01 NCAC 30H .0401. ATTENDANCE

(a)  All parties to the dispute originally presented to the Designer or Prime Contractor for initial resolution shall attend the mediation.  Failure of a party to a construction contract dispute to attend the mediation shall result in the public owner's withholding of monthly payment to that party until such party attends the mediation.

(b)  Only physical attendance, and not attendance by telephone or other electronic means, shall constitute attendance.  Any attendee on behalf of a party must have authority from that party to bind it to any agreement reached as a result of the mediation.

(c)  Attorneys on behalf of parties may attend the mediation but are not required to do so.

(d)  Sureties or insurance company representatives are not required to attend the mediation unless any monies paid or to be paid as a result of any agreement reached as a result of mediation require their presence or acquiescence.  If such agreement or presence is required, then authorized representatives of the surety or insurance company must attend the mediation.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 143-135.26(10), (11); S.L. 2001-496, s. 14(b);

Temporary Adoption Eff. July 1, 2002;

Eff. August 1, 2004.