Dear PIP Practitioner:

I would like to personally invite your participation in the National Arbitration Forum’s 2009 Settlement Week, June 8-12, 2009.

Although the FORUM administers the NJ No-Fault Arbitration Program, our broader goals include promotion of cost-effective dispute resolution for the parties we serve. We view fostering and facilitating opportunities for party settlements as a necessary part of any conflict resolution system.

Previous years' Settlement Weeks resulted in increased settlements. In surveying users, we learned that the key driver of the additional settlements was user time management. Without a rigorous arbitration hearing schedule, practitioners were able to focus on identifying resolvable claims and communicating settlement positions to their adversaries. This simple change in user routine and focus yielded significant results.

I encourage you to access your free online case management lists of pending cases to identify and group matters with realistic settlement potential. Then, during Settlement Week, contact your adversaries with your settlement positions. If you request the intervention of a DRP as mediator, the FORUM will assign one at no cost.

Please calendar June 8-12 and make every effort to participate in the process. Going forward, the FORUM’s goal is to find ways in which to make Settlement Weeks more productive for all PIP arbitration participants. Please contact me directly with any suggestions to better facilitate settlements. We are eager for your feedback.

Very truly yours,

Joseph A. Di Donato
Vice President of NJ No-Fault