Court-Annexed Mandatory Arbitration Annual Report Fiscal Year 2005 - Fourteenth Circuit | State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts

Fourteenth Judicial Circuit
(Henry, Mercer, Rock Island and Whiteside Counties)

Arbitration Program Information

The Fourteenth Judicial Circuit is comprised of Henry, Mercer, Rock Island and Whiteside Counties. In November 1999, the Supreme Court authorized the inception of the program and arbitration hearings began in October 2000. This circuit is the most recent to receive Supreme Court approval to begin operating an arbitration program and is the first to receive permanent authorization to hear cases with damage claims up to $50,000. Hearings are conducted in the arbitration center located in Rock Island. A supervising judge oversees arbitration matters for all counties and is assisted by a trial court administrator and arbitration program assistant.

DATA PROFILES

Henry County

Following are charts and diagrams which contain data from State Fiscal Year 2005.

Since State Fiscal Year 2001, cases referred to Henry County's arbitration program have increased annually. From 2001 through 2005, an annual average of 113 cases have been referred to arbitration.

The chart above presents information regarding the total number of cases litigated in arbitration which yielded either a disposition or, ultimately went to trial. Program data indicates that either a settlement or dismissal was reached in 84% (193 of 230 cases were disposed) of the cases filed in the Henry County arbitration program for State Fiscal Year 2005. This disposition rate is moderately higher than the five year average of 75% and is identical to the statewide average of 84%.

A more significant performance indicator for arbitration, however, is measuring the number of cases which, having completed the arbitration process, proceed to trial. In Henry County, only one of the cases filed in arbitration proceeded to trial.

Mercer County
Following are charts and diagrams which contain data from State Fiscal Year 2005.

While cases referred to Mercer County's arbitration program vary annually, an average of 25 cases per year were referred to arbitration over the past five state fiscal years.

The chart above presents information regarding the total number of cases litigated in arbitration which yielded either a disposition or, ultimately went to trial. Program data indicates that either a settlement or dismissal was reached in 60% (27 of 45 cases were disposed) of the cases filed in the Mercer County arbitration program for State Fiscal Year 2005. This disposition rate is identical to the five year average of 60% and is less than the statewide average of 84%.

A more significant performance indicator for arbitration, however, is measuring the number of cases which, having completed the arbitration process, proceed to trial. In Mercer County, none of the cases litigated in arbitration proceeded to trial.

Rock Island County
Following are charts and diagrams which contain data from State Fiscal Year 2005.

Since State Fiscal Year 2001, cases referred to Rock Island County's arbitration program have increased annually. From 2001 through 2005, an annual average of 673 cases have  been referred to arbitration.

The chart above presents information regarding the total number of cases litigated in arbitration which yielded either a disposition or, ultimately went to trial. Program data indicates that either a settlement or dismissal was reached in 67% (909 of 1348 cases were disposed) of the cases filed in the Rock Island County arbitration program for State Fiscal Year 2005. This disposition rate tracks the five year average of 68% and is less than the statewide average of 84%.

A more significant performance indicator for arbitration, however, is measuring the number of cases which, having completed the arbitration process, proceed to trial. In Rock Island County, less than 1% of cases (9 of the 1,348) filed in arbitration proceeded to trial.

Whiteside County
Following are charts and diagrams which contain data from State Fiscal Year 2005.

While cases referred to Whiteside County's arbitration program vary annually, an average of 216 cases per year were referred to arbitration over the past five state fiscal years.

The chart above presents information regarding the total number of cases litigated in arbitration which yielded either a disposition or, ultimately went to trial. Program data indicates that either a settlement or dismissal was reached in 70% (288 of 412 cases were disposed) of the cases filed in the Whiteside County arbitration program for State Fiscal Year 2005. This disposition rate is slightly higher than the five year average of 67% and is less than the statewide average of 84%.

A more significant performance indicator for arbitration, however, is measuring the number of cases which, having completed the arbitration process, proceed to trial. In Whiteside County, only one case filed in arbitration proceeded to trial.