Case Notes

Arbitration

• » ReliaStar Life Ins. Co. of N.Y. v. EMC Nat. Life Co.
  --- F.3d ----, 2009 WL 941173 (2d Cir. April 9, 2009)
  Second Circuit Raises the Stakes for Participants in Arbitration and Invites a Reexamination into How Attorney Fees Provisions in Arbitration Clauses Are Drafted
• » Andersen v. Carlisle
  No. 08-146, 556 U.S. __, 2009 WL 1174853 (U.S. May 4, 2009)
  U.S. Supreme Court: Non-Signatories May Seek Stay of Litigation Pending Arbitration and Appeal if Denied
• » Vaden v. Discover Bank
  556 U.S. ____ (2009), Slip Op., 3/9/09
• » Homa v. American Express Co.
  2009 WL 440912, No. 07-2921 (3d Cir. Feb. 24, 2009)
• » Life Receivables Trust v. Syndicate 102 at Lloyd’s of London
  2008 WL 4978550 (2d Cir. Nov. 25, 2008)
  Defining the Scope of Discovery under Section 7 of the FAA
• » Sourcing Unlimited, Inc. v. Asimco International, Inc.
  526 F.3d 38 (1st Cir. 2008)
  Naming Two Non-Signatories as Defendants Will Not Allow a Signatory Plaintiff to Escape Arbitration
• » Gene Dale, et al. v. Comcast Corp. | 
  2007 WL 2471222 (11th Cir. September 4, 2007)
  Are Class Action Waivers in Arbitration Provisions Enforceable? In a Departure from Prior Cases, the 11th Circuit Gives a Qualified Yes.
• » Hall Street Associates, L.L.C. v. Mattel, Inc
  No. 06-989 (U.S. March 25, 2008)
• » Choice of Law Clauses Are Not Necessarily Written in Stone | 
  Preferred Warranties, Inc. and Mario Lomedico Exotic Motor Sales, Inc. v. Fialkowski, 2007 WL 4270361 (N.J.Super.A.D.)
• » Preston v. Ferrer
• » Sundays and Holidays No Help for Party in Arbitration Agreement Governed by New York Convention:
  A Case of First Impression | 
  Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s London v. Argonaut Insurance Co., 500 F.3d 571 (7th Cir. 2007)
• » Arbitrator Disclosures in California | 
  Hayden v. Robertson Stephens, Inc., 150 Cal.App.4th 360 (Cal.App.1 Dist., April 27, 2007)
• » Enforceability of Arbitration Clauses in Health-Care Provider Contracts: Recent Decisions of the California Courts | 
  Reigelsperger v. Siller, Medeiros v. Superior Court (Health Net of California), Hogan v. Country Villa Health Services, and Flores v. Evergreen at San Diego LLC
• » SWAB Financial v. E*Trade Securities | 
  150 Cal.App.4th 1181, 58 Cal.Rptr.3d 904 (No. B191166, May 17, 2007)
  Sometimes Hard Cases Make Good Law
• » Schatz v. Allen Matkins Leck Gamble & Mallory LLP
  2007 WL 49638 (No. D047347, filed Jan. 9, 2007)
  Is a Client’s Agreement to Arbitrate Attorney Fee Disputes Enforceable in California?
• » Sheppard v. Lightpost Museum Fund
  2006 WL 3824896 (No. H029574, filed Dec. 29, 2006)
  Does California’s Anti-SLAPP Law Reach Private Arbitration Claims?
• » Roehl v. Ritchie (Cummins)
  __ Cal. App. 4th ___, No. G036999 (filed Jan. 31, 2007)
  On the Finality of California Arbitration Awards:  It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over!
• » Guseinov v. Burns | 
  2006 WL 3691602, __ Cal. App. ___ (filed Dec. 15, 2006)
  Arbitrators' Disclosures …Again
• » Bouton v. USAA Casualty Ins. Co. | 
  2006 WL 3743821, (filed Dec. 21, 2006)
  Coverage Uncovered: Arbitrating Uninsured Motorist Claims in California
• » Gueyffier v. Ann Summers, Ltd. | 
  144 Cal. App. 4th 166, 50 Cal. Rptr. 3d 294 (2006)
• » Hollern v. Wachovia Securities, Inc. | 
  458 F.3d 1169 (10th Cir. 2006)
  Arbitrators Can Look Beyond Arbitration Agreement in Awarding Attorneys' Fees
• » Buckeye Check Cashing, Inc. v. Cardegna | 
  A Challenge that Underlying Agreement is Void Ab Initio Goes to the Arbitrator.
  

  [See also: Case Opinion ]

• » Booker v. Robert Half International, Inc. | 
  413 F.3d 77 (D.C. Cir. 2005)
  Severing Illegal Provisions in Arbitration Clauses
• » Jenkins v. First American Cash Advance of Georgia, LLC | 
  400 F.3d 868 (11th Cir. 2005)
  Al-Safin v. Circuit City Stores, Inc. | 
  394 F.3d 1254 (9th Cir. 2005)
• » Cardegna v. Buckeye Check Cashing, Inc. | 
  30 Fla. L. Weekly S 29 (Fla. Jan. 20, 2005)
  Denying Arbitration When Underlying Agreement is Challenged as Void Under State Law
• » Mony Sec. Corp. v. Bornstein | 
  390 F.3d 1340 (11th Cir. 2004)
  Eleventh Circuit Reaffirms Customers’ Right to Compel Arbitration of Claims Covered by NASD Code Absent Express Agreement
• » Pro Tech Industries, Inc. v. URS Corporation | 
  377 F.3d 868 (8th Cir. 2004)
  Filing fees charged by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) did not render an arbitration clause unconscionable or unenforceable.
• » Blinco v. Green Tree Servicing, LLC | 
  2004 WL 877997 (11th Cir. Apr. 26, 2004)
  Non-Frivolous Appeal of Denial of Motion to Compel Arbitration Stays Case Pending Appeal
• » Kyocera Corp. V. Prudential-Bache Trade Services, Inc. | 
  Has The Ninth Circuit Sounded The Death Knell For Arbitration Provisions Wherein Parties Agree To An Expanded Scope Of Judicial Review Of Awards Beyond That Permitted By The Federal Arbitration Act? Written by E. Richard Kennedy, Esq.

Arbitration/Mediation

• » Florida Appeals Court Decides Against Use of Binding Arbitration in Lawsuits Involving Child Custody, Visitation and Child Support Disputes
  Until recently, it was an open question whether a lawsuit involving child custody, visitation, or child support was excluded from binding arbitration in its entirety, or whether only discrete issues involving the prohibited subject matter was barred from arbitral proceedings.
• » Eleventh Circuit Holds that Clause Referring to Mediation is Not Enforceable Pursuant to FAA | 
  

Employment

• » Lucey, et al. v. FedEx Ground Packaging Systems, Inc.
  Slip Copy, 2007 WL 3052997 (D.N.J. 2007)
  Late Delivery Helps Doom FedEx Arbitration Agreement

Securities

• » Mony Sec. Corp. v. Bornstein | 
  390 F.3d 1340 (11th Cir. 2004)
  Eleventh Circuit Reaffirms Customers’ Right to Compel Arbitration of Claims Covered by NASD Code Absent Express Agreement
• » Multi-Financial Securities Corp. v. King | 
  2004 WL 2246220 (11th Cir., October 6, 2004)

Other Case Notes

• » Michael J. Lasalla v. Doctor's Associates, Inc. | 
• » Mactec, Inc. v. Steven Gorelick | 
  427 F.3d 821
• » Independent Association of Mailbox Center Owners, Inc. v. The Superior Court of San Diego County |