Business court to reopen in 2012
The state's business court is scheduled to resume handling cases in 2012, after going on hiatus due to budget cuts over a year ago.
The Business and Consumer Court, a specialized court set up to handle complex business disputes, should be operating by the first of the year, Chief Justice Leigh Saufley told Capitol News Service. When it reopens next year, the business court will be managed by judges J. John Nivison and Andrew Horton, as well as two clerks, out of Portland, although cases may be tried anywhere in the state. Other judges will handle cases if scheduling permits. Video conferencing and electronic filing will help speed up the process.
The court shut down for more than a year following a lack of resources from the state, but Saufley said staff and judges are currently available. The goal of the Business and Consumer Court is to transfer complex cases to judges experienced at handling such disputes in an effort to reduce the time and money needed to resolve them. It first opened in 2007 with plans for two judges and four support staff, but that goal was never reached.
Most Recent
Most Recent
Comments