The arbitrator has 30 days to render an award. Cases heard in the United States under AAA domestic rules usually follow the common law, adversarial model described above. In civil law countries, the hearing procedure is likely to follow the more inquisitorial format more familiar to European advocates. The parties and the arbitrators can mutually fashion an appropriate method of obtaining evidence. Indeed, some arbitrations are decided entirely on the basis of documents.
Arbitrators have broad authority under the law.
The extensive discovery procedures found in United States litigation are not found in arbitration under AAA rules, which offers cost saving opportunities. An arbitrator can issue subpoenas, fix the date of hearings, grant postponements, or proceed with a hearing in the absence of a party who fails to appear before after being notified. Ex parte awards are enforced as long as there was an agreement to arbitrate. The arbitrator s authority is derived from the agreement of the parties. The arbitrator must also conform to the arbitration law which require arbitrators to attend all hearings, listen to all material evidence, and disclose any prior relationship with the parties.