Legal Definitions - oversman

Definition: An oversman is an impartial person appointed to make a final decision or award when arbitrators have failed to agree. It is also known as an umpire, especially in legal contexts.

For example, if two parties are in a dispute and they cannot come to an agreement, they may choose to go to arbitration. If the arbitrators cannot agree on a decision, they may appoint an oversman to make the final decision.

In Scots law, the term oversman is used instead of umpire.

Example: In a labor dispute, the union and the company could not agree on a new contract. They decided to go to arbitration, but the arbitrators could not come to a decision. So, they appointed an oversman to make the final decision on the terms of the new contract.

This example illustrates how an oversman is used in a situation where two parties cannot come to an agreement and need an impartial third party to make a final decision.