San Francisco attorney to arbitrate impasse between firefighters, Clark County

A San Francisco attorney with extensive legal experience will be the arbitrator in a yet-to-be-scheduled hearing between Clark County and the local firefighters union.

The two sides chose Norman Brand with each party took turns striking a candidate from a seven-person list.

Brand charges $2,000 per day, plus per diem.

He has adjudicated labor disputes for public and private entities, including aerospace, agriculture, hotel and restaurants, utilities, police, fire, education, local government and health care.

He has worked as an arbitrator since 1983. He has done stints as a college law professor in New York.

State law calls for an arbitrator's binding decision within 10 days of the hearing.

The International Association of Firefighters Local 1908 declared an impasse in August after five months of bargaining. Union officials offered what they contend are $9.7 million in concessions, an offer that county leaders dismissed as lacking in real savings.

After some resistance, union leaders agreed to skip a fact-finding session and go directly to arbitration.