Arbitration might be the right choice for some cases. Limited discovery rights and costs might be useful when less is at stake. Arbitration might feel less adversarial, which could be an advantage where ongoing relationships are hoped to be preserved. Arbitration lends some confidentiality.
Arbitration agreements are a way that employers try to avoid being sued by employees for employment law violations, such as wage and hour violations or sexual harassment.
Under CCP § 583.310, an action must be brought to trial within five years after it is commenced against the defendant. An action “commences” on the date the original complaint is filed with the court against the defendant. If other defendants are later added, those actions will have a different date of commencement.
Arbitration agreements require that persons who signed them resolve any disputes by binding arbitration, rather than in court before a judge and/or jury. What is binding arbitration? Binding arbitration involves the submission of a dispute to a neutral party who hears the case and makes a decision.
It's typically a clause in a broader contract in which you agree to settle out of court, through arbitration cases, any dispute that arises with your counterpart.
If you don't respond to a validly issued arbitration notice then the proceedings can continue without your participation (ex - parte) and a binding award may be rendered by the Arbitrator.