The Twenty Second Judicial Circuit of McHenry County has a new Arbitration Center located at 666 Russel Court, Suite 309 in Woodstock. The telephone number for this new McHenry County Arbitration Center is 815-337-0582.
In early August, 2011, the Twenty Second Judicial Circuit of McHenry County and the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit of Lake County submitted a joint request to the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, requesting an arbitration administrator for the Twenty Second Judicial Circuit. Prior to this request, the Nineteenth and Twenty Second Judicial Circuit shared an arbitration administrator, which travelled between the two circuits.
On October 24, 2011 Alison E. Lowery was selected as the arbitration administrator for the Twenty Second Judicial Circuit. Due to space limitations within the McHenry County Government Center and the desire to expand the arbitration program and enhance case management, it was necessary to acquire the necessary facilities outside of the Government Center.
All funding for the McHenry County Arbitration Center comes from the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. The McHenry County General Fund does not financially support the arbitration program.
Arbitration is mandatory for civil cases seeking money damages between $10,000-$50,000. Cases eligible for arbitration proceed in court along an expedited track, with an arbitration hearing date four to six months from the date the case is filed. A panel of three arbitrators conducts the arbitration hearing. Arbitrators are selected on a random, rotating basis from a list of retired judges or attorneys who have attended training. The arbitration panel conducts a hearing, allowing the parties to present all facts, evidence, and law, before rendering an award. The arbitration award is not binding for thirty days, during which time any party present at the arbitration hearing may "reject" the award, pay a rejection fee, and then proceed to a trial before a judge or jury.
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