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Representative Cases

About

Representative Arbitration Matters

Selected arbitration matters reflecting experience across labor, employment, benefits, and technically complex disputes.

Reviewing representative cases helps organizations evaluate an arbitrator’s experience, analytical approach, and decision-writing capability. Prior matters can demonstrate subject-matter familiarity, procedural discipline, and the ability to resolve high-stakes conflicts.


Dr. E. Frank Cornelius has authored arbitration opinions cited by federal courts, other arbitrators, legal treatises, law reviews, and American Bar Association publications, and accepts appointments nationwide.

Why Representative
Experience Matters

Arbitration decisions can shape workplace policy, financial exposure, and long-term labor relations. Selecting a neutral with a record of published and professionally recognized opinions supports confidence in the process.


Organizations often review prior matters to understand how an arbitrator approaches evidence, contractual interpretation, and complex workplace dynamics.


Why parties evaluate representative cases:

  • Demonstrates depth of arbitration experience

  • Reflects analytical and decision-writing ability

  • Signals professional credibility

  • Supports informed arbitrator selection

Organizations frequently review an arbitrator’s published and representative matters when selecting a neutral for significant workplace disputes.

Selected Published
Arbitration Matters

Representative published cases include disputes involving collective bargaining agreements, disciplinary actions, and federal employment matters.


Int’l Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and City of Springfield, Illinois (2026)
Arbitration involving job bidding and contract interpretation issues arising under a collective bargaining agreement within a city department.


Central Region of Teamsters Union and Nestlé USA, Inc (2024) 
A dispute over a termination for violation of a Last Chance Agreement, which had been proposed and agreed to by the union.


Amer Fed of Government Employees and US Environmental Protection Agency (2023)
The agency failed to keep its promise to new hires, requiring exploration of federal agency responsibility.


Allied Transit Union and Transit Authority of River City, Kentucky (2023)
Disagreement over the classification of the Parts Clerk position and management rights.


Association of Civilian Technicians and Georgia Army & Air National Guard (2022)
Dispute over arbitrability and hiring  practices. 


Utility Workers Union and Ohio Power Company (2022)
Interest of the public considered in arbitration over vacation rights.


Postal Police Officers Association and United States Postal Service (2018)
Arbitration over the firing of the union president.


Parties benefit from working with an arbitrator whose decisions are recognized within leading arbitration reporting systems.

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Experience Across Case Types

Arbitration matters have involved disputes across multiple categories central to modern workplaces.
 

Labor Arbitration

  • Collective bargaining agreement interpretation

  • Employee discipline and discharge

  • Seniority disputes

  • Work assignments

  • Policy enforcement
     

Employment Disputes

  • Workplace conflict resolution

  • Hiring and promotion disputes

  • Organizational policy disagreements

  • Employment contract matters
     

Employee Benefits

  • Pension-related conflicts

  • Withdrawal liability matters

  • Fringe benefit disputes

  • Contribution obligations
     

Technical and Complex Cases

  • Financial and quantitative analysis

  • Statutory interpretation

  • Evidence-driven disciplinary review

  • Contract provisions involving technical standards
     

 

Published opinions appear in major legal reporters and research

databases such as Bloomberg BNA and Westlaw.

Decision-Writing and
Analytical Approach

Well-reasoned arbitration decisions require more than procedural knowledge — they demand disciplined evaluation of evidence and clear written analysis.

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Dr. Cornelius holds a PhD in mathematics from the University of Washington and a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan after earning a mathematics degree from MIT.

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This academic foundation supports a structured, evidence-based methodology across both traditional and complex disputes.

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Differentiators:

  • Neutral, independent decision-maker

  • Recognized decision-writing capability

  • Experienced in public and private sector disputes

  • Skilled in technically demanding matters

  • Nationwide availability

Professional Recognition

Arbitration opinions authored by Dr. Cornelius have been cited within:

  • Federal court decisions

  • Legal treatises

  • Law reviews

  • American Bar Association materials


Professional citation strengthens confidence that arbitration decisions are grounded in rigorous legal and analytical reasoning.

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Who Reviews Representative Cases?

Representative matters are commonly reviewed by organizations seeking assurance of professional capability before appointing a neutral arbitrator.

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Clients typically include:

  • Labor unions

  • Private employers

  • Public agencies

  • Federal entities

  • Benefit funds

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why review representative arbitration cases?
Reviewing representative cases helps organizations evaluate an arbitrator’s experience, analytical approach, and ability to resolve complex disputes.

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Are arbitration decisions publicly available?
Some arbitration decisions are published in legal research databases, while others remain confidential depending on the parties’ agreements.

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Do published opinions indicate arbitrator credibility?
Yes. Published and cited opinions often reflect professional recognition and confidence in the arbitrator’s reasoning.

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What types of cases demonstrate arbitration experience?
Cases involving contract interpretation, employee discipline, benefits disputes, federal employment matters, and technical conflicts commonly reflect depth of experience.

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Are past arbitration decisions binding on future cases?
No. Each arbitration is decided on its own facts and contractual language, although prior experience supports informed analysis.

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Who reviews an arbitrator’s prior cases?
Employers, unions, attorneys, public agencies, and benefit funds often review representative matters before selecting a neutral.

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Does experience with federal cases matter?
Yes. Federal disputes often involve structured procedures and regulatory frameworks that benefit from experienced oversight.

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Can representative matters show subject-matter expertise?
Yes. Prior cases help demonstrate familiarity with workplace dynamics, contractual interpretation, and complex evidentiary records.

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Should organizations consider decision-writing ability?
Clear, well-reasoned decisions are essential because arbitration outcomes can influence policy, finances, and labor relations.

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