August 31 was a day in which two decisions were issued by Courts of Appeal, both demonstrating the deference that trial and appellate courts will give to arbitration attorney’s fees awards. Miller v. Lifestyles Senior Housing Managers, Case No. C059843 (3d Dist. Aug. 31, 2010) (Unpublished). In the first one, plaintiff lost […]
Fourth District, Division 3 Honors Stipulation By Its Terms on Forfeiture of Appellate Rights. Appellate courts will enforce the bargains struck between parties, even when they involve waivers of fundamental rights (such as the right to appeal). That happened in the next case we discuss. In Fridman v. Beach Crest Villas Homeowners
Second District, Division 1 Enforces Procedural Aspects of Nonbinding Mandatory Fee Arbitration and Contractual Arbitration Enforcement Provisions. In Sands & Associates v. Juknavorian, Case No. B218019 (2d Dist., Div. 1 July 30, 2010) (unpublished), client initiated a nonbinding arbitration against law firm under the Mandatory Fee Arbitration Act after being disgruntled with law firm’s
First District, Division Two Nixes $450,000-Plus Fee Request of Widow. Aside from the fact that it involved an arbitration between the survivors of music legend Jerry Garcia, we knew this one would be good when the arbitrator started out his decision denying attorney’s fees to the widow this way: “On the issue of
Second District, Division 8, in Opinions by Justice Flier, Affirms Two Fee Awards, One For Appellate Work In a Civil Case and One in an Arbitration Context. #1: Moore v. Pro Value Properties, Inc., Case No. B216061 (2d Dist., Div. 8 July 6, 2010) (unpublished) In pro per plaintiffs/appellants challenged a $120,360.75 fee award
Fourth District, Division 1 Reverses Arbitration Fee Award on Public Policy Grounds on Appeal. Code of Civil Procedure section 1284.3(a) is a pro-consumer arbitration provision that states an arbitrator/neutral cannot administer an arbitration for a consumer in a way that makes the consumer responsible to pay attorney’s fees or costs if he/she is
Sixth District Honors Parties’ Stipulation Relating to Fee Recovery. In Kontoudakis v. Beri-Scott Co., Case No. H034544 (6th Dist. May 24, 2010) (unpublished), the parties’ stipulation for arbitration had an important fee recovery provision. That provision stated: “Should either party be forced to seek enforcement of the arbitration award beyond simply filing it
Denial Order Is Not Appealable, Only the Judgment Confirming the Award. The next case is a reminder to all that you must research what can and cannot be appealed when dealing with corrections to arbitration awards. The aggrieved plaintiff learned that all too well in the next decision we examine. Bader v.
Second District, Division 8 Does Find Procedural Issue Might Deserve Supreme Court Review, But Affirms Merits Awards. In Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. v. Bernard, Case No. B207865 (2d Dist., Div. 8 Feb. 22, 2010) (certified for publication), arbitration awards of $12.3 million for lost management fees and $6.7 million in attorney’s fees, costs, and
First District, Division 1 Addresses Claimed Conflict Between JAMS Rules and CCP Arbitration Correction Provision. Here is a decision that involves consideration of class action and arbitration crossover issues. Two attorneys deserving of attorney’s fees in a substantial class action settlement entered into an agreement among themselves on the allocation of fees, calling
