The Board is usually formed by the owner selecting a member for approval by the contractor, the contractor selecting a member for approval by the owner, with the two thus chosen selecting the third to be approved by both parties. The three DRB members then select one as chair with the approval of the owner and contractor.
DRB members are provided with the contract documents, become familiar with the project procedures and the participants and are kept abreast of job progress and developments. The DRB meets with owner and contractor representatives during regular site visits and encourages the resolution of disputes at the job level.
The DRB process helps the parties head off problems before they escalate into major disputes. (See: Matyas, R. M., A. A. Mathews, R. J. Smith and P. E. Sperry. Construction Dispute Review Board Manual, McGraw-Hill, 1996.)
Ernest C. Brown, Esq., PE has served on DRB's such as for projects sponsored by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority. He has prepared DRB presentations for Caltrans' DRB's and other public agencies.
