Adjudication costly but ok

There are "better rules and more natural justice in a pub brawl", according to a respondent to James R Knowles' survey on adjudication.

Other respondents commented that adjudication is a "very expensive and unjust process which has no finality" and that the "costs against recovery ratio was disappointing".

Respondents also criticised adjudicators as well as the process itself. "The adjudicator seemed to award costs in reverse proportion to his award," said one; and "it would be better if the adjudicator could award costs (other than his own)", said another.

Despite these comments, the results of the survey were broadly positive: 69% said they were satisfied with the adjudication process; 60% thought it offered value for money; and 61% were satisfied with the performance of the adjudicator.

Knowles chairman Roger Knowles said: "The high cost of the process was a regular comment even from those who finished up on the winning side. Perhaps the time is right for the rules to be changed to allow the adjudicator the power to award the parties' costs in his or her decision."