Conflict Resolution

Independent Neutral Fact-Finding

Special Master Program

Resolving Conflicts over Issues of Fact

Conflict Resolution through Independent Neutral Fact Finding - "Special Master" Program

Joel Edward Gross serves as an Independent Neutral Fact Finder/Special Master, assisting clients with resolving disputes involving, among other matters, employment, contracts, proprietary ownership issues, civil rights violations, and conflicts of interest, thereby eliminating high costs, expensive delays and failed relationships.

With over 40 years of domestic and international management experience in investigations, risk management, insurance, claims, security, safety and business operations, Mr. Gross is able to assist with resolving issues involving matters of fact, where trust and personal integrity are required and where a conflict of interest, or even the perception of it, may be an issue.

These services enable:

• Quicker Resolution: State court cases typically take two years to reach a conclusion, while federal court cases can take four or five years. Buy utilizing our neutral fact-finding and resolution process, disputes can be settled in a few months or less. Rapid resolution saves money and lessens ancillary problems.
  
  
• Reduced Costs: State court cases that are settled prior to trial incur attorney costs on the average of $30,000, and federal court cases can cost upwards of $100,000. These figures do not include settlement. Cases that do not settle and progress to mediation or trial can result in jury awards ranging from $150,000 to millions of dollars PLUS attorney fees. Patent and copyright actions can cost over $1 million just to get through the discovery phase. These expenditures do not include the ancillary costs, including replacing workers who leave and the loss of revenues from damaged reputations, credibility, lost market share, and customers who decide to take their business elsewhere and the impact they have on other clients, present and future. Our neutral fact-finding and resolution can average 5%-10% of typical legal fees, and can be borne by one or both parties.
  
  
• Maintenance of Relationships: Litigation destroys business relationships and personal relationships. Neutral fact-finding and the independent resolution process allows for the continuing of relationships as both sides settle their differences in a reasonable manner.
  
  
• RSI principals serve as an Independent Third Party/Special Master where conflicts arise over issues of fact, and where there is a need for neutral fact finding, such as:
  
  
  • When a Trusted Third Party is needed for negotiations that require sharing or exchanging proprietary information, trade secrets, or other sensitive information with opposing counsel, and to avoid the exposure, both sides desire that this Party review, analyze, evaluate and compare their documents and information, and then issue a report of findings;
    
    
  • When an Independent Neutral Fact Finder is needed during an Alternative Dispute Resolution, whether in negotiations, arbitration, or mediation.