two lane... explain this arbitration a little more. i am desperate for a solution. it seems hopeless!
Sure YD, arbitration is something that might be done short of a law suit. I'm just across the border in Missouri so some of Arkansas I'm at least a little familiar with. Arkansas is one of several states that follow the Uniform Arbitration Act.
Arbitration is just a process wherein both sides agree that a lawsuit would be too costly, too troublesome and possibly too damaging. Because of that both sides agree to put the problem before an arbitrator. There would be no judge, no court, no jury, and none of the normal arcane rules or testimony or evidence. The plaintiff and defendant usually aren't represented by attorneys. The agreed on arbitrator is usually a lawyer, but could be someone expert in the field in question.
So, basically, you'd have to tell the dealership that they're going to get sued. They're going to get sued, that is, unless they agree to putting the matter before an arbitrator. Arbitration can be either binding or non-binding. But to my mind it's always seeemed senseless to go through the motions if the decisions isn't agreed to. That's the biggest reason, however, that you want to make sure your ducks are in a row and you know for sure what the facts are before you start the process.
If the dealership realizes that not going to court and working an afternoon before an arbitrator is a huge money savings they'll go for it. If they think you're bluffing about filing suit they won't. If you offer arbitration, however, and the other side declines most states allow that fact to be evidence in a later suit and it's usually considered probitive and not favorable to the side that declined to particpate.
To find lawyers that work in your area as arbitrators you usually don't have to look any farther than the phone book. If not, however, just do a google search for Arkansas arbitration and you'll almost certainly get several pages of responses.
Good luck!