Form and content of award

(a) Arbitration awards shall be in writing, and signed by the appointed arbitrator. (b) The arbitrator shall make a decision on each issue raised by the pleadings in cases that are subject to arbitration under the program, including issues of comparative negligence, if any, and damages, if any. The arbitrator shall present a determination in a written arbitration award. The maximum award that can be rendered by the arbitrator is $50,000 per plaintiff, exclusive of attorney fees, interest, and costs. Awards should be substantially in the following format: Award for Plaintiff(s): The arbitration hearing in this matter was held on the ____ day of __________, 20___. Having considered the (insert those that apply: prehearing statements of the parties, the testimony of the witnesses, the exhibits offered for consideration, and argument on behalf of the parties), based upon the evidence presented at the arbitration hearing concerning the causes of action, I hereby find in favor of Plaintiff,* (Plaintiff’s name), and against Defendant(s), (name of each defendant against whom award is made), in the amount of $(amount of award). *If an award is made to more than one plaintiff, each award must be separate and distinctly stated in the same document. Award for Defendant(s): The arbitration hearing in this matter was held on the ____ day of __________, 20___. Having considered the (insert those that apply: prehearing statements of the parties, the testimony of the witnesses, the exhibits offered for consideration, and argument on behalf of the parties), based upon the evidence presented at the arbitration hearing concerning the causes of action, I hereby find in favor of Defendant(s) (Defendant’s name), and against Plaintiff(s) (name of each plaintiff). Plaintiff(s) (name of each plaintiff) shall take nothing by way of the complaint on file herein. (c) The arbitrator must file with the clerk of the court and serve an arbitration decision that is separate from the arbitration award. The arbitration decision must be filed and served at the same time as the arbitration award. The arbitration decision may contain findings of fact and conclusions of law if requested by all parties. Otherwise, the arbitration decision must consist of a written opinion stating the reasons for the arbitrator’s decision. If the parties request findings of fact and conclusions of law, they must each provide the arbitrator with proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law with their prehearing statements required by NAR 13 . (d) The offer of judgment provisions of NRCP 68 apply to matters in the program. (e) Attorney fees awarded by the arbitrator may not exceed $3,000 per party, unless the compensation of an attorney is governed by an agreement between the parties allowing a greater award. An arbitrator may grant an award of attorney fees if the request is consistent with NRS 18.010 , any controlling contract, NRCP 68 , or other applicable Nevada statute or caselaw. Decisions on applications for attorney fees, costs, and interest are to be filed separately from the arbitration award and only after proper application by the prevailing party after the entry of the arbitration award. (f) After an award is made, the arbitrator shall return all exhibits to the parties who offered them during the hearing. [Added; effective July 1, 1992; amended; effective July 26, 2024.]