Karl Bayer's Disputing Blog » Court Decisions about Arbitration

Fifth Circuit Confirms International Commercial Arbitration Award

By Victoria VanBuren - June 22, 2009

In an unpublished opinion, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held that an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitral tribunal did not exceed its powers and affirmed the confirmation of the arbitral award. Retired United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor sat by designation with Circuit Judges Wiener and Stewart. In Saipem America v. Wellington Underwriting Agencies Limited, No. 08-20247 (5th. Cir.

U.S. Supreme Court Grants Cert to Stolt-Nielsen: Class Action Arbitration Case

By Victoria VanBuren - June 16, 2009

As posted in our Commercial and Industry Arbitration and Mediation Group on LinkedIn, yesterday the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari to Stolt-Nielsen SA v. AnimalFeeds Int’l Corp., 548 F.3d 85 (2d Cir. 2008). The issue to be decided is whether imposing class arbitration on parties whose arbitration clauses are silent on that issue is consistent with the Federal Arbitration Act. You can find background about this important case followin

Texas Supreme Court Rules on Burden of Proof in Arbitration Agreement

By Victoria VanBuren - June 15, 2009

Last Friday, the Texas Supreme Court held that a party challenging a forum-selection clause has the burden of proving the clause is invalid. In In re International Profit Associates, Inc, ___ S.W.3d ___ (Tex. 2009) (Cause No. 08-0531), Riddell Plumbing, Inc. (Riddell) hired International Profit Associates, Inc. (IPA) to provide consulting services. Their contract contains the following forum-selection clause: At [Riddell’s] election, [IPA agrees]

Fifth Circuit Confirms Arbitration Award in Employment Case

By Victoria VanBuren - June 8, 2009

In an unpublished opinion, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held that a company did not waive its right to arbitration by participating in administrative proceedings initiated by employee and affirmed the District Court’s confirmation of an arbitration award. In Green v. Service Corporation International, No. 08-20607 (5th Cir. June 2, 2009), Phillip Green was hired by SCI Management, a subsidiary of Service Corporation Internation

The $4.1 Billion Employment Arbitration Award

By Victoria VanBuren - June 7, 2009

[update: the judgment confirming the award in Chester v. iFreedom is here; from Settle It Now] In case you have not heard, a California court has confirmed recently a $4.1 billion award for an employment-related dispute. Following is an AP article from Yahoo Technology News discussing the case. We welcome your commentary! LA judge OKs $4.1 billion award in pay dispute Posted on – Fri Jun 5, 2009 LOS ANGELES – A judge approved a $4.1 b

Fifth Circuit: Sham Arbitration Cannot Be Used to Perform an Unlawful Transfer

By Victoria VanBuren - May 29, 2009

In a one-paragraph opinion, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held that arbitration cannot be used to circumvent procedural requirements of the Texas Structured Settlement Protection Act (“SSPA”) and affirmed the District Court’s refusal to confirm an arbitration award. In Symetra Life Ins. Co. v. Rapid Settlements Ltd., No. 08-20248, Symetra National Life Insurance Company, (“Symetra”) payor of structu

Arbitration of Discrimination Claims: First Post-Pyett Case

By Victoria VanBuren - May 21, 2009

As reported this week by the Workplace Prof Blog, a U.S. District Court in Colorado has issued a decision involving arbitration of statutory claims within the context of a collective bargaining agreement. The case is Mathews v. Denver Newspaper Agency, LLP, 2009 WL 1231776 (D. Colo. 2009). Professor Richard Bales’ analysis of the decision is here: First Post-Pyett Case. Previous Coverage: U.S. Supreme Court Enforces Agreement to Arbitrate D

Judge Sonia Sotomayor on Arbitration

By Victoria VanBuren - May 20, 2009

[Ed. note: Obama nominated Sotomayor on May 26; see Hispanic National Bar Association Press Release] Ever since U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter revealed his plan to retire, speculation of possible President Barack Obama‘s picks to replace him has flooded the blogosphere. SCOTUSblog has been profiling the “shortlist” candidates with an analysis of their opinions that intersect the Supreme Court’s decisions. Here is

Fifth Circuit Finds that Nonsignatories Are Bound by Decedent’s Arbitration Agreement

By Victoria VanBuren - May 14, 2009

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held last week that nonsignatories plaintiffs were bound by the arbitration agreement between decedent and his employer. In Graves v. BP American Inc., No. 08-40575 (5th Cir. May 6, 2009), plaintiffs are the surviving relatives of an employee of defendant JV Industrial Companies, who died in a work-related accident at a BP facility in Texas. The plaintiffs sued under the Texas wrongful death statute

U.S. Supreme Court Rules on Arbitration Non-signatories’ Rights

By Victoria VanBuren - May 12, 2009

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Arthur Andersen LLP v. Carlisle, No. 08–146, 2009 WL 1174853 (May 4, 2009). Justice Scalia delivered the majority opinion, joined by Justices Kennedy, Thomas, Ginsburg, Breyer, and Alito. Justice Souter filed a dissenting opinion, in which Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Stevens joined. The Court decided the following issues: Whether appellate courts have jurisdiction under Section 16(a) of the FAA to r