In LIDL v Just Fitness Ltd [2010] EWHC 39 (Ch) the Court was asked to decide whether an arbitrator had jurisdiction to determine a particular issue in a dispute, which was alleged to have been addressed in a previous arbitration. 
Read More UK: High Court Rules That any Issue Covered by a Tribunal’s Terms of Reference Cannot be Adjudicated in a Subsequent Arbitration

Habas Sinai Ve Tibbi Gazlar Isthisal Endustri As (“Habas”) v Sometal S.A.L. [2010] EWHC 29 (Comm) concerned an application to set aside an interim final award on jurisdiction and costs made by an arbitral tribunal by which the tribunal accepted jurisdiction to entertain a claim made by Sometal S.A.L. for breach of contract. 
Read More UK: Incorporation of Arbitration Clauses by General Words

Plaintiff B.D. Cooke & Partners Limited, as Assignee of Citizens Casualty Company of New York (in Liquidation) (“Cooke”), filed a lawsuit against defendant Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London (“Underwriters”).  Underwriters moved to compel arbitration, which was granted by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. 


Read More District Court Denies Motion to Stay, Holds That Potential for Unnecessary Arbitration-Related Expenses Does Not Constitute Irreparable Harm or Clear Hardship

Petitioner United States Life Insurance Company (“U.S. Life”) reinsured workers’ compensation policies issued by five insurers domiciled in California (collectively, “SNICIL”).  The five insurers later declared insolvency, and the California Insurance Commissioner became SNICIL’s statutory liquidator.  A dispute arose between the parties, and U.S. Life demanded arbitration. 
Read More Ninth Circuit Confirms Arbitration Award, Holds that Panel’s Ex Parte Meeting with Certain Expert Witnesses did not Justify Vacatur

PMA Capital Insurance Company (“PMA”) and Platinum Underwriters Bermuda, Ltd. (“Platinum”) entered into a reinsurance agreement that contained, among other things, a “deficit carry forward” provision.  A dispute arose between the parties concerning the validity and scope of this provision, which was submitted to arbitration. 


Read More Federal Court Vacates Arbitration Award, Finding That Panel’s Award was Completely Irrational and the Panel Exceeded Its Powers by Unilaterally Removing Provision from Reinsurance Agreement

In National Navigation Co v Endesa Generacion SA [2009] EWCA Civ 1397 the Court of Appeal overturned the first instance judgment of Mrs Justice Gloster (previously reported on the blog here) and held that the English court was bound by an earlier decision of the Spanish court to the effect that no arbitration clause was incorporated into the relevant contract. 


Read More UK: Court of Appeal Clarifies the Scope of the West Tankers Decision

Petitioners Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas, Inc. (“Mitsubishi”) moved to vacate a partial arbitration award entered by the International Centre for Dispute Resolution in favor of Respondent Stone & Webster, Inc. (“Stone & Webster”). 


Read More Court Finds That Arbitration Award is Not Final for Purposes of Review under the FAA

Plaintiff China National Chartering Corp. (“CNCC”) petitioned the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to confirm an arbitration award rendered in its favor against defendant Pactrans Air & Sea, Inc. (“Pactrans”) by the China Maritime Arbitration Commission (“CMAC”). 


Read More Federal Court Confirms Foreign Arbitration Award, Even Though Appeal of Award in Foreign Jurisdiction was Pending

In Accentuate Limited v Asigra Inc (A company incorporated under the laws of Canada) [2009] EWHC 265, the English Court was asked to overturn the earlier decision of a District Judge which set aside an order giving the English claimant, Accentuate, leave to serve the Canadian defendant, Asigra, outside the jurisdiction and which granted a stay of proceedings. 


Read More UK: English High Court Refuses to Enforce a Canadian Arbitration Award Which Failed to Give Effect to Mandatory EU Regulations

In a recent decision of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, TIG Ins. Co. v. Global Int’l Reins. Co., Ltd., No. 09 Civ. 1289 (Aug. 7, 2009), the court ruled that an arbitrator’s decision to ignore certain evidence is not a proper ground for vacating an arbitration award. 
Read More Southern District of New York Confirms Arbitration Award Dismissing Fraud Claims on Summary Judgment