Masonry Magazine August 1987 Page. 16
Steetley Acquires Cushwa
Victor Cushwa & Sons has been acquired by Steetley Brick & Tile Ltd., one of the largest brick and tile manufacturers in the United Kingdom. The Cushwa firm is the British firm's first American brick plant acquisition. Current management will remain with the Cushwa family.
NEW BRICK PLANTS
Two new brick plants have recently opened. Richard Schauber has established the New Brick & Tile Company in Easton, Maryland this is a revival of the old Chestertown Brick plant in Chestertown, MD. Dick McHose started Lehigh Clay Products, Ltd. of West Des Moines, IA. Until recently the West DesMoines plant manufactured only clay drain pipe.
Publish New Guidelines
Drawing upon its extensive case administration experience, and in consultation with construction industry advisory groups, the American Arbitration Association has published new Guidelines for Expediting Larger, Complex Construction Arbitrations. The AAA recommends that the Guidelines be used by the parties in cases involving $250,000 or more.
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The Guidelines have several key features, among which is an administrative conference to be held very early in the administration of a case. This meeting, which is conducted by the AAA regional vice president or senior administrative staff member, allows the AAA and the parties to address key administrative questions without the need for lengthy exchanges of correspondence. According to George H. Friedman, AAA vice president for case administration, the administrative conference "enables the AAA to quickly get a handle on a case. Important items, such as the number and qualifications of the arbitrators, the number and sequence of hearing dates, and preliminary exchanges of information are determined quickly."
A preliminary hearing, which is run by the arbitrators, is also a feature of the Guidelines. Friedman said that this meeting, which is held after the arbitrators are appointed, "gives the arbitrators an opportunity to shape the proceedings. Arbitrators may establish a schedule for exchange of information, provide for brief written statements clarifying the dispute, and work with the parties to establish the precise dates for the hearing. Consecutive hearing dates are encouraged, as are other case management techniques."
The Guidelines highlight the availability of mediation, a nonbinding process in which a neutral helps the parties negotiate an amicable settlement of their dispute. About 80% of the disputes submitted to mediation result in a settlement.
Friedman said that the AAA has identified those arbitrators on its panel who have demonstrated an ability to effectively manage larger, more complex cases. Of the more than 4,300 construction arbitrations filed in 1986, nearly 100 involved claims of $1 million or more, and in about 800 cases, claims exceeded $100,000.
The new Guidelines are available in a succinct pamphlet entitled "Guidelines for Expediting Larger, Complex Construction Arbitrations." Single copies are available free of charge by writing to the American Arbitration Association, Public Relations Department, 140 West 51st Street, New York, Ν.Υ. 10020.
"I sure was lucky," said the surgeon as he emerged from the operating room. "Why." asked his nurse. "I was just in time. In another hour the patient would have recovered without the operation."
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