Friedman v. Reagan

*458OPINION OF THE COURT

Dillon, P. J.

We are here presented with this court’s first opportunity to interpret the Rules of the Chief Judge governing mandatory arbitration as an alternative method of dispute resolution (see, 22 NYCRR part 28) and to correct procedural errors in the conduct of the arbitration program in Onondaga County.

Arbitration was first authorized in 1970 as a means of reducing court congestion and expediting the disposition of claims (see, Judiciary Law former § 213, subd [8], as added by L 1970, ch 1004). The program has been characterized by two significant elements: (1) the…