National Arbitration Forum Responds to Hurricane Katrina

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., 2005 - The National Arbitration Forum (http://www.arbitration-forum.com) announced today that it will automatically halt hearings and other proceedings involving parties who reside or do business in Louisiana and Mississippi, where the United States Postal Service has suspended service, until October 3, 2005, due to the recent destruction and loss experienced by Hurricane Katrina. The National Arbitration Forum will also liberally grant additional stays to those otherwise affected by this tragedy on a case-by-case basis.

The National Arbitration Forum has halted case proceedings for parties who reside or do business in the following zip codes: Mississippi – zip codes beginning with 369, 393, 394, 395, 396; Louisiana – zip codes beginning with 700, 701. Parties with inquiries should contact the National Arbitration Forum at 1-800-474-2371.

“Our deepest sympathies go out to all those in the Southeastern United States, and everyone affected by this recent disaster,” said Curtis Brown, general counsel at the National Arbitration Forum. “We understand that people are not able and are not prepared to continue with case proceedings at this time.”

The National Arbitration Forum will contribute to the Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort and is matching National Arbitration Forum employee and arbitrator/mediator donations, dollar for dollar.

About the National Arbitration Forum
The National Arbitration Forum is one of the world's leading providers of alternative dispute resolution solutions, including arbitration and mediation, representing a distinguished panel of over 1,500 attorneys and retired judges in the U.S. and in 29 countries. Founded in 1986, the National Arbitration Forum administers more than 50,000 cases annually. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the National Arbitration Forum also has offices located in New Jersey and Los Angeles. Additional information is available at the National Arbitration Forum's Web site at http://www.arbitration-forum.com.