-888-774-6904.