• Earthquakes

• Fires

• Floods

• Hurricanes

• Mudslides

• Tornadoes

• Volcanoes

With limited court resources available for such massive litigation, plaintiffs, defendants, cross-defendants, and courts are eager to find alternatives to resolve disputes quickly and fairly. Class actions and other forms of aggregate litigation are usually not appropriate based on the nuances of these claims. 

Further, in disasters where there can be thousands of lawsuits—often with a single defendant—traditional litigation can be excessively burdensome to claimants who need timely resolution to rebuild their lives. Third party defendants and insurance carriers, too, need solutions to address protracted litigation that consumes resources and diverts attention from normal business operations.

Since 1979, JAMS has demonstrated the tangible benefits associated with alternative dispute resolution (ADR); it is quicker, less expensive, and more flexible than traditional litigation. This is particularly true in complex, high-volume disaster claims with multiple parties.

JAMS experts work with stakeholders and courts to design programs that take into account the particular circumstances of the disasters and common themes of the claims. Protocols are established to ensure cases stay on track, resulting in process efficiencies that can allow claimants to have their claims paid faster, and defendants to more quickly get claims off of their books. 

The efforts of JAMS neutrals are bolstered by administrators with expertise in supporting and scaling large disaster programs. 

JAMS neutrals have resolved disaster claims with recoveries in the billions of dollars.

Programs can be created through mediated approaches that include parties representing all sides of disaster disputes. JAMS also assists by serving within existing ADR frameworks.

JAMS works with representatives from all parties including:

• Homeowners

• Businesses

• Governments (local, county, state, and federal governments and agencies)

• Insurance carriers

• Policyholder advocacy groups

• Utilities or other third party defendants

About Us

JAMS successfully resolves business and legal disputes by providing efficient, cost-effective and impartial ways of overcoming barriers at any stage of conflict. JAMS offers customized, in-person, virtual and hybrid dispute resolution services through a combination of first class client service, the latest technology, top-notch facilities, and highly trained mediators and arbitrators.