Good points, sean, and remember, an arbitration is not determining guilt or innocence in the way that a lawsuit is. An arbitration is more about liability and causation and strict tenants of the law are not necessarily adhered to as they would be in a court case.

I don't believe one would have any bearing on the other, as no precedent is being set in an arbitration that an attorney could point to in a lawsuit. Also, parties can settle in an arbitration and there will be no settlement in NP's trial.