NAM SEES 48% INCREASE IN PERSONAL INJURY CASE FILINGS FOR 2009

During the first 6 months of 2009, NAM experienced a 48.17% increase in personal injury case filings, as compared to the first 6 months of 2008. All personal injury case types, including both catastrophic injury and labor law matters, have shown similar increases. These referrals cover matters in diverse geographic areas throughout the country; therefore, this increase is not solely attributable to activity within a specific state.

Roy Israel, President and CEO of NAM stated, “During the past decade, as ADR has continued to grow in acceptance, the utilization of NAM solutions has increased across all of our practice areas. However, we believe that the present economic environment is certainly a factor in contributing to the recent dramatic acceleration of case referrals. As litigants are becoming more cost-conscious, the utilization of a NAM's services are becoming the preferred way to resolve disputes. More than a 93% of the companies and law firms that first refer matters to NAM continue to do so more than 5 years after their initial filing. We are confident that when the economy rebounds, parties that have utilized NAM will be reticent to revert back to more costly litigation.”