Profile

Craig Nierman

Commercial Arbitrator and Mediator

Served as neutral in hundreds of cases, including over 300 healthcare and insurance arbitrations. Experience as panel chair, wing, and sole arbitrator. Matters have included high-exposure payor-provider and reimbursement disputes, layered or overlapping coverage cases involving first- and third-party claims, extracontractual liability, professional/producer negligence, 340B Drug Pricing Program, ERISA, No Surprises Act, and provider-clinic cases. Experience includes managing discovery disputes, deciding dispositive motions, presiding over evidentiary hearings, and issuing reasoned awards under both federal and state law. Representative matters: • Chair of arbitration panel considering a high seven-figure payor-provider dispute involving emergency relief, contract claims, and punitive damages allegations. • Mediator in overlapping eight-figure litigation and arbitration matters involving a specialized medical clinic, affiliated real estate holding company, and former employee-stockholder, including claims for breach of employment agreement, shareholder oppression, fiduciary duty, and defamation. • Sole Arbitrator in first-party insurance coverage dispute involving complex coverage issues, producer errors and omissions, and extracontractual allegations. • Mediation of contract dispute between a regional medical clinic and national care-coordination network involving competing breach of contract claims and business-related damages. • Panel arbitration of nine-figure payor-provider dispute involving thousands of patient accounts, multiple healthcare providers, and complex medical necessity issues. • Chair of arbitration panel in malpractice/wrongful death case against ten parties. Adjunct Professor, University of Iowa College of Law Arbitration: Federal Arbitration Act; arbitral ethics; class arbitration; vacatur, confirmation, and enforcement of awards; and international arbitration. Insurance: First- and third-party coverage; ERISA; producer liability; overlapping and excess coverage; duty to defend; and long-tail claims. Member, National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, Order of the Coif, and American Academy of ADR Attorneys (Immediate Past President and Board-Certified Arbitrator and Mediator). Frequent speaker for the American Arbitration Association, American Bar Association, judicial conferences, and other professional groups. Author of numerous publications on ADR, insurance, and healthcare law.

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