However, The Remaining Part Of A Substantial Award Is Sustained.
In Alharbi Brothers v. Corona Town Farmers Market, Case No. D086595 (4th Dist., Div. 1 Aug. 18, 2026) (unpublished), an arbitrator issued a substantial $1.35 million-plus arbitration award against a losing party (inclusive a fee award) and an additional $1,822.50 sanctions against the losing party for being dilatory in resolving issues involving the arbitrator’s compensation (with the sanctions being made payable to the arbitrator). On appeal, the 4/1 DCA affirmed all but the sanctions award. The flaw in that was the arbitrator did not provide the losing party any notice so a response could be made on the sanctions issue, which was an unfairness ground for vacating that component (Emerald, 9 Cal.App.5th at p. 1142) and was a violation of AAA Rule R-60(b) requiring that a party had to be provided the right to respond to a sanctions issue. After striking the sanctions award, the rest of the arbitration award was confirmed and sustained on appeal.