AN APPOINTMENT
AN APPOINTMENT
Private, neutral, and facilitative resolution of contractor, owner, and subcontractor disputes — faster and at lower cost than arbitration or litigation.
Key Takeaways
Overview
Construction mediation in Connecticut is a private, neutral, and facilitative process that resolves disputes among contractors, owners, and subcontractors without litigation. Jud Perkins, founder of Perkins Group, LLC in Salem, Connecticut, mediates construction disputes statewide as a panelist with the American Arbitration Association, the ADR Center of Connecticut, and FINRA. Perkins Group, LLC resolves more than 85 percent of cases, typically within weeks of engagement rather than the months or years required by AAA arbitration or Connecticut Superior Court proceedings.
Perkins Group, LLC
Construction mediation in Connecticut is a private, structured negotiation process in which a neutral mediator helps disputing parties reach a voluntary settlement without proceeding to arbitration or court. The mediator does not issue a binding ruling or decide who is right. Instead, the mediator facilitates discussion, identifies shared interests, and develops resolution options the parties can accept or reject on their own terms.
Connecticut General Statutes §§ 52-408 through 52-424 govern written arbitration agreements and proceedings in the state, and the American Institute of Architects AIA A201-2017 standard contracts, widely used on Connecticut construction projects, contain mandatory ADR clauses administered through the AAA. Most of those clauses require mediation before arbitration can begin, making a qualified construction mediator a necessary first step in nearly every formal dispute process.
| Method | Binding | Average Timeline | Cost Level | Privacy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Mediation | No (unless settled) | Weeks | Low | Fully private |
| AAA Arbitration | Yes | Months | Moderate to high | Private |
| Connecticut Superior Court | Yes | 1 to 3 years | High | Public record |
| Informal Negotiation | No | Variable | Lowest | Private |
Perkins Group, LLC
Perkins Group, LLC mediates the full range of construction disputes that arise on commercial, institutional, and large residential projects in Connecticut and across the region. Perkins brings more than 35 years of managing complex construction projects from inception through completion, giving the firm direct knowledge of the technical, contractual, and operational issues that drive most claims.
1
Owners and contractors frequently disagree over whether a contract milestone has been reached and payment is due. Delayed or withheld progress payments are among the most common construction claims in Connecticut, and early mediation prevents delay damages from compounding while the project stalls.
2
Disputes over contract interpretation, change orders, and scope of work require a mediator who understands construction contract language and standard industry practices. Perkins holds an MBA from the University of Southern California and has personally negotiated and managed contracts on large-scale commercial and institutional projects.
3
Owners, general contractors, and subcontractors dispute responsibility for defective installations, system failures, and construction errors both during and after project completion. A mediator with field experience can assess the technical merits of each party's position and move the session toward resolution faster than a generalist neutral.
4
Schedule disputes, acceleration claims, and disruption damages require a neutral who can read a construction schedule, understand critical path analysis, and evaluate competing narratives from contractors and owners. Perkins managed on-budget, on-schedule delivery of major projects for more than three decades before transitioning to ADR.
5
General contractors and subcontractors frequently disagree over the scope of subcontract work, payment timing, back-charges, and termination. Mediation resolves these disputes without destroying working relationships or triggering mechanic's lien enforcement proceedings.
6
Development projects in Connecticut generate disputes over site conditions, design changes, municipal approvals, and lender requirements. Perkins Group, LLC mediates real estate development disputes alongside standard construction claims.
Perkins Group, LLC
Construction mediation succeeds at a higher rate when the mediator understands the industry from the inside. Perkins Group, LLC reports successful resolution in more than 85 percent of mediated cases, a track record built on direct project experience rather than legal theory alone.
Before founding Perkins Group, LLC, Perkins spent more than 35 years managing large-scale construction projects across the United States, including Walt Disney World, Madison Square Garden, and other large-scale commercial and institutional developments. Perkins managed those projects from inception through completion and turnover, working directly with owners, general contractors, architects, engineers, and subcontractors across every phase of construction.
Project management experience at that level means Perkins arrives at a construction mediation session already fluent in the language of contracts, schedules, change orders, and project finance. Parties do not spend time educating the mediator on basic industry concepts. The session moves directly to the substance of the dispute.
Perkins Group, LLC
Construction mediation in Connecticut follows a structured process that moves from initial contact through a joint session, private caucuses, and, when parties reach a resolution, a written settlement agreement.
1
Parties contact Perkins Group, LLC, and agree to mediate. Each side submits a brief mediation statement outlining its position, key facts, and the relief sought. Perkins reviews those materials in advance so the session begins with a prepared neutral.
2
All parties meet with Perkins in a joint session. Each side presents its position directly. The opening session establishes the tone and gives Perkins a first direct read of each party's priorities, bottom lines, and areas of potential movement.
3
Perkins meets separately with each party in private caucuses. In those sessions, parties speak candidly about their real interests, constraints, and settlement parameters. Information shared in caucus remains confidential unless the party authorizes the mediator to share it.
4
Perkins moves between parties, testing proposals, reframing positions, and developing resolution options that each side can accept. A construction background allows Perkins to propose technically realistic solutions, not just financial splits.
5
When parties reach an agreement, they execute a written settlement agreement before leaving. A mediated settlement in Connecticut is a binding contract once signed, enforceable in the Connecticut Superior Court.
Perkins Group, LLC
Construction mediation through Perkins Group, LLC costs a fraction of the fees associated with AAA arbitration or litigation in Connecticut Superior Court. AAA construction arbitration fees are calculated based on claim amount and include filing fees, arbitrator compensation, and case service fees.
Connecticut Superior Court litigation adds attorney fees, expert witness costs, and case timelines that, in complex construction matters, can extend one to three years. Mediation fees are typically shared equally between the parties. Parties should contact Perkins Group, LLC directly at (860) 204-9168 to discuss the fee structure and scheduling for their specific dispute.
Perkins Group, LLC
Yes. Construction mediation in Connecticut is a confidential process. Connecticut General Statutes § 52-235d establishes confidentiality protections for mediation communications, and the ADR Center of Connecticut applies its own confidentiality rules to panel mediations. Statements made during mediation sessions, positions communicated in caucus, and documents prepared specifically for mediation are not admissible in any subsequent arbitration or court proceeding unless the parties agree otherwise in writing.
Confidentiality makes mediation a safe forum for candid discussion, so parties can acknowledge weaknesses in their position and explore settlement ranges without fear that those communications will surface in arbitration or trial.
Common Questions
Construction mediation in Connecticut is most effective for payment disputes, contract interpretation disputes, change order claims, delay and disruption claims, defective construction claims, and subcontractor disputes. Any dispute in which confidentiality, speed, and the preservation of working relationships matter more than a formal adjudicated ruling is a strong candidate for mediation.
Connecticut law does not universally mandate mediation before arbitration, but AIA A201-2017 standard construction contracts, widely used in Connecticut, include mandatory mediation clauses administered by the American Arbitration Association. Under those contracts, a party that bypasses mediation may waive rights or procedurally delay the arbitration process.
Construction mediation in Connecticut typically concludes in a single session lasting four to eight hours, depending on the complexity of the dispute and the number of parties. Multi-party disputes may require more than one session. Scheduling through Perkins Group, LLC typically takes days to weeks, compared to months or years for arbitration or litigation.
A mediated settlement becomes legally binding in Connecticut when the parties execute a written settlement agreement. An oral agreement reached during mediation is not enforceable. Perkins ensures that parties document any agreement in writing before the session concludes, so the resolution is immediately enforceable as a contract under Connecticut law.
A neutral who served as a mediator in a dispute is generally disqualified from serving as an arbitrator in the same matter under the AAA Construction Industry Rules and standard professional ethics guidelines. Perkins Group, LLC serves as both a mediator and an arbitrator, but not in dual roles in the same dispute.
A qualified construction mediator in Connecticut should be a member of a recognized panel, such as the AAA Construction Panel or the ADR Center of Connecticut, have direct construction industry experience, and demonstrate a documented track record of successful case resolution. Perkins holds an MBA from the University of Southern California, 35-plus years of large-scale project management experience, and active panel membership with the AAA and the ADR Center of Connecticut.
Yes. Perkins Group, LLC mediates construction and commercial disputes in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York City courts. Parties with projects or contract disputes spanning multiple jurisdictions should contact Perkins Group, LLC at (860) 204-9168 to discuss whether the firm is the right neutral for their specific matter.
A Dispute Review Board is a panel appointed at the start of a construction project that monitors the project and issues non-binding recommendations when disputes arise. Mediation is a session-based process that occurs after a dispute has crystallized and the parties cannot resolve it directly. Perkins Group, LLC operates as a session mediator and arbitrator.
Perkins Group, LLC resolves more than 85% of construction mediation cases. Call (860) 204-9168 to schedule a session.
