This bill has been endorsed by attorneys and judges statewide. Both the King and Pierce County bar associations have conducted studies that concluded modest amendments to the current system would best serve the public. Mandatory arbitration offers citizens a faster option to resolve small civil cases. On average, arbitration hearings are held about four months after the case is referred to arbitration. In King, Pierce and Spokane counties, for example, citizens must often wait more than a year for a court date.
Arbitration is cheaper than a jury trial.
It would also cost the individual thousands of dollars in expert and witness fees. King County's Court Congestion Task Force found arbitration handles the caseload equivalent of two full-time judges on the superior court bench. Under this proposal, court users would be required to pay a small charge to cover the costs of the MAR program. Virtually every county must delay court dates of civil cases to accommodate the dramatic increases in their criminal caseloads, putting courtrooms further out of reach of consumers. This proposal encourages settlement of small civil claims outside of the courtroom.