Fast-Track Construction Arbitration Rules

Scope & Application
These rules apply strictly to private construction, quality, warranty, and contract performance disputes where the parties have agreed in writing to use Continuity Solutions LLC as the administrative authority.

RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR EXPEDITED ARBITRATION

Effective Date: September 8, 2026
Jurisdiction: State of Indiana

SECTION 1: INITIATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE CLAIM

  • 1.1 The Intake Submission: To formally file a dispute, the initiating party ("Claimant") must complete the electronic intake form located at continuitysolutionsllc.com. The Claimant must upload a copy of the signed project agreement or vendor contract containing the approved administrative clause or a fully executed Voluntary Submission Agreement.

  • 1.2 Administrative Review: Upon receipt, the intake desk (intake@) will issue an active case tracking file number and review the document formatting within twenty-four (24) business hours.

  • 1.3 Respondent Notification: The Company will immediately transmit a formal Notice of Arbitration and an intake file copy to the opposing party ("Respondent") via electronic mail.

SECTION 2: FILING FEES AND RESPONSIVE WINDOW

  • 2.1 Fee Structure: Both the Claimant and the Respondent are subject to an equal, non-refundable administrative filing fee of $500.00 each to open and register the active case file.

  • 2.2 Timelines for Response: The Respondent has exactly five (5) business days from electronic receipt of the Notice of Arbitration to clear their matching $500.00 administrative filing fee invoice.

  • 2.3 Default for Non-Payment: Failure by the Respondent to clear the filing fee invoice within five (5) business days constitutes an immediate administrative default. The file will be closed, and an official Administrative Default Certificate will be issued to the Claimant to facilitate immediate court enforcement or small claims remedies.

SECTION 3: THE ESCROW DEPOSIT, DEADLINES, & SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING

  • 3.1 The Initial Case Estimate: Upon receiving both administrative filing fees, Continuity Solutions LLC will evaluate the visible complexity of the claim items and issue an initial Case Estimate calculating the required arbitrator review, hearing, and writing hours.

  • 3.2 The Escrow Payment Clock: Both parties must deposit their equal share of the estimated arbitrator hourly expenses into the secure Continuity Solutions Escrow Account within five (5) business days of invoice issuance. This expense is billed in accordance with the Continuity Solutions Standard Fee Schedule in effect at the time the claim is initiated (split equally between the parties). No work will begin on credit.

  • 3.3 Initial Deposit Default: Failure by either party to submit their initial escrow deposit within five (5) business days constitutes an immediate administrative default. If the initiating party defaults, the case will be dismissed. If the responding party defaults, the case will be administratively dismissed with prejudice, and the initial $500.00 administrative filing fees shall be completely forfeited to the Company as an administrative liquidation penalty.

  • 3.4 Supplemental Funding Protocol: In the event that the volume of evidence, hearing extensions, or structural code analysis causes an active case to exceed the initial hourly allocation, the Company reserves the right to issue a Supplemental Escrow Estimate. The assigned arbitrator will immediately pause all case administration, and the final written award will be strictly withheld until the matching incremental escrow balances are cleared by both parties within five (5) business days of issuance.

  • 3.5 Supplemental Default: Failure to clear a supplemental invoice within the five (5) business day limit will result in immediate file closure, forfeiture of filing fees to the Company, and the return of any remaining unearned hourly escrow balances—minus completed arbitrator hours logged up to the point of dismissal—returned to the respective parties in full.

SECTION 4: PANEL ASSIGNMENT AND CREDENTIALS

  • 4.1 Appointment Authority: Continuity Solutions LLC maintains sole administrative authority to assign an independent contractor from its pre-vetted expert panel to act as the single arbitrator for the file.

  • 4.2 Panel Classifications & Expertise Selection: Disputes involving contract language, statutory interpretations, or payment deadlocks will typically be routed to a specialized construction attorney (Esq.). Technical disputes centered on building code compliance, mechanical items, framing, or structural integrity will typically be routed to an active, licensed Indiana Professional Engineer (P.E.). The Company maintains sole discretion to assign disputes regarding localized field quality, punch lists, or trade execution to a veteran field superintendent, job-site foreman, or certified third-party inspector possessing a minimum of ten (10) years of direct construction operations experience.

  • 4.3 Conflict Screening: Panel neutrals must run an immediate conflict check upon a case match. If a conflict of interest is identified, the neutral must decline the file within twenty-four (24) business hours, and the Company will route it to an alternative panel expert.

SECTION 5: EVIDENCE TRANSMISSION & VIRTUAL PROCEEDINGS

  • 5.1 The Digital Evidence Window: Both parties have exactly ten (10) business days from official arbitrator assignment to upload all supporting trade files, blueprints, logs, contract texts, and high-resolution defect photos to the secure shared cloud directory provided by the intake desk. No physical or paper binders will be accepted.

  • 5.2 The Fast-Track Virtual Hearing: The dispute will be presented during a single, mandatory, timed virtual video conference hearing managed by the arbitrator. The hearing is strictly capped at two (2) hours total, split equally between the Claimant's presentation and the Respondent's cross-examination or rebuttal.

SECTION 6: THE FINAL BINDING AWARD

  • 6.1 Arbitral Authority: The parties explicitly waive any right to a jury trial or courtroom litigation. The arbitrator’s authority is derived strictly from the underlying contract agreement and standard Indiana Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) frameworks.

  • 6.2 Issuance Timeline: The arbitrator will analyze the digital evidence pack and hearing testimony, and issue a final, legally binding written award within seven (7) business days of the conclusion of the virtual hearing.

  • 6.3 Timeline Extensions for Complexity: If an assigned case presents extraordinary technical complexity, an excessive volume of trade evidence, or requires supplemental statutory analysis, the Company maintains sole administrative discretion to authorize a timeline extension. In such instances, the Company may authorize an additional review window or schedule a supplemental 1-hour virtual clarification hearing. The final written award timeline shall adaptively track to seven (7) business days from the official closing of the expanded evidentiary record.

  • 6.4 Enforceability: The final written ruling and financial award shall be final, non-appealable, and legally binding. Judgment upon the final award may be entered, confirmed, and executed in any court of competent jurisdiction within the State of Indiana.

SECTION 7: STRICTOR CONFIDENTIALITY SHIELD

  • 7.1 Nondisclosure Boundary: The entire arbitration pipeline—including filed intake items, digital trade evidence, video transcripts, settlement figures, and the final written award—shall remain completely private and confidential.

  • 7.2 Public Disparagement Prohibition: Neither party shall publish, post, or distribute any details of the active or finalized claim to the public, local press, or online social media and consumer review platforms.