What are “linking” and “batching” of cases?
Linking and batching are the fundamental principles for creating each arbitrator’s calendar of cases. This manner of scheduling is very often a convenience for the parties too. They can appear at one arbitrator’s office for several of their cases on the same day. Linking and batching are implemented through the AAA’s technological processes, drawing from the computerized database of information about pending cases. Linking is an important fact-finding tool that brings together cases that have elements of proof in common, to be heard together. Linking brings together, when available at the time of scheduling cases, those cases that arise out of the same vehicle in the same accident, for hearings before the same arbitrator on the same day. For example, a neurologist’s claim and a physical therapist’s claim for treating the same injured person can be linked for hearing. Or, the bills for two different persons who were each injured in the same automobile in the same accident can be linked
