Mediator Resume

John Dewey Watson, P.A. - President

Attorney, Arbitrator, Mediator

Attorney, Arbitrator, Mediator, John Dewey Watson, P.A., 2011-Present; Hearing Officer, Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board, 1990-Present; Adjunct Professor, University of Arkansas School of Law, 2012-2017; Partner, Friday, Eldredge & Clark, 1971-2011; District Attorney, Union Pacific Railroad Company, 1982-2007; Law Clerk, Arkansas Supreme Court, 1970-1971; On-camera Weatherman, KGTO-TV, 1969-1970; Officer, U.S. Marines, 1963-1967; Announcer, KVRC Radio, 1959-1963; Construction Laborer, 1956-1963.

Civil trial lawyer since 1971, litigating a wide variety of cases before juries, judges and administrative agencies. Last twenty years of practice, 95% of practice in construction law primarily representing owners, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, architects and engineers involved in public and private commercial, institutional and industrial projects ranging in value from $20,000 to $70 million. Provides legal advice on construction matters in an attempt to avoid disputes. Handles disputes relating to differing site conditions, change orders, design defects, substantial completion, safety, indemnity, surety bond and condemnation issues. As Hearing Officer for the Arkansas Contractor's Licensing Board, disposes of approximately 200 cases per year, majority of which involve contested hearings. Currently, major portion of practice is acting as a mediator and arbitrator.

Mediator in construction, commercial, insurance, and tort disputes since 1990.

Construction cases have included issues of delay damages, design errors, construction defects, failure of performance, and payment. Other cases have concerned disputes over construction of manufacturing plants, disputes between owners of manufacturing plants, disputes between nursing home owners and covenants-not-to-compete, class action disputes, franchise disputes, contract disputes, medical malpractice disputes, and other personal injury disputes.

I have found that cases settle when parties engage in principled and focused mediation.

Ouachita Baptist College (BA-1963); University of Arkansas (JD-1970).

Admitted to the Bar: Arkansas, 1970; Texas, 1999; U.S. District Court: Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas, 1970; District of Nebraska, 2004; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 1974; U.S. Supreme Court, 1985.

American Bar Association (Forum Committee on Construction Industry; Litigation Section; ADR Section); Arkansas Bar Association (ADR Section, Past Chair; Construction Law Section, Past Chair; recipient of President's Award; recipient of CLE Award); Texas Bar Association (ADR and Construction Sections); Pulaski County Bar Association (recipient of Presidential Award, recipient of Sidney S. McMath Award); Association of Attorney-Mediators; Association for Conflict Resolution; Henry Woods Inn of Court; National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals.

Co-editor, ARKANSAS CONSTRUCTION LAW MANUAL, 2016; Contributing author, STATE-BY-STATE GUIDE TO CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS AND CLAIMS, Aspen Publishers, 2006; contributing author, STATE-BY-STATE GUIDE TO ARCHITECT, ENGINEER AND CONTRACTOR LICENSING, Aspen Law & Business, 1999, republished 2012; author, "What is ADR? Mediation? Arbitration?" THE AGC ADVANTAGE, p. 14, May 2000; contributing author, FIFTY STATE MONOGRAPH ON THE ENFORCEABILITY OF 'NO DAMAGES FOR DELAY CLAUSES,' American Bar Association, 1998. Adjunct Professor, University of Arkansas School of Law, 2012-2017; Speaker, Mediation Ethics, 2011; Speaker, Construction Law Ethics, 2011; Speaker, Best of CLE, Ethics, 2008; Speaker, ADR Conference, Ethics, 2008; Speaker, Wright Firm CLE, Expert Witnesses, 2008; Speaker, Construction Industry Conference, Ethics, 2007; Speaker, Construction Industry Conference, Ethics, 2006; Speaker, Best of CLE, Ethics, 2006; Speaker, Fall Legal Institute, Ethics, 2006; Speaker, Obesity Conference, 2005; Speaker, Arbitration Advocacy, 2004; Speaker, Mediation Advocacy, 2003; Speaker, "Arbitration for Construction Contractors," Arkansas Bar Association, 2000.

Hourly Rate: $350.00 Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: $350.00/hr Cancellation: Not provided Cancellation Period: Not provided Comment: Applies to all mediation time incurred. Travel expenses, meeting room charges, and other expenses approved by parties reimbursed at actual cost.

English

United States of America

Dallas, Texas