A Variety Of Articles Discuss Mediation And Arbitration In March 20, 2017 Special Report. A March 20, 2016 Special Report of The New York Law Journal covers diverse topics including collaborative divorce, a proposed New York rule that might make arbitration “truly confidential”, diversity in ADR, solving interpersonal problems in mediation, preparing for successful mediation, […]
Vacating The Award Would Have Required That The Arbitrator Be Actually Aware Of A Ground For Disqualification That The Arbitrator Did Not Disclose. ECC Capital, a former client of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP (Manatt) appealed from a superior court judgment confirming a final arbitration award of almost $7M against ECC and its subsidiary, […]
The Employee Brought A Single Cause Of Action For PAGA Violations. At first blush, Betancourt v. Prudential Overall Supply, E064326 (4/2 March 3, 2017) (Miller, Ramirez, McKinster), another opinion holding that PAGA claims cannot be arbitrated (more about the holding), is unremarkable. However, there are interesting points in the case that help explain why it […]
Reaching A Result Justice Scalia Would Have Approved By Means He Would Not Have Approved? Edith Roberts is the author of a very interesting March 6, 2017 post in Scotusblog about an otherwise bone dry topic, entitled, “Judge Gorsuch’s arbitration jurisprudence.” Our takeaway: “[A] look at the arbitration rulings Gorsuch has made [on the […]
A Modest Proposal That Mediation May Be The Best Way To Tackle Disputes Among Clients Who Are Jointly Represented. In the latest issue of Orange County Lawyer (March 2017, Vol. 59, No. 3, p. 46), the publication of the Orange County Bar Association, I have written an article entitled, "Mediating Disputes Among Clients." […]
Case Is A Reminder That Ordinary Constitutional Guarantees Of Due Process Do Not Automatically Exist In Private Arbitration. The Court of Appeal's summary of the facts in our next case provides a clear sign that it is headed towards a reversal – the interesting part is how it arrives at its destination. Defendant/appellant Stephen Kaplan […]
Argument Is Summarized In SCOTUSblog. On February 23, 2017, Professor Ronald Mann of Columbia Law School provided argument analysis in SCOTUSblog of yesterday's oral argument in Kindred Nursing Centers Limited Partnership v. Clark. By the tenor of the argument, which appears to have been hostile to Kentucky's position that the right to try personal injury […]
The Important Distinction Is Whether Fraud In The Inducement Applies To The Contract Or To The Arbitration Clause. Though unpublished, Milder v. Holley, B267974 (2/5 1/31/17) (Kumar, Kriegler, Baker) has facts that neatly clarify an important gateway issue: does a judge or an arbitrator get to decide whether there was fraud in the inducement in […]
The Arbitration Clause Analyzed By The Court Is Common In Automobile Sales Contracts. The Arbitration Clause analyzed in Raczynski v. Daland Nissan, Inc., et al., A146992 (1/5 2/15/17) (Bruiniers, Jones, Needham) (unpublished), provides that the arbitrator’s award “shall be final and binding on all parties, except that in the event the arbitrator’s award for a […]
Where Statutory Violations Are Alleged, Presumption Of Arbitrability Applying To Contractual Disputes Arising Out Of A Collective Bargaining Agreement Does Not Apply. Collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) are a different animal requiring close scrutiny when the question of arbitrability arises in an employment dispute. In Vasserman v. Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, No. B267975 (2/4 2/7/17) […]