N.J. Admin. Code § 11:3-5.5

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 9, May 6, 2024

Section 11:3-5.5 - Dispute resolution professionals

(a) A dispute resolution professional employed by the dispute resolution organization shall be either:

1. An attorney licensed to practice in New Jersey with at least 10 years of experience in cases involving personal injury or workers' compensation;

2. A former judge of the Superior Court or the Workers' Compensation Court, or a former Administrative Law Judge; or

3. Any other person, qualified by education and at least 10 years' experience, with sufficient understanding of automobile insurance claims and practices, contract law, and judicial or alternate dispute resolution practices and procedures.

(b) Dispute resolution professionals shall avoid conflicts of interest as prohibited at 11:3-5.1 2 in any matter assigned to them for determination.

1. Dispute resolution professionals shall complete and file with the dispute resolution organization a conflict of interest questionnaire that shall provide sufficient detail about financial interests of themselves and their immediate family so as to avoid any assignment to a particular case where there is a conflict of interest. Conflict of interest questionnaires shall remain confidential with the dispute resolution organization, and the information set forth therein shall only be disclosed as necessary to individuals responsible for assigning cases to dispute resolution professionals, or reviewing motions to disqualify an assigned dispute resolution professional.

2. If during the course of an assignment a dispute resolution professional determines that he or she has conflict of interest, based upon facts determined in the course of the proceedings, then the DRP shall promptly advise the administrator of the circumstances, who shall assign another DRP.

3. A party may challenge the assignment of a particular DRP by submitting the specific grounds for challenge in accordance with the rules of the dispute resolution organization approved by the Commissioner. The rules of the dispute resolution organization approved by the Commissioner shall provide that a party may challenge the assignment of the DRP as follows:

i. When the party receives notification of the assignment of the DRP for an in-person case; or

ii. As part of the appeal process provided in the rules for on-the-papers cases.

(c) Dispute resolution professionals shall be compensated by the administrator in accordance with the terms of the contract designating the administrator. Compensation shall not be contingent in any way upon the decision or determination of the DRP.

(d) Dispute resolution professionals shall create and maintain such records as may be necessary to carry out their responsibilities and provide such records to the administrator as required in the contract designating the administrator.

N.J. Admin. Code § 11:3-5.5

Amended by R.2006 d.243, effective 7/3/2006.
See: 37 N.J.R. 4162(a), 38 N.J.R. 2828(c).
Substituted "years of" for "years'" in (a)1.
Amended by R.2012 d.187, effective 11/5/2012 (operative January 4, 2013).
See: 43 N.J.R. 1640(a), 44 N.J.R. 2652(c).
In the introductory paragraph of (b)3, inserted the last sentence; and added (b)3i and (b)3ii.