Tag Archives: Federal Arbitration Act

Eighth Circuit Vacates Judgments in Favor of 177 Plaintiffs Confirming Arbitration Awards Due to Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction

In Hursh v. DST Systems, Inc., No 21-3554 (8th Cir. Nov. 28, 2022), appeals of awards to 177 claimants –who prevailed in ERISA arbitrations about losses in their 401(k) profit sharing plan – result in the judgments being vacated and remanded owing to doubts about the district court’s subject-matter jurisdiction. “DST was the Plan’s sponsor,Continue reading “Eighth Circuit Vacates Judgments in Favor of 177 Plaintiffs Confirming Arbitration Awards Due to Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction”

Ninth Circuit Splits Over How to Analyze Jurisdictional Amount for Section 7 Action to Enforce Subpoena Under Federal Arbitration Act

In Maine Community Health Options v. Albertsons Cos., Inc., No. 20-35931 (9th Cir. Mar. 31, 2021), deciding an issue of first impression for the circuit, the judges – following different routes – holds that there is diversity jurisdiction over an action under Section 7 of the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), 9 U.S.C. § 7, seeking enforcementContinue reading “Ninth Circuit Splits Over How to Analyze Jurisdictional Amount for Section 7 Action to Enforce Subpoena Under Federal Arbitration Act”

Third Circuit Holds That It Need Not Consider Plaintiff’s Standing to Hear Defendant’s Interlocutory Appeal of Arbitration Ruling

In O’Hanlon v. Uber Technologies Inc., No. 19-3891 (3d Cir. Mar. 17, 2021), the panel rejects defendant-appellee Uber’s argument that the Court of Appeals must take up a standing issue along with its interlocutory review of an arbitration decision. “We established in Griswold v. Coventry First LLC that, on interlocutory appeal from the denial ofContinue reading “Third Circuit Holds That It Need Not Consider Plaintiff’s Standing to Hear Defendant’s Interlocutory Appeal of Arbitration Ruling”

Three-Judge Panel Can Overrule Circuit Precedent If Its Reasoning Is “Irreconcilable” With Intervening Supreme Court Authority, Holds Ninth Circuit

In Langere v. Verizon Wireless Servs., No. 19-55747 (9th Cir. Dec. 29, 2020), the Ninth Circuit clarifies the standard for when a three-judge panel may overrule circuit precedent in the face of “irreconcilable” Supreme Court authority. It holds that it is not necessary for the prior circuit caselaw to be on all fours with theContinue reading “Three-Judge Panel Can Overrule Circuit Precedent If Its Reasoning Is “Irreconcilable” With Intervening Supreme Court Authority, Holds Ninth Circuit”

Texas District Court Lacked Personal Jurisdiction to Vacate an Arbitration Award in Florida, Fifth Circuit Holds

In Sayers Constr., LLC v. Timberline Constr., Inc., No 19-51099 (5th Cir. Oct. 2, 2020), the panel affirms dismissal of a vacatur action on the ground that it would not comport with Due Process to review a Florida arbitration award in Texas. Plaintiff Sayers filed suit in the Western District of Texas to vacate anContinue reading “Texas District Court Lacked Personal Jurisdiction to Vacate an Arbitration Award in Florida, Fifth Circuit Holds”

Plaintiff Did Not Deprive Federal Court of Subject-Matter Jurisdiction Over FAA Vacatur Petition by Selectively Naming Defendants, Fifth Circuit Holds

In Badgerow v. Walters, No. 19-30766 (5th Cir. Sept. 15, 2020), the Fifth Circuit holds that the “look-through” analysis for determining federal jurisdiction in actions to compel arbitration under Section 4 of the FAA reviews the entire underlying dispute in arbitration, not just the specific claims included in the petition. Plaintiff – a terminated employeeContinue reading “Plaintiff Did Not Deprive Federal Court of Subject-Matter Jurisdiction Over FAA Vacatur Petition by Selectively Naming Defendants, Fifth Circuit Holds”

Federal Arbitration Act Requires an Immediate Trial to Resolve Genuine Disputes of Material Fact About Arbitrability, Says D.C. Circuit

A district court erred by not holding an immediate trial to resolve a factual dispute about whether the parties agreed to arbitrate an employment discrimination claim. (Jin v. Parsons Corp., No. 19-7019 (D.C. Cir. July 24, 2020).) The Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) spells out a procedure in 9 U.S.C. § 4 for when there isContinue reading “Federal Arbitration Act Requires an Immediate Trial to Resolve Genuine Disputes of Material Fact About Arbitrability, Says D.C. Circuit”