Federal & State Regulations | Alternative Dispute Resolution - Oregon

Summary of differences between federal and state regulations

Federal law supporting alternative dispute resolution is found in the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act of 1996, 5 USC Sec. 571 – 584, and the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 USC Sec. 1 – 16. These laws provide some detail on ADR, but also leave it to various parties (government agencies, for instance) to adopt various forms of alternative dispute resolution.

In addition to the federal law, there are numerous state laws on ADR. In fact, thirty-five states have adopted the Uniform Arbitration Act as state law. Several states have also adopted the Revised Uniform Arbitration Act.

Below is a summary of Oregon’s requirements regarding ADR. Consult the regulatory links for detailed information.

Dispute Resolution

It is Oregon policy that, when two or more persons cannot settle a dispute directly between themselves, it is preferable that the disputants be encouraged and assisted to resolve their dispute with the assistance of a trusted and competent third party mediator, whenever possible, rather than the dispute remaining unresolved or resulting in litigation.

The state has several options available for mediation and arbitration.