. . . Inclusive Of A Total Of $957,640.27 In Fees And Costs Award Components.
Arbitration awards, even if wrong on the merits, are difficult to overturn based on the latitude afforded arbitrators in the absent of an arbitration agreement requiring more stringent protocols. Shifrin v. Strata Equity Global, Inc., Case No. D085526 (4th Dist., Div. 1 June 24, 2026) (unpublished) demonstrates that frequent result. There, an arbitrator awarded over $12 million in unpaid wages (bonus payments), penalties, prejudgment interest, and attorney’s fees/costs to plaintiff. Finding that the FAA procedural requirements governed, the appellate court agreed that there was no basis for vacatur even if the arbitrator incorrectly interpreted the contract unless he/she made no attempt at interpretation (which was not the case). The arbitration award included $957,640.27 in fees and costs for plaintiff, which demonstrates how costly the arbitration can further be when there are cost/fee-shifting bases in favor of the prevailing litigant.