Attorney Dave Schaps Volunteers at Student Mock Arbitration

December 16, 2015  |  Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.

On Saturday, December 12, Associate Attorney Dave Schaps performed the role of Arbitrator at the Hamline University’s Center for Public Administration and Leadership graduate level Arbitration class, which was conducted by Professor Craig Waldron.

Dave arbitrated the class’s final project, which involved a mock employment grievance dispute between a City and a police officer held in accordance with the terms of a collective bargaining agreement.
The class of approximately 25 students came extremely prepared to serve in the various roles of giving witness testimony and conducting direct and cross examination, which contributed greatly to the learning experience in the class. Dave’s role was to conduct and moderate the course of the arbitration, and to deliver a decision at the conclusion of the proceedings.
In the end, the decision to administer discipline by the City was sustained, but was reduced from a termination of employment to a one week suspension without pay. The students all appreciated the opportunity to learn through the mock arbitration and Dave Schaps’ guidance as Arbitrator as well as the debriefing after the actual arbitration presentation.