REGGIE B. WALTON, District Judge.
These two cases arise from identical underlying facts. In Civil Action 09-cv-1483 (RBW), the petitioners, Contech Construction Products, Inc. and Patrick Harlow (collectively "Contech"), petition the Court to "vacate a portion of [a] [p]artial [Arbitration] Award" ("Partial Award") rendered in favor of the respondent, Werner Heierli ("Heierli"), on May 7, 2009. Petition to Vacate a Portion of the Arbitration Award ("Contechs Pet. to Vacate") at 1-5. In response, Heierli opposes Contechs petition and has filed a cross-petition seeking confirmation of the Partial Award. Subsequently, on November 12, 2009, a final arbitration award was rendered in favor of Heierli, along with interest, attorneys fees, and costs ("Final Award"). Then, on November 20, 2009, Heierli instituted the second case, Civil Action 09-cv-2204, petitioning the Court to confirm the Final Award. Petition and Motion of Werner Heierli to Confirm Arbitration Award ("Heierlis Pet. to Confirm") at 1. Contech opposes the petition to confirm the Final Award and has cross-petitioned to vacate the Final Award. Memorandum In Opposition to the Petition of Werner Heierli to Confirm Arbitration Award and Cross-Petition of Contech Construction Products Inc. to Vacate the Arbitration Award ("Contechs Cross-Pet. to Vacate") at 1. Accordingly, both cases involve the same parties and their resolution turns on the question of whether the two awards entered by the arbitrator are enforceable.
Contech Construction Products, Inc. is the sole majority shareholder of BEBOTech Corporation ("BEBOTech") and Patrick Harlow is the President of BEBOTech's Board of Directors. Contech's Pet. to Vacate ¶ 8. Werner Heierli is the sole minority shareholder of BEBOTech. Id.
Contech and Heierli entered into a Stockholders' Agreement and several other related agreements on May 2, 2003. Id. ¶ 9. The agreements contain identical dispute resolution provisions requiring the parties to "attempt in good faith to resolve any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement promptly by negotiation. . . failing which the parties shall endeavor to resolve any dispute . . . by mediation under the CPR Mediation procedure." Id., Ex. A at 12. If negotiations and mediation are unsuccessful, the dispute resolution clauses require the parties to arbitrate "[a]ny controversy or claim arising out of or relating to [the agreements in the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution ("CPR")] . . . in accordance with the CPR Rules for Non-Administered Arbitration." Id. The agreements also provide that any arbitration proceedings will be held in Washington, D.C. Id.
On March 23, 2007, after unsuccessful attempts to negotiate and mediate a dispute between the parties, Heierli filed an arbitration demand against Contech "asserting individual and derivative claims for breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty". Id. ¶ 13. On May 7, 2009, Arbitrator Nancy Lesser (the "Arbitrator") issued a Partial Award finding that: (1) Contech had breached its contractual duties to Heierli; (2) Contech had breached its fiduciary duties to Heierli; (3) Heierli was entitled to at least the minimum amount of the value of his interest (his shares) in BEBOTech pursuant to the formula adopted in the Stockholders' Agreement, upon exercise of his "Put Option" in that agreement; (4) Contech could not include certain charges and fees in determining Heierli's share value under the Stockholders' Agreement formula; and (5) Heierli was permitted to petition for an interim award of "reasonable attorney's fees and costs in proceedings to be scheduled following the issuance of [the] Partial Award." Id., Ex. E (Partial Award) at 34-35. However, the Arbitrator also found that Heierli had failed to prove that he suffered any compensatory damages or that he was entitled to punitive damages as a result of the breach. Id., Ex. E (Partial Award) at 33.
Contech filed a Motion for Reconsideration of the Partial Award with the Arbitrator on May 22, 2009, requesting that she reconsider and withdraw her award of attorneys' fees and costs, arguing that the Arbitrator did not have the authority to make such awards under either the CPR rules or Delaware law.
In addition to the dispute resolution clause, the parties' Stockholders' Agreement contained "put" and "call" options which accorded Heierli the option of selling his BEBOTech shares to Contech at a price calculated pursuant to a formula specified in the Stockholders' Agreement, and Contech had the option to purchase Heierli's shares at a price determined by a different formula specified in the Agreement. Contech's Cross-Pet. to Vacate, Ex. A (Stockholders' Agreement) § 4.
Contech argues that under the 2005 version of the CPR Rules the Arbitrator's power to award attorneys' fees and costs under CPR Rules 16.2 and 16.3 is limited by CPR Rule 10.3, which states:
Contech also contends that under the District of Columbia Uniform Arbitration Act (the "D.C. UAA"), which it maintains governs the arbitration of the parties' dispute, an arbitrator can only award attorneys' fees and costs if the parties expressly agree that the arbitrator has the authority to do so. Id. ¶¶ 30-31. And Contech argues that since its agreements with Heierli did not contain an express provision allowing the Arbitrator to award attorneys' fees and costs, she lacked "jurisdiction, authority, or powers" to make such an award. Id. ¶ 32.
Furthermore, Contech claims that the Arbitrator should have dismissed Heierli's breach of fiduciary duty claim as it was preempted by his identical breach of contract claim and Delaware law prohibits parties from pursuing a breach of fiduciary duty tort claim for conduct that allegedly breached an agreement between the parties "because contract claims preempt tort claims." Id. ¶¶ 38-40. Therefore, according to Contech, "[t]he Arbitrator exceeded her jurisdiction by awarding attorneys' fees and costs" because Heierli's breach of fiduciary duty claims "were barred as a matter of Delaware law." Id. ¶ 41.
Heierli argues that Contech's petition to vacate the arbitration award is procedurally defective and should be dismissed. Heierli's Opp'n at 5. Heierli maintains that Contech, instead of filing a "Petition," id., should have sought to vacate the arbitration award by filing a motion to vacate the award, id. at 6-7. Heierli further argues that Contech is barred by the doctrine of judicial estoppel from challenging the Arbitrator's attorneys' fees and costs awards because its argument that the Arbitrator lacked authority to make the awards is inconsistent with the arguments it advanced during the arbitration hearing. Id. at 9-10. Heierli also contends that Contech waived its challenge to the Arbitrator's jurisdiction to award attorneys' fees and costs when it failed to raise the challenge during the arbitration proceedings. Id. at 10-12. Heierli further argues that the Court must defer to the Arbitrator's determination regarding her jurisdiction because the parties in this case intended for the Arbitrator to determine the scope of her jurisdiction. Id. at 12-14. Heierli posits that the Federal Arbitration Act ("FAA"), not the D.C. UAA, governs the parties' dispute and that Contech is judicially
Heierli also requests that the Court award him costs and attorneys' fees for responding to Contech's petition. Id. at 32-34. Heierli maintains that Contech's challenge is a "presumptively unjustified" challenge to the merits of the awards. Id. at 32. Heierli opines that the Court should use its equitable powers to award him attorneys' fees and costs against Contech because it unjustifiably refused to abide by the arbitration award. Id.
Under the FAA,
Here, Contech has improperly challenged the arbitration award by filing a petition to vacate the award rather than a motion accompanied by a memorandum of points and authorities. See O.R. Sec., Inc., 857 F.2d at 745. The Court, however, will exercise its discretion and decline to dismiss Contech's petition for these transgressions because the parties have fully developed their arguments in their submissions to the Court. And in regard to Contech's failure to submit a memorandum of points of law and authorities as required by Local Civil Rule 7, the Court finds that the respondent has not been prejudiced by this failing because the petition contains the grounds on which Contech challenges the arbitration award and offers legal arguments in support of its petition. The Court also notes that Heierli's petition to enforce the Final Award suffers from the same procedural defect he complains about. However, as with Contech's petition, the Court, in its discretion, likewise construes his petition as a motion.
The doctrine of judicial estoppel bars "a party from asserting a position [in court] proceeding[s] that is [clearly inconsistent with] a position previously taken in the same or earlier proceedings." Karaha Bodas Co. v. Perusahaan Pertambangan Minyak Dan Gas Bumi Negara, 364 F.3d 274, 293-94 (5th Cir.2004) (finding that the district court did not abuse its discretion in applying the doctrine in proceedings challenging an arbitration award); accord Donovan v. U.S. Postal Serv., 530 F.Supp. 894, 902 (D.D.C.1981). The doctrine "preclude[s] litigants from `playing fast and loose' with the courts, and prohibit[s] parties from deliberately changing positions according to the exigencies of the moment." Karaha Bodas Co., 364 F.3d at 294 (quoting United States v. McCaskey, 9 F.3d 368, 378 (5th Cir.1993)). In determining whether to apply the doctrine of judicial estoppel, "several factors typically inform the decision . . . to apply the doctrine in a particular case:" (1) whether the party's later position is "clearly inconsistent" with an earlier position; (2) whether the party was able to convince a court to accept the earlier position; and (3) whether the party seeking to advance an inconsistent position "would derive an unfair advantage or impose an unfair detriment on the opposing party if not estopped." New Hampshire v. Maine, 532 U.S. 742, 750-51, 121 S.Ct. 1808, 149 L.Ed.2d 968 (2001) (citations omitted).
Here, Contech is not attempting to advance arguments inconsistent with arguments it made during the arbitration proceedings. In fact, Contech has consistently
The FAA governs contracts to arbitrate disputes involving interstate commerce. 9 U.S.C. §§ 1-2. "[T]he intent of the contracting parties to apply state arbitration rules or law to arbitration proceedings [and opt out of the applicability of the FAA] must be explicitly stated in the contract and . . . a general choice of law provision does not evidence such intent." Jung v. Ass'n of Am. Med. Colls., 300 F.Supp.2d 119, 152 (D.D.C.2004) (citing Sovak v. Chugai Pharm. Co., 280 F.3d 1266, 1270 (9th Cir.2002) ("[A] general choice-of-law clause within an arbitration provision does not trump the presumption that the FAA supplies the rules for arbitration.")); Roadway Package Sys., Inc. v. Kayser, 257 F.3d 287, 288-89 (3d Cir.2001) ("[A] generic choice-of-law clause, standing alone, is insufficient to support a finding that contracting parties intended to opt out of the FAA's default standards."). The FAA "declare[s] a national policy favoring arbitration" and supersedes conflicting state laws. Preston v. Ferrer, 552 U.S. 346, 353, 128 S.Ct. 978, 169 L.Ed.2d 917 (2008). Here, the parties contracted to sell construction materials nationwide. Heierli's Opp'n, Ex. 1 (Partial Award) at 5. Thus, their contract implicates interstate commerce and their agreement to arbitrate their disputes is controlled by the FAA by "default" absent a clear indication to the contrary. See Jung, 300 F.Supp.2d at 152 (quoting Roadway Package Sys., 257 F.3d at 288-89).
Contech has not adequately explained why the D.C. UAA rather than the FAA governs judicial review of the parties' arbitration of their dispute. The Court assumes that Contech is asserting that the provision of the dispute resolution clause which states: "[a]ny mediation or arbitration proceedings shall occur in Washington, D.C.," Contech's Pet. to Vacate, Ex. A (Stockholders' Agreement) ¶ 7.11, Ex. B (Management Services Agreement) ¶ 10(b), Ex. C (Sales Representative Agreement) ¶ 14(b), expresses an agreement between the parties to opt out of the FAA. In analogous situations, however, courts have found that even a choice of law provision indicating that a particular jurisdiction's substantive law will govern the agreement does not amount to an express statement to opt out of the FAA. See, e.g., Mastrobuono v. Shearson Lehman Hutton, Inc., 514 U.S. 52, 59, 115 S.Ct. 1212, 131 L.Ed.2d 76 (1995) (finding that the FAA preempted the New York rule prohibiting punitive damage awards by arbitrators because the parties demonstrated no contractual intent to opt out of the FAA even with the adoption of a choice of law clause); Jung, 300 F.Supp.2d at 152-53 (indicating that "[n]umerous courts of appeals have concluded that Mastrobuono requires that the intent of the contracting parties to apply state arbitration rules or law to arbitration proceedings must be explicitly stated in the contract and . . . a general choice of law provision does not
Neither party disputes that Delaware law governs the administration and interpretation of the agreements between the parties because both the Stockholders' Agreement and the Management Services Agreement contain a choice of law provision invoking Delaware substantive law.
Under the FAA, "judicial review of arbitral awards is extremely limited." Kanuth v. Prescott, Ball & Turben, Inc., 949 F.2d 1175, 1178 (D.C.Cir.1991). "Courts thus do not sit to hear claims of factual or legal error by an arbitrator as an appellate court does in reviewing decisions of lower courts." United Paperworkers Int'l Union v. Misco, Inc., 484 U.S. 29, 38, 108 S.Ct. 364, 98 L.Ed.2d 286 (1987). Accordingly, the grounds for vacating an arbitration award are limited to "extreme arbitral conduct" as defined in Sections 10 and 11 of the FAA. Hall St. Assocs. v. Mattel, Inc., 552 U.S. 576, 586, 128 S.Ct. 1396, 170 L.Ed.2d 254 (2008). The Court will first discuss the Arbitrator's jurisdiction to award attorneys' fees and costs, and then discuss whether she
When a dispute involving parties to an agreement with an arbitration clause is brought to a court for resolution, it is the court's obligation to determine whether the parties agreed to submit a particular issue to arbitration unless the parties have made unmistakably clear that they intended for the arbitrator, rather than the court, to determine the arbitrator's jurisdiction. First Options of Chi., Inc. v. Kaplan, 514 U.S. 938, 944, 115 S.Ct. 1920, 131 L.Ed.2d 985 (1995). In determining whether there is clear unmistakable evidence that the parties agreed to have an arbitrator determine the scope of their agreement, "courts generally . . . should apply ordinary state-law principles that govern the formation of contracts." Id.; see also, e.g., Grynberg v. BP P.L.C., 585 F.Supp.2d 50, 54 (D.D.C.2008).
The parties here clearly intended to have the Arbitrator determine the scope of her own jurisdiction. Under Delaware law, the incorporation of arbitral rules in the agreement giving the arbitrator the ability to determine the scope of the arbitrator's own jurisdiction, combined with an arbitral clause providing for arbitration of all disputes, demonstrate clear unmistakable proof that the parties intended the arbitrator to determine the scope of their agreement. See James & Jackson, LLC v. Willie Gary, LLC, 906 A.2d 76, 80 (Del.2006). And here, the parties' agreements provide that "[a]ny controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach, termination or validity thereof, . . . shall be finally settled by arbitration . . . in accordance with the CPR Rules for Non-Administered Arbitration." Heierli's Opp'n, Ex. 9 (Stockholders' Agreement) ¶ 7.11; Ex. 10 (Management Services Agreement) ¶ 10(b); Ex. 11 (Sales Representative Agreement) ¶ 14(b). The CPR rules state that "[t]he [arbitration] Tribunal shall have the power to hear and determine challenges to its jurisdiction, including any objections with respect to the existence, scope or validity of the arbitration agreement." CPR Rule 8.1; Heierli's Opp'n, Ex. 12. Because the parties clearly indicated their intent to have the Arbitrator determine the scope of the arbitration agreement, they granted her the power to determine her own jurisdiction, thus allowing her to decide whether she had the authority to award attorneys' fees and costs. Moreover, the CPR Rules themselves provide a basis for awarding attorneys' fees and costs, which state: "[t]he Tribunal shall fix the costs of arbitration in its award . . . [and such] costs of arbitration includes . . . [t]he costs for legal representation and assistance and experts incurred by a party to such extent as the Tribunal may deem appropriate. . . ." CPR Rule 16.2; Heierli's Opp'n, Ex. 12. Finally, the Arbitrator unequivocally stated in her Order regarding Contech's motion for reconsideration that her finding was based primarily on the fact that "[i]t is uncontroverted that Delaware law permits such an award where circumstances warrant [the award]." Heierli's Opp'n, Ex. 5 (July 15 Order). And the Arbitrator made a legal finding that the circumstances in this case warranted attorney's fees and such fees were clearly permissible under Delaware law.
The Court can find no reason to reject the Arbitrator's conclusion that she had jurisdiction to award attorneys' fees and costs. Thus, Contech position that the Arbitrator acted beyond the parameters of the agreement, the arbitration rules, and Delaware law in awarding attorney's fees,
A court may set aside an arbitration award "where the arbitrator[] exceeded [her] power[], or so imperfectly executed [it] that a mutual, final, and definite award upon the subject matter submitted was not made." 9 U.S.C. § 10(a)(4). However, "[a]s long as the arbitrator is even arguably construing or applying the contract and acting within the scope of [her] authority, that a court is convinced [she] committed serious error does not suffice to overturn [her] decision." Kanuth, 949 F.2d at 1180 (quoting United Paperworkers Int'l Union, 484 U.S. at 38, 108 S.Ct. 364). And when examining an arbitration award "it is particularly necessary to accord the `narrowest of readings' to the excess-of-authority provision of [9 U.S.C. § 10]." Kanuth, 949 F.2d at 1180.
Having found that the Arbitrator had the power to determine her jurisdiction, the essence of Contech's remaining arguments, despite its contentions to the contrary, Contech's Pet. to Vacate Reply at 7-8, can only be construed as a challenge based on the Arbitrator's misinterpretation of Delaware law and the CPR rules in awarding attorneys' fees and costs. Contech's Pet. to Vacate ¶¶ 22-29. The Arbitrator found that Delaware law imposes strict penalties, including the award of attorneys' fees and costs, in order to discourage breaches of fiduciary duties. Id., Ex. D (Partial Award) at 34. She therefore imposed attorneys' fees and costs against Contech in regards to the breach of its fiduciary duty. Id. Alternatively, the Arbitrator found that the CPR rules "provide an independent basis to award both attorneys['] fees and the costs of the proceeding." Id. Contech's argument that the Arbitrator lacked the power to award attorneys' fees and costs under CPR Rule 16.2 because an arbitrator's authority to make awards under that rule is limited by CPR Rule 10.3,
Irrespective of whether Contech is challenging the Partial Award under the "manifest disregard of the law" standard, the fact that the Arbitrator may have misapplied Delaware law or the CPR Rules is not a basis for vacating the award under the FAA. See LaPrade v. Kidder, Peabody & Co., 246 F.3d 702, 706 (D.C.Cir.2001) (quoting Kanuth, 949 F.2d at 1178) (stating that to prevail under the "manifest disregard of the law" standard, the party seeking to vacate must demonstrate "more than error or misunderstanding with respect to the law"); Teamsters Local Union No. 61 v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 272 F.3d 600, 604 (D.C.Cir.2001) (quoting Kanuth, 949 F.2d at 1178) (stating "judicial review of arbitral awards is extremely limited," and that this Court "do[es] not sit to hear claims of factual or legal error by an arbitrator" in the same manner that an appeals court would review the decision of a lower court); LaPrade v. Kidder, Peabody & Co., 94 F.Supp.2d 2, 4 (D.D.C. 2000), aff'd, 246 F.3d at 705 (stating that "a court must confirm an arbitration award where some colorable support for the award can be gleaned from the record"). Consequently, because it has determined that the arbitrator had jurisdiction to award attorneys' fees and costs, the Court must affirm the award even if it believes that the arbitrator has committed error. See Kanuth, 949 F.2d at 1180 (quoting United Paperworkers Int'l Union, 484 U.S. at 38, 108 S.Ct. 364) ("[A]s long as the arbitrator is even arguably construing or applying the contract and acting within the scope of [her] authority, that a court is convinced [she] committed serious error does not suffice to overturn [her] decision."). Thus, the Court cannot find that the Arbitrator exceeded her power in awarding attorneys' fees and costs.
In his Petition to Confirm the Final Award, Heierli asserts that this Court must confirm the arbitration award because "[t]he parties agreed to arbitrate their dispute and agreed that judgment
In response, Contech offers three bases upon which this Court should vacate the Final Award: (1) the Arbitrator "exceeded her jurisdiction" by deciding a new dispute that had not been processed through the dispute resolution procedure the parties agreed to before a dispute would be submitted to arbitration, Contech's Cross-Pet. to Vacate at 6-10; (2) the Arbitrator "exceeded her jurisdiction" by deciding the value of Heierli's shares as of May 2009 rather than assessing their value period between March 2006 and February 2007, id. at 11-12; and (3) the Arbitrator acted in manifest disregard of the express terms of the Stockholders' Agreement by wrongfully rejecting Contech's use of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") to determine the purchase price Heierli was entitled to receive for his BEBOTech shares, id. at 12-14.
Heierli responds with a series of alternate grounds upon which the Court should reject Contech's two arguments that the Arbitrator "exceeded her jurisdiction." First, Heierli asserts that Contech's argument that Heierli failed to satisfy a condition precedent to the arbitration of the parties' dispute, i.e., participation in negotiations and mediation, is an argument challenging a decision of "procedural arbitrability," which is an issue subject to the Arbitrator's discretion that is not reviewable by this court. Plaintiff's Opposition to Defendant's Cross-Petition to Vacate Arbitration Award, and Reply to Defendant's Opposition to Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award ("Opp'n to Cross-Pet. & Reply") at 14-15. Failing the success of that position, Heierli argues that even if the challenge "raises question of `substantive' rather than `procedural' arbitrability," the question of arbitrability is one the parties agreed would be decided by the Arbitrator. Id. at 15. As support for this position, Heierli notes that the CPR Rules provide that "[t]he Tribunal [, i.e., the Arbitrator] shall have the power to hear and determine challenges to its jurisdiction, including any objections with respect to the existence, scope or validity of the arbitration agreement," id. at 16 (citing CPR Rule 8.1), and posits that the parties through their Stockholders' Agreement demonstrated their unmistakable intention "to have the Arbitrator determine her own jurisdiction by providing that, `[a]ny controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach, termination
The Court's authority to confirm the final arbitral award in this case is governed by section 9 of the FAA, which provides the following:
9 U.S.C. § 9.
The Supreme Court has held that the grounds enumerated in Sections 10(a) and 11 of the FAA are the exclusive means for vacating, modifying, or correcting an arbitral award. Hall Street Assocs., LLC v. Mattel, Inc., 552 U.S. 576, 128 S.Ct. 1396, 170 L.Ed.2d 254 (2008). Under 9 U.S.C. § 10(a), a court may vacate an arbitration award upon application of any party to the arbitration if the award was procured by "corruption, fraud, or undue means;" if there was "evident partiality or corruption in the arbitrator[];" if the "arbitrator[][was] guilty of misconduct in refusing to postpone the hearing . . . or in refusing to hear evidence pertinent and material to the controversy;" or if the "arbitrator[] exceeded [her] powers." Under 9 U.S.C. § 11, a court may modify or correct an arbitral award if (1) the movant can demonstrate that "there was an evident material
In applying these standards to determine whether vacatur or modification of the Final Award is warranted, the Court reiterates that it must remain mindful of the principle that "judicial review of arbitral awards is extremely limited," and that this Court "do[es] not sit to hear claims of factual or legal error by an arbitrator" in the same manner that an appeals court would review the decision of a lower court. Teamsters Local Union No. 61, 272 F.3d at 604 (quoting Kanuth, 949 F.2d at 1178). In fact, a broader review of an arbitrator's decision would frustrate the FAA's "emphatic federal policy in favor of arbitral dispute resolution," Mitsubishi Motors Corp. v. Soler Chrysler-Plymouth, Inc., 473 U.S. 614, 631, 105 S.Ct. 3346, 87 L.Ed.2d 444 (1985) (noting that the policy "applies with special force in the field of international commerce"), because such scrutiny would "undermin[e] the goals of arbitration, namely, settling disputes efficiently and avoiding lengthy and expensive litigation," LaPrade, 94 F.Supp.2d at 4-5. Instead, "a court must confirm an arbitration award where some colorable support for the award can be gleaned from the record." Id. at 4. Thus, "[t]he showing required to avoid summary confirmation of an arbitration award is high, and a party moving to vacate the award has the burden of proof." Willemijn Houdstermaatschappij, BV v. Standard Microsystems Corp., 103 F.3d 9, 12 (2d Cir.1997) (citations omitted). Unless the Court has grounds to vacate, modify, or correct the Final Award, it must grant the petition to confirm the award. See Adkins v. Teseo, 180 F.Supp.2d 15, 18 (D.D.C.2001) (quoting Taylor v. Nelson, 788 F.2d 220, 225 (4th Cir.1986) ("A confirmation proceeding under 9 U.S.C. § 9 is intended to be summary: confirmation can only be denied if an award has been corrected, vacated or modified in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act.")).
The Arbitrator "determined that [she] had jurisdiction to resolve [the issues presented in reaching the Final Award, finding that] they represented a continuation of the parties' existing dispute regarding the appropriateness of various expense categories Contech sought to deduct from the [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization], matters which were previously addressed in the first hearing," Contech's Cross-Pet. to Vacate, Ex. J (Final Award) at 6, which was held in conjunction with the issuance of the Partial Award. The Court is precluded from holding that the "arbitrator[] exceeded [her] power" under 9 U.S.C. § 10 "[a]s long as the arbitrator is even arguably construing or applying the contract and acting within the scope of [her] authority. . . ." Kanuth, 949 F.2d at 1180 (quoting United Paperworkers Int'l Union, 484 U.S. at 38, 108 S.Ct. 364). Moreover, courts are required to "accord the `narrowest of readings' to the excess-of-authority provision of [9 U.S.C. § 10]." Id. When "the parties agree to submit the arbitrability question itself to arbitration[,]" the court reviews an arbitrator's decisions regarding arbitrability under the same standard of review that applies to any other decision made by the arbitrator. First Options, 514 U.S. at 943, 115 S.Ct. 1920.
Notwithstanding the Court's previous notation regarding the status of the "manifest disregard of the law" standard following Hall Street Associates, Contech has nevertheless failed to satisfy the standard.
Republic of Argentina, 715 F.Supp.2d at 123 (quoting LaPrade, 246 F.3d at 706) (internal citations omitted). Contech argues here that the Arbitrator acted in manifest disregard of the law by rejecting its use of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) in calculating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, quoting the sentences in the Stockholders' Agreement that reads: earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization "of the Company shall be determined in accordance with United States accrual basis Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, consistently applied." Contech's Cross-Pet. to Vacate at 13.
The Arbitrator framed her decision regarding the propriety of various expenses Contech claimed were mandated by GAAP as follows:
Contech's Cross-Pet. to Vacate, Ex. J (Final Award) at 6. The Arbitrator therefore did not state that applying GAAP was proper and then rejected its application. Instead, she considered the other language of the Stockholders' Agreement, including the sample calculation of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, to be controlling. Id.
In addition, the Arbitrator based her refusal to apply GAAP to the purchase price on "extensive testimony and argument by both parties, including the testimony of competing experts." Opp'n to Cross-Pet. & Reply at 28. Thus, the Court cannot conclude that she "stray[ed] from interpretation and application of the agreement and effectively dispense[d][her] own brand of industrial justice." Stolt-Nielsen S.A. v. AnimalFeeds Int'l Corp.,
To show manifest disregard of the law, "there must be no colorable support for the [Arbitrator's] award in the record; if it seems that the [Arbitrator] rejected [the movant's] argument after fair consideration, then [the movant's] showing falls short, and the Court must enter the [Arbitrator's] judgment." LaPrade, 94 F.Supp.2d at 6. Here, the Arbitrator relied on extensive testimony, expert analysis, and the parties' arguments in arriving at her decisions regarding the application of GAAP to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. See, e.g., Contech's Cross-Pet. to Vacate, Ex. K (transcript of the proceedings before the Arbitrator where an expert was examined regarding principles of GAAP and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization).
"Interest is awarded in Delaware as a matter of right and not of judicial discretion." Moskowitz v. Mayor of Wilmington, 391 A.2d 209, 210 (Del. 1978). Furthermore, "[a]s a general rule, interest accumulates from the date payment was due the plaintiff, because full compensation requires an allowance for the detention of the compensation awarded and interest is used as a basis for measuring that allowance." Id. Here, the Stockholders' Agreement provides that it is governed by Delaware law. Heierli is therefore entitled to an award of pre-judgment interest on the Final Award, at the rate determined by the arbitrator in the Final Award, from the date that award was made up to and including the date of the issuance of the Order that accompanies this Memorandum Opinion.
For the foregoing reasons, the Court grants Heierlis Cross-Petition to enforce the Partial Award and his Petition to Confirm the Final Award, and denies Contechs Petition to Vacate the Partial Award and its Cross-Petition to Vacate the Final Award.
The Stockholders' Agreement also describes the "call" option in Section 4.2(a):
Contech's Cross-Pet. to Vacate, Ex. A at 5, 7.
Heierli's Opp'n, Ex. 12 (CPR Rules). The 2005 version of Rule 16.3 states:
Id.
Id.
715 F.Supp.2d at 115 n. 7.
