Cases: Arbitration

Arbitration, Fee Clause Interpretation: Broad Fees Clause Allowed Law Firm To Recover Both Trial and Appellate Fees For Prevailing In An Action/Appeal Attempting To Void An Arbitration Agreement

Cases: Arbitration, Cases: Fee Clause Interpretation

Total Fees to Law Firm Came To $416,680.30. Fee-shifting can be a game changer in litigation, including litigation relating to an arbitration where the fees clause is broad in nature.  Plaintiff client learned that lesson all too well in litigation against his former counsel, as demonstrated by Milder v. Holley, Case No. B331152 (2d Dist., […]

Arbitration: $220,817 Arbitration Fee Award Is Affirmed In Favor Of One Plaintiff, Because Moncharsh Did Not Show A Basis For Arbitral Reversal

Cases: Arbitration

Lower Court’s Denial Of Post-Judgment Vacatur Fees To Prevailing Plaintiff/Employee Was Justified. In Fishman v. Advisors LLP, Case No. B334179 (2d Dist., Div. 7 Jan. 15, 2026) (unpublished), a couple of former lawyers/nonequity partners sued their former law firm for compensation and over the validity of a non-compete clause.  There were various proceedings; however, one

Arbitration: 2/6 DCA Remands Employer’s Failure To Timely Pay Arbitration Expenses Post-Hohenshelt To See If Employer Had Plausible Excuses

Cases: Arbitration

Employer Paid Expenses 7 Days Late. The 2/6 DCA, in line with other intermediate appellate courts, remanded a decision not excusing an employer from paying arbitration expenses within 30 days, in Doe v. Lawyers for Employee and Consumer Rights, Case No. B330052 (2d Dist., Div. 6 Dec. 23, 2025) (unpublished), referencing Hohenshelt, 18 Cal.5th 310.

Arbitration: Where Parties Failed To Remind Arbitrator About Stipulation To Bear Fees/Costs, Subsequent Award Of Fees To Plaintiff In The Arbitration Was Not Subject To Vacatur

Cases: Arbitration

Circumstances Did Not Fall Into “Legally Dispositive Facts” Vacatur Principle. In VIP Mortgage Incorporated v. Gates, No. 24-7624 (9th Cir. Dec. 22, 2025) (published), a vacatur request was denied where an arbitration award granted attorney’s fees and costs to a plaintiff on the defense’s counterclaims even though the parties had stipulated that fees and costs

Arbitration, Section 1717: Prevailing Party Winning A Petition To Appoint An Arbitrator In A Discrete Action Under The Parties’ Contract Was Entitled To Recover $68,800 In Fees For Getting An Arbitrator Appointed

Cases: Arbitration, Cases: Section 1717

Prematurity Arguments Were Rebuffed. In Barbanell v. Lodge, Case No. D084193 (4th Dist., Div. 1 Dec. 17, 2025) (unpublished), the parties entered into a settlement agreement to resolve a longstanding water rights dispute, with the settlement agreement having an attorney’s fees clause allowing a prevailing party in a lawsuit arising out of the settlement to

Arbitration: 2/5 DCA Remands Employer Untimely Payment Dispute To The Trial Court To See If Employer’s Excuse Fell Within Hohenshelt

Cases: Arbitration

Concurring Justice Suggests That Discovery Might Be Appropriate For Scrutiny Of Employer’s Failure To Timely Pay. Howard v. Koulax Enterprises, Case No. B335329 (2d Dist., Div. 5 Dec. 16, 2025) (unpublished) is yet another appellate decision remanding a case to the lower court after an employer litigant failed to timely pay arbitration expenses, with the

Arbitration: 4/3 DCA Joins An Emerging Appellate Majority In Remanding Arbitration Nonpayment Decisions After Hohenshelt Decided

Cases: Arbitration

Remand Was To Determine If Employer Had An Excuse For Untimely Payment And Whether Employee Suffered Compensable Harm. Our local Santa Ana appellate court, in Pontes v. Intelliloan, Inc., Case No.. G064585 (4th Dist., Div. 3 Dec. 16, 2025) (unpublished), has joined an emerging majority of appellate courts in remanding, post-Hohenshelt v. Superior, 18 Cal.5th

Arbitration: Trial Court, On An Arbitration Award Confirmation Petition, Erroneously Included Arbitration Costs Where Arbitrator Did Not Award Them Before Issuance Of The Arbitration Award

Cases: Arbitration

Arbitrator Was The One Who Had To Do So, With The Presumption Being Costs Were Disallowed. Garrett & Tully, P.C. v. Aliso Properties, LLC, Case No. B332463 (2d Dist., Div. 3 Dec. 9, 2025) (unpublished) was a situation where a lower court, in an arbitration award confirmation proceeding, awarded costs relating to the arbitration where

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