Trusted Labor Arbitrator & Employment Dispute Specialist serving Michigan, Georgia, Illinois and Nationwide
Email: efcornelius@comcast.net
Telephone: 478-731-7643
Technical Arbitration
Technical Arbitration for Complex and Specialized Disputes
Analytical, evidence-driven arbitration for disputes involving scientific, mathematical, financial, and highly technical subject matter.
Technical arbitration is designed for disputes where subject-matter complexity demands a decision-maker capable of understanding detailed data, specialized methodologies, and expert testimony.
Dr. E. Frank Cornelius provides professional arbitration services for technically demanding matters, combining advanced academic training with legal expertise to deliver clear, defensible decisions nationwide. He holds arbitration hearings in-person and via videoconference, at the parties’ election.
What Is Technical Arbitration?
Technical arbitration is a form of dispute resolution in which a neutral arbitrator evaluates complex evidence — often including quantitative models, engineering principles, financial structures, scientific analysis, or plant tours — and issues a binding determination.
These disputes frequently require more than legal interpretation alone; they demand disciplined reasoning and the ability to synthesize expert findings.
Arbitration offers organizations a forum capable of handling sophisticated disputes efficiently while maintaining procedural fairness, either in person or via video conference.
Why organizations choose technical arbitration:
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Supports informed evaluation of expert testimony
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Enables structured review of complex data
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Often resolves disputes faster than courtroom litigation
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Provides enforceable outcomes
When disputes hinge on technical accuracy, selecting an arbitrator with proven analytical capability becomes a critical risk-management decision.
Types of Technical Arbitration
Understanding the scope of technical arbitration helps parties select a neutral equipped for complex decision-making.
Scientific and Engineering Disputes
Addresses conflicts involving technical standards, operational processes, safety considerations, specialized professional practices, and intellectual property.
Financial and Quantitative Disputes
Resolves matters requiring evaluation of economic models, damages calculations, statistical evidence, contribution formulas, or long-term financial projections.
Common Technical Disputes
Heard in Arbitration
Technical disputes typically arise when parties disagree over data interpretation, methodology, compliance standards, performance outcomes, and proprietary processes.
Typical matters include:
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Complex compensation calculations
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Benefits funding models
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Safety and regulatory compliance
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Engineering-related workplace disputes
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Statistical performance analysis
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Contract provisions involving technical requirements
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Operational methodology disagreements
These cases often benefit from arbitration when traditional litigation may
struggle to efficiently interpret highly specialized evidence.
Technical Arbitration
with Dr. E. Frank Cornelius
Dr. Cornelius arbitrates labor and employment disputes and has authored arbitration opinions cited by federal courts, other arbitrators, legal treatises, law reviews, and American Bar Association publications.
He 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. He has worked in the actuarial department of the New England Life Insurance Company. He programmed computers in a missile flight simulation group for the Boeing Company, using both machine languages and higher level languages. He has taught computer programming at the university level. Although he no longer practices law and serves only as a neutral arbitrator, he has litigated trade secrets cases and published law review articles on the subject. He has taught trade secrets and confidential information courses through the Intellectual Property Law Institute, sponsored by the University of Windsor, University of Detroit and Wayne State University, and has even served as an expert witness in a trade secrets case.
This rare combination of technical training and legal scholarship supports disciplined evaluation of expert evidence.
His specialties include:
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Labor disputes
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Employee benefits cases, including withdrawal liability
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Technical and scientific arbitrations, including intellectual property
Published arbitration opinions appear in major legal reporters and
research databases such as Bloomberg BNA and Westlaw.
Representative Technical
Arbitration Matters
Matters have included disputes involving:
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Financial and benefits calculations
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Statutory funding obligations
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Complex disciplinary analytics
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Contract interpretation tied to quantitative evidence
Parties benefit from working with an arbitrator capable of translating complex data into clear, reasoned decisions.
Why Analytical Experience
Matters in Technical Arbitration
Technical disputes often determine significant financial exposure and operational outcomes.
Selecting a neutral with advanced scientific and quantitative training helps ensure that decisions are grounded in logic, evidence, and methodological clarity.
Dr. Cornelius’ academic background and work experience contributes to a rigorous, structured approach to dispute resolution.
Differentiators:
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Neutral, independent decision-maker
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Advanced mathematical expertise
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Skilled in expert-evidence evaluation
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Experienced in high-complexity disputes
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Nationwide availability
Who Retains an
Technical Arbitrator?
Technical arbitration is typically used when disputes require deeper analytical review than traditional proceedings may provide.
Clients commonly include:
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Private employers
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Public agencies
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Federal entities
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Benefit funds
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Organizations operating in technical industries
Frequently Asked Questions
What is technical arbitration?
Technical arbitration is a dispute resolution process in which a neutral arbitrator evaluates complex scientific, financial, or data-driven evidence and issues a binding decision.
When is technical arbitration appropriate?
Technical arbitration is appropriate when disputes involve expert testimony, quantitative models, engineering standards, or specialized methodologies requiring analytical review.
Why choose an arbitrator with technical expertise?
An arbitrator with technical expertise can accurately interpret complex evidence, assess competing expert opinions, and produce well-reasoned decisions grounded in data.
Are technical arbitration decisions binding?
Technical arbitration decisions are binding and enforceable, allowing parties to reach final resolution without extended litigation.
What industries use technical arbitration?
Industries such as manufacturing, energy, healthcare, transportation, finance, and construction frequently rely on technical arbitration to resolve complex operational disputes.
Is technical arbitration faster than court litigation?
In many cases, arbitration proceeds more efficiently and less costly than court litigation because procedures are streamlined and focused on the technical issues at hand.
Who hires a technical arbitrator?
Employers, public agencies, federal entities, and organizations facing complex contractual or regulatory disputes commonly retain technical arbitrators.
How does an arbitrator evaluate expert testimony?
The arbitrator reviews methodologies, underlying data, assumptions, and professional standards to determine which conclusions are most credible.
Is technical arbitration confidential?
Yes. Arbitration is typically conducted in a private setting, helping protect proprietary information and sensitive operational data. Confidentiality is especially important when intellectual property is involved.