Private Business Court^™

AMERICORD^® developed Private Business Court to meet the need for a court setting specifically designed for business disputes. A Minnesota statute authorizes this private trial process, conducted with the approval and supervision of the presiding judge.  The statute calls the neutral adjudicator a “consensual special magistrate”. 

Although many cases are apt for Private Business Court, this service is particularly helpful when: 

• a case requires a great deal of technical or substantive expertise
• the parties value the formalities of a trial
• the parties want to preserve the opportunity for appellate review
• the parties prefer limited public disclosure of the facts or outcome of the case
• the parties seek efficient use of time and resources
• the parties are multinational corporations

When a court appoints a member of AMERICORD's Panel of Adjudicators to serve as “consensual special magistrate”, our staff works with counsel to schedule the case for a Litigation Management Conference, a Preliminary Conference, or a trial. 

Litigation Management Conference

Where clarification of process or procedural issues is necessary, the case is scheduled for a Litigation Management Conference with an AMERICORD staff person.  The AMERICORD representative facilitates discussions to identify important objectives and considerations regarding:

• requirements for case management (e.g., motion or discovery practice)
• requirements for facilities (e.g., courtroom, conference space, audio-visual equipment)
• plans for managing litigation (e.g., preparation of stipulations, hearing schedules, deposition deadlines)

Preliminary Conference

When the parties agree to a litigation management plan, or when the parties fail to agree, or when otherwise apt, AMERICORD’s Case Manager works with the litigants to schedule a Preliminary Conference with the assigned consensual special magistrate.  At the Preliminary Conference the consensual special magistrate will establish detailed procedures and issue any orders necessary to manage the litigation and conduct the trial.  Throughout the process the AMERICORD staff are available to assist the litigants to assure that Private Business Court manages the case to their satisfaction.