Karl Bayer's Disputing Blog » Court Decisions about Arbitration

Fifth Circuit Holds Motion to Compel Arbitration Not Enough to Defeat Preliminary Injunction

By Beth Graham - January 5, 2011

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has held that a motion to compel arbitration did not defeat a federal district court’s preliminary injunction. In Janvey v. Alguire, et al., No. 10-10617, (5th Cir. December 15, 2010), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed suit in U.S. district court against the Stanford Group and other related corporate entities (collectively Stanford) alleging that Stanford perpetrated a multi-billion-dollar Ponzi

Law Review Article | I Could Have Been a Contender…

By Beth Graham - January 4, 2011

Nancy Welsh, Professor of Law at the Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law recently authored “I Could Have Been a Contender: Summary Jury Trial As A Means to Overcome Iqbal’s Negative Effects Upon Pre-Litigation Communication, Negotiation and Early, Consensual Dispute Resolution,” 114 Penn St. L. Rev. Vol. 114:4, No. 1149, 2010. In her article, Professor Welsh argues that recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions may be underminin

2010 Arbitration Case Law: Texas Supreme Court

By Beth Graham - January 3, 2011

Continuing our 2010 Year-End Highlights series, we present today a summary of noteworthy arbitration opinions handed down last year by the Texas Supreme Court. In East Texas Salt Water Disposal Co. v. Richard Leon Werline, No. 07-0135, (Tex. Mar. 12, 2010), the Texas Supreme Court held that the Texas General Arbitration Act allowed an appeal from a trial court’s order which denied confirmation of an arbitration award, vacated the award and direct

2010 Arbitration Case Law: Fifth Circuit

By Beth Graham - December 31, 2010

In 2010, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit decided the following arbitration-related cases: In Hall-Williams v. Law Office of Paul C. Miniclier, PLC, No. 09-30113, (5th Cir., Jan. 13, 2010), the Fifth Circuit compelled arbitration of a fees dispute between a law firm and a former client. The court held the parties’ arbitration clause was enforceable notwithstanding termination of their services contract. (read more here) In

2010 Arbitration Case Law: U.S. Supreme Court

By Beth Graham - December 30, 2010

Today, Disputing continues its 2010 Year-End Highlights. The U.S. Supreme Court decided several cases related to arbitration this year: On April 27, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision in Stolt-Nielsen v. AnimalFeeds, 08-1198. The Court held that “Imposing class arbitration on parties who have not agreed to authorize class arbitration is inconsistent with the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), 9 U. S. C. §1 et seq.” On June 1, the Supreme

Southern District of Texas Compels Arbitration in Class-Wide Suit against AT&T

By Beth Graham - December 27, 2010

Last week, the Southern District of Texas compelled arbitration in a class-wide lawsuit filed against AT&T Mobility, LLC. In Johnson v. AT&T Mobility, LLC, No. 4:09-CV-4104, (S.D. Tex., December 21, 2010), an AT&T wireless customer, Johnson, filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of himself and all similarly situated AT&T customers in the State of Texas to recover state and local sales taxes paid on monthly fees for internet servi

Supreme Court of Texas Holds Non-Binding Mediation Renders a Debtor a “Settling Person”

By Beth Graham - December 22, 2010

The Supreme Court of Texas has held that participation in a non-binding mediation rendered a debtor a “settling person” under Chapter 33 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code for purposes of determining proportionate liability. In MCI Sales & Serv. v. Hinton, No. 09-0048, (Tex. December 17, 2010), the owner and operator of a motorcoach rental service, Central Texas, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after an accident in which

Supreme Court Denies Cert in Manifest Disregard Case

By Beth Graham - December 15, 2010

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari in Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London v. Lagstein, 10-534. The case sought to address whether a “manifest disregard of the law” standard of review for arbitration awards remains after the Court’s decision in Hall Street Associates, L.L.C v. Mattell, Inc., 552 U.S. 576 (2008). In the case, Lagstein, a medical doctor, filed a claim for disability benefits under a policy he p

Western District Compels Arbitration Where Contractor Had Sole Discretion to Arbitrate

By Beth Graham - December 13, 2010

The Western District of Texas has compelled arbitration where the parties to a construction contract entered into an agreement which provided only one party with the discretion to submit any disputes to binding arbitration. In United States ex rel. Gillette Air Conditioning Co. v. Satterfield & Pontikes Constr., No. SA-10-CV-778XR, (12/7/2010), Satterfield & Pontikes Construction Inc. (Satterfield) entered into a subcontract with Gillette

Supreme Court of Texas Rules on Four FAA Preemption Cases

By Beth Graham - December 7, 2010

The Supreme Court of Texas has held that the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) preempted the Texas General Arbitration Act (TAA) in three related general arbitration clauses, but that a similar, more specific clause was unenforceable under the TAA. In In re Olshan Foundation Repair Company, LLC, Nos. 09-0432, 09-0433, 09-0474, 09-0703, (Tex. December 3, 2010), Olshan was sued by four different customers (Waggoner, Kilpatrick, Tisdale and Tingdale) wh