Arbitration is a proceeding in which a case is presented before a single or small group of attorneys or judges who are usually familiar with the type of case being presented. Though a bit of an oversimplification, arbitration can be thought of as an abbreviated or miniature version of a trial. The case is presented in a similar fashion as it would be at trial, but the evidence and rules of the proceeding are agreed to in advance so the time presenting the case is focused on the substance of the case itself and little time is spent on technical minutiae. Clients and witnesses usually testify in an arbitration similarly to how they would during a trial and are also subject to the same type of cross examination. Once the case has been presented, the arbitrator or arbitration panel issues the final ruling on the case. Arbitration is generally a relatively efficient and more predictable (as compared to a jury trial) way to resolve a case when the parties are unable to reach a straight settlement agreement.