Self-Regulatory Organizations; Order Granting Approval to Proposed Rule Change by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Creating a Voluntary Single Arbitrator Pilot Program

I. Introduction

On October 5, 1999, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD” or “Association”), through its wholly owned subsidiary NASD Regulation, Inc. (“NASD Regulation”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) a proposed rule change pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”), and Rule 19b-4 thereunder. In its proposal, NASD Regulation seeks to implement a voluntary single arbitrator pilot program for cases involving claims of $50,000.01 to $200,000. Notice of the proposal, as amended by Amendment No. 1, was published in the Federal Register December 7, 1999 (“Notice”) The Commission received one comment letter on the filing.

II. Description of the Proposal

NASD Regulation proposes to implement a two-year voluntary pilot arbitration program in which parties may choose to use a single arbitrator for public customer cases involving claims of $50,000.01 to $200,000 (“Pilot Program”). Currently, NASD Rule 10308 calls for the appointment of three arbitrators for claims greater than $50,000. NASD Regulation anticipates that the Pilot Program should result in lower arbitration fees and quicker resolution of arbitration claims for participants.

Amount in Controversy/Punitive Damages

The Pilot Program is limited to disputes between public customers and associated persons or firms and will not be available for the resolution of employment disputes or other intra-industry disputes. The Pilot Program will be limited to claims seeking between $50,000.01 and $200,000. This $200,000 limitation includes attorneys' fees, interest, and other costs. Further, the aggregate dollar amount of all claims by all parties—including any counterclaims, third-party claims, and cross-claims—will be counted toward the $200,000 limitation. Forum fees will not be counted in the $200,000 limitation, and the arbitrator will allocate forum fees among the parties, as already provided in the Code. In addition, cases involving punitive damages will not be eligible for the Pilot Program unless all parties agree to use a single arbitrator and to allow that arbitrator to award punitive damages.

Arbitrator Selection Process

Pursuant to the procedures in the NASD's Code of Arbitration Procedure (“Code”), parties will go through the process of choosing arbitrators to serve on a three-person panel. After the arbitrators have been chosen, NASD Regulation staff will inform the parties of the terms of the voluntary Pilot Program if their case appears to fit the criteria for the Pilot Program. Parties then will have 15 days from the date the Director sends notice of the arbitrator names to agree on a single arbitrator. Because the parties may choose any one of the three arbitrators, it is possible that the single arbitrator will not be a public arbitrator. That person will, however, be a person agreed to by all parties.

The 15 day period corresponds with the 15 days period that parties have to select a chairperson of the panel. NASD Regulation expects that the arbitrator who would have been chosen as the chairperson is most likely the same person who will be chosen as the single arbitrator. Thus, if the parties decide not to proceed in the Pilot Program, they can proceed under normal procedures without delay.

Communications With Arbitrators

Unlike the procedures normally used, the Pilot Program will allow parties to communicate directly with the arbitrator without NASD Regulation staff involvement. To expedite case resolution, parties will be permitted to send written materials, including information (discovery) requests and motions, directly to the selected arbitrator. If the arbitrator and all parties agree, written materials may be served by facsimile (fax) or other electronic means provided that all parties have access to such means of communication.

NASD Regulation have established procedures to guard against improper ex parte communications with the arbitrator. Copies of written materials must be sent simultaneously and in the same manner to all parties and to the Director. Parties also must send the Director, Arbitrator, and all parties proof of service of such written materials, indicating the time, date, and manner of service upon the arbitrator and all parties. No particular format is prescribed; parties may use the same type of Certificate of Service used in state or federal courts or another format that includes the necessary information (including the address to which the materials were sent). As is true under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, service by mail is complete upon mailing.

If the arbitrator agrees, parties may initiate conference calls with the arbitrator, provided that all parties are on the line before the arbitrator joins the call. Similarly, the arbitrator may initiate conference calls with the parties, provided all parties are on the line before the conference begins. At the discretion of the arbitrator, conference calls may be tape recorded. Under NASD Regulation practice, the arbitrator also prepares a written summary of the decisions reached during the call or may direct one of the parties to summarize the call and send the summary by facsimile to the arbitrator and all parties within a short period of time while memories are still fresh.

Filing Fees, Member Surcharges, and Hearing Session Deposits

Filing fees, member surcharges, and member processing fees will not change under the Pilot Program. Rather, the Pilot Program provides that such fees will be the same as in Rules 10332 and 10333. However, hearing session fees will be reduced in the Pilot Program to reflect lower arbitrator costs. Regardless of the amount in controversy in the Pilot Program, the fee for a pre-hearing conference call with an arbitrator will be the same as at present, $450. The hearing session fees are as follows:

• For claims of $50,000.01 to $100,000.00, hearing session fees under the Pilot Program will be $550 per session or $1,100 per typical two session day. The new fee structure represents a reduction of $200 per session for the parties as compared with normal case procedures (or a $400 reduction per typical two session day).
• For claims of $100,000.01 to $200,000.00, hearing session fees under the Pilot Program will be $750 per session or $1,500 per typical two session day. The new fee structure represents a reduction of $375 per session for the parties as compared with normal case procedures (or a $750 reduction per typical two session day).

Limitations on the Amount of the Award

The single arbitrator may not award the parties more than a total of $200,000, including damages, interest, costs, and attorneys' fees, unless all parties agree that the arbitrator may award a larger amount. In addition, the arbitrator will allocate forum fees to the parties as provided in Rule 10332(c). Therefore, NASD Regulation recommends that parties evaluate their claims carefully to ensure that they fit within the parameters of the Pilot Program.

In the unlikely event that, during the course of the arbitration, a claimant learns of information that leads the claimant to believe there are additional claims, or higher claims than originally made, which would raise the total amount in controversy over the $200,000 maximum, the claimant has the option of (i) asking the arbitrator to dismiss the case without prejudice under Rule 10305 and, if that request is granted, re-filing the revised claim as a regular, three-arbitrator case, or (ii) asking the other parties to stipulate that the single arbitrator may award more than $200,000. NASD Regulation does not anticipate that such issues will arise with any frequency.

Applicability of Code and Effectiveness of the Pilot Program

The Pilot Program rules provide that, except as otherwise provided for in the rules of the Pilot Program, the remaining provisions of the Code will apply to the Pilot Program. This means that the normal arbitration rules and procedures will apply unless they are specifically superseded by the rules of the Pilot Program. Additionally, the NASD will announce the effective date of the proposed rule change in a Notice to Members to be published no later than 60 days following Commission approval. The effective date will be 30 days following publication of the Notice to Members announcing Commission approval. Once the Pilot Program has become effective, it will remain in effect for two years. Prior to the expiration of the Pilot Program, NASD Regulation may decide to extend the Program, and would then request SEC approval for an extension.

III. Summary of Comments and Discussion

The Commission received one comment letter on the proposal and this letter supports the Pilot Program. The commenter endorses the Pilot Program as a means of simplifying and expediting the arbitration process. Further, the commenter suggests that the use of a single arbitrator should be expanded in the future, and states that US Bancorp would support mandating the use of a single arbitrator down the road.

The commenter raises a question as to whether punitive damages, if all parties agree to use a single arbitrator, are included in the $200,000 limitation. According to the Pilot Program Rules, cases involving punitive damages are not eligible for the Pilot Program unless all of the parties agree to use a single arbitrator. However, if the parties in a case involving punitive damages agree to use a single arbitrator, the punitive damages will be counted toward the $200,000 limitation.

Lastly, the commenter expresses disappointment that the NASD has not further reduced fees to encourage participation in the Pilot Program. The commenter notes its view that arbitration fees are not strictly cost-based. As an example, the commenter states that hearing session fees vary depending on the dollar amount of the claims in the matter even though the costs of the hearing sessions are the same. The commenter believes that reduced fees would be an appropriate incentive to help the Pilot Program succeed and suggests that the NASD revisit its fee schedule if the Pilot Program were made permanent. This issue was addressed in an earlier filing by the NASD, SR-NASD-97-79, which involved a comprehensive revision of the NASD's arbitration fee schedule. In this filing, NASD Regulation stated that the Office of Dispute Resolution's experience shows that the costs of conducting hearings vary as the amount in dispute and the number of parties involved increase.

The Pilot Program procedures should help expedite the arbitration process for claims that fit within the Pilot Program. For example, the Pilot Program allows parties to communicate directly with the arbitrator without NASD Regulation staff involvement while also providing procedures that should guard against improper ex parte communications with the arbitrator. To speed up case resolution, parties will be permitted to send written material, including information requests and motions, directly to the arbitrator. However, parties must send copies of the written material simultaneously and in the same manner to all parties and the Director. Further, parties must send proof of service to the Director, arbitrator, and all parties. Phone calls with the arbitrator are also permitted, provided that all of the parties are on the line before the arbitrator joins the call or before the conference begins. These procedures should help expedite case resolution and at the same time, protect against improper ex parte communications.

The reduction of fees is an appropriate means to encourage participation in the Pilot Program. By using one arbitrator, NASD Regulation will save $400 in arbitrator honoraria for each hearing sesion. For claims of $50,000.01 to $100,000, the parties will save $200 per hearing session. NASD Regulation is passing approximately one half of its savings in arbitrator honoraria to the parties in these claims. For claims of $100,000.01 to $200,000, the parties will save $375 per hearing session. In these claims, NASD Regulation is passing on almost all of its savings in arbitrator honoraria to the parties. The reduced fees should help encourage parties to participate in the Pilot Program and are reasonable under the circumstances.

Based on the foregoing reasons, the Commission finds that the proposal is consistent with the requirements of Section 15A of the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder that govern the NASD. In particular, the Commission finds that the proposal is consistent with Section 15A(b)(6) of the Act which requires, among other things, that the rules of an association be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and equitable principles of trade, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest; and are not designed to permit unfair discrimination among customers, issuers, brokers, or dealers.

It Is Therefore Ordered, pursuant to Section 19(b)(2) of the Act, that the proposed rule change (SR-NASD-99-54) is here approved.