Cases: Arbitration

Arbitration, POOF!: By Invalidating Portions Of An Arbitration Award And Remanding On Other Issues, Substantial Attorney’s Fees And Costs Award Against Arbitration Claimant/Counter-Respondent Also Sent Back For A Revisit

Cases: Arbitration, Cases: POOF!

Principal Reasons For Reversal Were That Certain Aspects Of The Employment Agreement Violated Business And Professions Code Section 16600.             Claimant/counter-claim respondent, former employee, was hammered pretty hard in an employment arbitration when the arbitrator rejected his claim for a $300,000 deferred bonus, found for employer on a counterclaim to the tune of $652,243 for […]

Arbitration, Employment: Although Arbitration Clause Had Invalid Attorney’s Fees/Costs Provision Relating To FEHA Claims, It Was Severed Such That Motion Denying Arbitration Was Reversed

Cases: Arbitration, Cases: Employment

Severability Saved The Day!             In Conyer v. Hula Media Services, LLC, Case No. B296738 (2d Dist., Div. 8 Aug. 26, 2020) (published), the appellate court reversed a trial judge’s decision denying arbitration to an employer even though employee acknowledged receiving a handbook with the arbitration clause but argued that there was an employer duty

Arbitration: Substantial Arbitration Award, A Lot Of It Attorney’s Fees And Costs, Confirmed On Appeal After 2/3 DCA Reverses An Order Vacating The Award In A Homeowner-Contractor Home Renovation Dispute

Cases: Arbitration

Arbitrator’s Failure To Disclose His Own Contractor Dispute 20 Years Earlier Did Not Justify Vacating The Award.             An arbitrator in R&R Construction, Inc. v. Roski, Case No. B293748 (2d Dist., Div. 3 July 22, 2020) (unpublished) awarded homeowner $265,036.40 in damages, $589,967.50 in attorney’s fees and costs, and $60,005 for arbitration fees/expenses in a

Arbitration, POOF! Arbitrator’s Award To Defendant Of $258,181.03 In Attorney Fees Goes POOF! On Appeal

Cases: Arbitration, Cases: POOF!

Arbitrator Exceeded Authority On Remand By Conducting Arbitration Inconsistent With Instructions From The 4/1 DCA             It may not happen often, but arbitration awards do occasionally get reversed.  In this case, litigants are now returning for round three.             In the first round, plaintiffs received an arbitration award of $30,000,000 in compensatory and punitive damages. 

Arbitration: “Award” For Arbitration Correction Purposes Depends On Whether Every Aspect Of A Dispute Is Resolved, With Post-Arbitration Judicial Proceeding Fees Allowable

Cases: Arbitration

Breadth Of Fees Clause Sustained The Post-Arbitration Judicial Fees.             In Lonky v. Patel, Case No. B295314 (2d Dist., Div. 2 July 2, 2020) (published), the Second District had to consider two issues:  what is an arbitration final “award” for purposes of jurisdictional correction purposes and are post-arbitration judicial proceeding fees to the prevailing party

Arbitration: $87,136.42 Final Arbitration Award—Most Of It Attorney’s Fees—Affirmed On Appeal

Cases: Arbitration

Trope Waiver OK Between Sophisticated Parties (But Fees Were Not Awarded For Self-Representation Anyway), With Arbitrator Not Being Bound By Prevailing Party Statutory Test And Not Having To Allocate Between Contract/Tort Claims.             In Flint v. Koslyn, Case No. B289997 (2d Dist., Div. 7 June 16, 2020) (unpublished), former attorney/tenant of a client/landlord entered into

Arbitration: Arbitration Award Of $125,795.50 In Attorney Fee and $36,423.02 In Costs Against Subcontractor Achieving A Damages Award Of Only $5,582.59 Out Of Requested $272,548.19 Affirmed On Appeal

Cases: Arbitration

Under Moncharsh, Merits Rulings Are Generally Beyond Appellate Review.             We have often posted on arbitral finality and the limitations on judicial review over arbitration awards in the majority of cases based on Moncharsh v. Heily & Blase, 3 Cal.4th 1 (1992).  Such is the situation with the next case.             Volpe Co.

Arbitration, Sanctions: 4/3 DCA Affirms $50,000 Code Civ. Proc. Section 128.5 Sanctions Awarded Against Client And Attorney For Their Frivolous Litigation and Dilatory Tactics

Cases: Arbitration, Cases: Sanctions

Broad Language In The Parties’ Retainer Agreement Authorized Arbitrator’s Review Of Ancillary Matters – Such As Litigation Conduct Rationally Related To The Underlying Dispute.             In ATG Electronics, Inc. v. The Mulcahy Law Firm, Case No. G056931 (4th Dist., Div. 3 January 16, 2020) (unpublished), Law Firm claiming Former Client owed almost $100,000 in outstanding

Arbitration, Prevailing Party, Section 1717: Trial Court Properly Found That Respondent Did Not Prevail For Fee Recovery Even Though She Did Obtain A Ruling Denying A Petition To Confirm The Arbitration Award And Did Obtain A Vacatur Ruling

Cases: Arbitration, Cases: Prevailing Party, Cases: Section 1717

The Lower Court’s Discretionary Determination That No One Prevailed Was Affirmed On Appeal.             In Goraya v. Stephens, Case No. F078335 (5th Dist. Jan. 3, 2020) (unpublished), property seller and property buyer submitted to arbitration and settled, with the listing agent joined as a party in the arbitration at his own request, eventually obtaining an

Arbitration, Nonsignatories, Quantum Meruit, Retainer Agreements: Judgment Confirming Arbitration Award Of $1,273,765.91 In Fees Owed To Two Law Firms Plus Another $508,678.82 For Fees And Costs Incurred In The Arbitration Affirmed

Cases: Arbitration, Cases: Nonsignatories, Cases: Quantum Meruit, Cases: Retainer Agreements

Arbitration Was Properly Ordered Because The Claims Between Client And The Two Law Firms Arose Out Of The Underlying Retainer And Arbitration Agreements Client Signed With The First Law Firm.             Client retained a law firm to represent her in an ongoing dissolution action – signing a Retainer Agreement and a binding Arbitration Agreement.  During

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