Under this procedure, the parties appoint a neutral person who will sit as chairman of a tribunal composed of himself and a senior representative of each of the parties. These representatives may not be immediately connected with the dispute and should have authority to reach such compromise as they see fit. They will then hear and/or read the cases of the two parties (sometimes with an expert), after which they will negotiate with each other with the help of the independent arbiter. Mini-trial are suited to inter alia cases arising from products liability, government contracts, regulatory, and labour disputes.
