CONSTRUCTION

Began arbitration of, and then ultimately successfully mediated, a contractor's claims against homeowners for failure to pay under a home improvement contract. The parties entered into a home improvement contract for a complete remodel of the homeowners’ residence. The homeowners then failed to pay the final payment due to the contractor, who subsequently filed a mechanics lien on the property and initiated arbitration against the homeowners for breach of contract and foreclosure on its mechanics lien. The homeowners asserted counterclaims for fraud in the inducement, false advertising, breach of implied warranties, and negligence, seeking substantial damages. After the parties selected Judge Burdick as arbitrator and engaged in pre-arbitration proceedings, they jointly requested that Judge Burdick mediate the case, which settled at mediation.