Having BTDT, this is not always true. Arbitration and mediation are often used as a way to avoid the expense of a court battle. Usually they are set up in front of a retired attorney or judge.Arbutration is for the guilty not the innocent. Its a way of saying i have no chance in hell of winning this case and will lose my butt in court. Lets settle so i dont lose as much and this issue doesnt become a public record because that will hurt my future also.
You can sugar coat it but crap is still crap even when covered in chocolate.
That said, today is Wednesday so demanding that Eabele find someone to represent him for a Friday arbitration meeting isn't happening, even if he were in CA and not in Europe.
This is also not a given in US courts.Eabele will not only win his losses but attorney fees as well.