Cases: Arbitration

Arbitration: FAA Does Not Preempt State Court Provisions Requiring Business To Timely Pay Its Share Of Arbitration Expenses In An Arbitration Involving An Employee Or A Consumer

Cases: Arbitration

Order Compelling Arbitration Was Vacated And $2,310 In Monetary Sanctions Against Company Affirmed On Appeal.             The California Legislature recently enacted Code of Civil Procedure sections 1281.97, 1281.98, and 1281.99 which obligate a company which drafts an arbitration agreement relating to an employee or a consumer to pay its share of arbitration fees no later […]

Arbitration: Where Arbitration Costs Are Only Allowed To Be Granted By An Arbitator, That Contractual Clause Is Binding

Cases: Arbitration

Subsequent Post-Trial Proceeding Costs Not Subsumed In Contractual Clause.             In Crowder v. Freeman, Freeman & Smiley LLP, Case No. B309001 (2d Dist., Div. 1 Mar. 22, 2022) (unpublished), an appellate court reversed a superior court fee denial relating to arbitration proceedings, where only the arbitrator was allowed to award fees and costs.  The appellate

Arbitration, Mediation: $38,000 Fee/Costs Award By Arbitrator To Prevailing Seller Was No Abuse Of Discretion

Cases: Arbitration, Cases: Mediation

Arbitrator’s Ruling That Seller Did Not Unreasonably Refuse Mediation Was Upheld.             Unless an arbitration agreement has language indicating that the arbitrator’s award is subject to review under a heightened standard for legal error, it will be close to impossible to reverse an arbitrator’s legal, much less factual, determinations.  Faro v. Garnero, Case No. C093870

Appealability, Arbitration: Trial Court’s Denial Of Motion For Costs And Attorney’s Fees Incurred In Opposing And Conducting Arbitration Proceedings Denied As Interlocutory Because Merits Of Action Was Not Yet Decided

Cases: Appealability, Cases: Arbitration

Lots Of Arguments Raised, But Merits Had To Be Decided To Determine Who Prevailed.             What occurred in Harris v. University Village Thousand Oaks CCRC LLC, Case No. B311972 (2d Dist., Div. 6 Mar. 21, 2022) (unpublished) is that a lower court’s confirmation of an arbitration award was reversed because the appellate court determined that

Arbitration: Arbitration Claimants Creating No Distinct Fund And Only Obtaining $1 Nominal Damages Properly Denied Fees And Costs By Arbitrators Under Substantial Benefit Doctrine

Cases: Arbitration

Even If The Ruling Was Erroneous, The Fee Ruling Could Not Be Reviewed On The Merits.             Arbitration can be a tough process, because the arbitrator’s rulings—even on attorney’s fees and costs—are seldom ones which can be reviewed on the merits.  Sirott v. East Bay Medical Oncology, Case Nos. A161353/A161555 (1st Dist., Div. 2 Jan.

Arbitration: After Having An Arbitration Award Previously Vacated And Having A New Petition To Compel Arbitration Denied, $181,375 Fee And $42,828.88 Cost Awards Affirmed On Appeal

Cases: Arbitration

Appellate Court Found That Fee/Costs Awards Were Not Premature.             In Borisoff v. The Pullman Group, LLC, Case No. B297162 et al. (2d Dist., Div. 1 Jan. 11, 2022) (unpublished), a substantial prior arbitration award was vacated, a lower court refused to grant a new motion to compel arbitration, and the lower court awarded the

Arbitration: Arbitration Award Of Attorney Fees And Costs To Prevailing Defendant Attorney Reversed On Appeal

Cases: Arbitration

Consumer Arbitration Rules Concerning Prevailing Party Attorney Fees Do Apply In The Context Of An Attorney-Client Dispute.             In Milder v. Holley, Case No. B299122 (2d Dist., Div. 5 December 16, 2021) (unpublished), client plaintiff initiated arbitration proceedings pursuant to an arbitration clause after a dispute arose between him and his attorney/her law firm. After

Arbitration, Retainer Agreements: $192,000 Arbitration Award To Ex-Attorney Affirmed On Appeal

Cases: Arbitration, Cases: Retainer Agreements

After MFAA Arbitration, Ex-Attorney Rightly Went To Contractual Arbitration; Argument That Block Billing Violates B&P Section 6148 Is Rejected Although Retainer Said Attorney Could Block Bill.             In Kling v. Horn, Case No. B305967 (2d Dist., Div. 7 Dec. 14, 2021) (unpublished), defendant ex-attorney, after engaging in a Mandatory Fee Arbitration Act (FAA) under which

Arbitration, Fee Clause Interpretation, Landlord/Tenant: 1/3 DCA Affirms Trial Court’s Denial Of Attorney Fees To Prevailing Tenant

Cases: Arbitration, Cases: Fee Clause Interpretation, Cases: Landlord/Tenant

Fees Incurred For The Court Proceedings Were Part Of The Arbitration Process Called For In The Lease For Resolving Fair Market Rent Value And Not Recoverable Under The Prevailing Party Provision Which Applied To An Action Involving A Breach Of The Contract Or Determination of Rights             In California Union Square L.P. v. Saks

Arbitration, Civil Rights, Employment: Employee’s Petition For Writ Of Mandate Granted Where Employer Was Awarded $6,912 In Attorney Fees For Successfully Bringing Motion To Compel Arbitration Of FEHA Claims

Cases: Arbitration, Cases: Civil Rights, Cases: Employment

Based On The Standards Set Forth For Imposition Of Fees Under FEHA, Employer’s Arbitration Agreement Did Not Authorize Recovery Of Attorney Fees Absent A Finding That Employee’s Opposition To Motion To Compel Arbitration Was Groundless.             California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) (Gov. Code, § 12900 et seq.) provides that a prevailing FEHA defendant

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