ROBERT P. PATTERSON, JR., District Judge.
On October 15, 2013, Petitioner Yahoo! Inc. ("Petitioner" or "Yahoo") moved this Court, sitting in Part One, to vacate an arbitration award of equitable relief. (See Pet'r's Mem. of Law in Supp. of Pet. to Vacate Arbitration Award ("Pet'r's Mem.").) On October 16, 2013, Respondent Microsoft Corporation ("Respondent" or "Microsoft") opposed the motion to vacate and cross-petitioned for a confirmation of the arbitration award. (See Mem. in Opp'n to Yahoo's Pet. to Vacate & in Supp. of Microsoft's Cross-Pet. to Confirm ("Opp'n Mem.").) Yahoo filed a reply on October 17, 2013 in further support of its motion to vacate and objecting to Microsoft's cross-petition, (see Reply Mem. in Further Supp. of Yahoo's Pet. to Vacate & Opp'n to Microsoft's Pet. to Confirm ("Pet'r's Reply")), to which Microsoft replied solely on the issue of the cross-petition to confirm the arbitration award. (See Reply Mem. in Further Supp. of Microsoft's Cross-Pet. ("Resp't's Reply").) On October 18, 2013, Yahoo filed a sur-reply in response to the legal authority cited by Microsoft in its reply. (See Pet'r's Letter re Yahoo Inc. v. Microsoft Corporation, 13 CIV 7237 ("Pet'r's Letter").)
The arbitration award (the "Award") that is the subject of the instant dispute was issued on October 14, 2013 by an Emergency Arbitrator appointed by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"). (See Decl. of Robert A. Fumerton in Supp. of Yahoo! Inc.'s Pet. to Vacate Arbitration Award ("Fumerton Decl."), Ex. A ("Arbitrator's Award").) The Emergency Arbitrator issued the Award under the legal authority granted to him by the arbitration provision of an agreement between Microsoft and Yahoo in 2009, the 2009 Search and Advertising Services and Sales Agreement (the "Agreement"). (See Fumerton Decl., Ex. B § 17.5.) In that Award, the Arbitrator denied Microsoft's request for specific performance, but granted its request for injunctive relief. (See Arbitrator's Award at 8.)
For the reasons discussed below, Yahoo's motion to vacate the arbitration award is DENIED. Further, given the interest in enforcement of the equitable award made by the Arbitrator, and for the additional reasons discussed below, Microsoft's cross-petition to confirm the arbitration award is GRANTED.
Microsoft runs the internet search engine Bing, where search ads are provided by Microsoft's Bing Ads system.
The process of transitioning from Panama to Bing Ads in a given geographic market is broken down into phases, the most important of which are the "Demand" phase and the "Ramp" phase. During the first phase of transition, the Demand phase, the orders of all current Yahoo advertisers are set up in the Bing Ads system, by copying information from Yahoo's Panama system. During this phase, advertisers' orders are generally duplicated and present in both systems. (See Opp'n Mem. at 4.) The Ramp phase follows the Demand phase. During the Ramp phase, search traffic is shifted from Yahoo's system to the Bing Ads system. The shift of search traffic to Bing Ads "ramps up" over time. Thus, at "10% Ramp," 10% of users' searches are answered by the Bing Ads system; at "100% Ramp," the search traffic has been entirely moved over to Bing Ads. (See Frantz Decl., Ex. 3 ¶ 19 (Aff. of Robert Wyler).) In fourteen out of the sixteen of its geographic markets, Yahoo has completed the transition of its advertising business to Bing Ads. (See Arbitrator's Award at 3.) The remaining two markets, Taiwan and Hong Kong, are the subject of the instant dispute.
Microsoft and Yahoo originally agreed for the migration of the Taiwan and Hong Kong markets to be completed by 2011. (See Fumerton Decl., Ex. B § 8.1; Frantz Decl., Ex. 2 at 153:9-22 (Test. of Yahoo Senior Director for Search Alliance Ramesh Ramalingam).) However, technical problems leading up to the transition led to several delays by mutual agreement. (See Frantz Decl., Ex. 1 at 40:20-41:10 (Test. of Robert Wyler).) In February 2013, Microsoft and Yahoo agreed to a final plan to transition the Taiwan and Hong Kong markets by the end of October 2013. (See Frantz Decl, Ex. 7.)
By mid-September 2013, the Ramp phase of the transition was ready to begin. (See Frantz Decl., Ex. 11.) Leaders of the transition efforts from both parties agreed that the quality criteria had been met, indicating that the transition was ready to proceed. (See id.; see also Frantz Decl., Ex. 2 at 179:25-180:2 (Test. of Ramalingam) (Ramesh Ramalingam, who was leading the transition effort for Yahoo, wanted to move forward with the Ramp phase).) However, on Friday, September 20, 2013, Yahoo informed Microsoft that it was not proceeding with the transition at that time, and noted that it "hope[d] to proceed with the migration of [Taiwan] and [Hong Kong] in early 2014." (See Frantz Decl., Ex. 12.) Yahoo gave as its reason "concerns about Microsoft's level of commitment to the Bing Ads platform" in light of Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's announcement that he planned to step down sometime before August 2014.
On September 26, 2013, Microsoft initiated "an emergency arbitration." (See Opp'n Mem. at 11.) It did so pursuant to § 17.4.2 and § 17.5 of the Agreement,
On October 14, 2013, the Arbitrator issued a decision finding "that by imposing its pause and refusing to proceed with the scheduled Taiwan and Hong Kong migrations, Yahoo is in breach of the Agreement."
The Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C § 1 et seq. ("FAA") established a strong federal policy in favor of arbitration, requiring courts to "rigorously enforce agreements to arbitrate." Mitsubishi Motors Corp. v. Soler Chrysler-Plymouth, Inc., 473 U.S. 614, 626, 105 S.Ct. 3346, 87 L.Ed.2d 444 (1985). However, the FAA does provide for instances when an arbitration award may be vacated by the district court. Section 10(a)(4) of the Federal Arbitration Act authorizes a district court to vacate an arbitral award "where the arbitrators exceeded their powers." 9 U.S.C. § 10(a)(4). If an arbitrator "goes beyond that self-limiting agreement between consenting parties, [he] acts inherently without power, and an award ordered under such circumstances must be vacated." Porzig v. Dresdner, Kleinwort, Benson, N.A., 497 F.3d 133, 140 (2d Cir.2007).
However, in order to vacate an award on this ground, "it is not enough for petitioners to show that the panel committed an error — or even a serious error." Stolt-Nielsen S.A. v. AnimalFeeds Int'l Corp., 559 U.S. 662, 671, 130 S.Ct. 1758, 176 L.Ed.2d 605 (2010) (internal citations omitted). Rather, it is only when an arbitrator "strays from interpretation and application of the agreement and effectively dispenses his own brand of industrial justice that his decision may be unenforceable." Id. (internal citations omitted). If the parties agreed to submit their dispute to arbitration, as the parties did here, a court will "uphold a challenged award as long as the arbitrator offers a barely colorable justification for the outcome reached." ReliaStar Life Ins. Co. v. EMC Nat. Life Co., 564 F.3d 81, 86 (2d Cir.2009). Finally, "an arbitration award may not be vacated because of disagreement with the arbitrator's evaluation of the evidence." Data & Development, Inc. v. InfoKall, Inc., 513 Fed.Appx. 117, 118 (2d Cir.2013).
Courts in the Second Circuit have also vacated arbitration awards that are in "manifest disregard of the law." See Halligan v. Piper Jaffray, Inc., 148 F.3d 197, 202 (2d Cir.1998). Awards are vacated on these grounds "only in those exceedingly rare instances where some egregious impropriety on the part of the arbitrator is apparent." T.Co Metals, L.L.C. v. Dempsey Pipe & Supply, Inc., 592 F.3d 329, 340 (2d Cir.2010). Proving that an arbitrator acted in manifest disregard of the law requires a two-part showing. First, the court must consider "whether the governing law alleged to have been ignored by the arbitrator was well defined, explicit, and clearly applicable." Westerbeke Corp. v. Daihatsu Motor Co., 304 F.3d 200, 209 (2d Cir.2002). Second, the court must consider whether the arbitrator "appreciate[d] the existence of a clearly governing legal principle but decide[d] to ignore or pay no
Yahoo argues that the Arbitrator exceeded his authority and manifestly disregarded the law, and therefore this Court should vacate the award under 9 U.S.C. § 10(a)(4). The Second Circuit has "consistently accorded the narrowest of readings to [§ 10(a)(4)] in order to facilitate the purpose underlying arbitration: to provide parties with efficient dispute resolution, thereby obviating the need for protracted litigation." ReliaStar, 564 F.3d at 85. Given the narrow interpretation of § 10(a)(4) by the Second Circuit and for the reasons discussed below, Yahoo's petition to vacate is denied.
Yahoo first alleges that the Award must be vacated because the Emergency Arbitrator awarded Microsoft "final permanent relief" even though the parties' Agreement — and the AAA Optional Rules for Emergency Measures of Protection (the "Emergency Measures") expressly incorporated therein — only permit an Emergency Arbitrator to award "interim relief." (Pet'r's Mem. at 2.) Yahoo characterizes "interim relief" as "relief necessary to preserve the status quo until the matter can be fully and fairly decided by a three-Arbitrator panel of industry experts following discovery." (Id.) Yahoo alleges that the Emergency Arbitrator's award was final because migration in the Taiwan and Hong Kong markets, which is required by the injunction, is irreversible. (See Fumerton Decl., Ex. C at 84:18-24 (Test. of Yahoo CEO, Marissa Mayer); see also id., Ex. F at 144:16-18 (Test. of Microsoft Witness, Dr. Qu Lu) ("[O]nce we transitioned, there's no going back ... It's a permanent situation.").)
Yahoo's argument fails, however, because there is a more than colorable basis for finding that the Arbitrator was authorized to grant the relief that was awarded. The 2009 Agreement between Yahoo and Microsoft adopts the Emergency Measures "with respect to any claim for interim, injunctive, or other emergency relief."
The language in the Agreement suggests that Yahoo and Microsoft empowered an Emergency Arbitrator to grant non-monetary relief necessary to restore the status quo. (See Opp'n Mem. at 17.) During arbitration, the Emergency Arbitrator addressed Yahoo's argument that the preliminary injunction Microsoft was seeking was inappropriate because of its finality, but nevertheless found that injunctive relief was needed to restore the status quo, stating that "the injunction imposed hereby merely restores the parties to the activities they were ready to proceed with before [Yahoo's unilateral pause]." (Arbitrator's Award at 15.) Because restoration of the status quo may appropriately require one party to perform contractual obligations, the Arbitrator had a colorable basis for concluding that an injunction requiring Yahoo to continue to perform comma following was necessary. See Tom Doherty Assocs. v. Saban Entm't, Inc., 60 F.3d 27, 34 (2d Cir. 1995) ("Confusion in breach of contract cases as to whether an injunction is mandatory or prohibitory may stem from the meaning of `status quo.' A plaintiff's view of the status quo is the situation that would prevail if its version of the contract were performed.").
The Second Circuit has held that "[a]s long as the Arbitrator is even arguably construing or applying the contract and acting within the scope of this authority," the district court must uphold the Arbitrator's award. ReliaStar, 564 F.3d at 86 (internal quotation and citation omitted.) Here, the record makes clear that the Emergency Arbitrator reached his decision out of effort to construe and apply the 2009 Agreement. Accordingly, the Arbitrator acted within his authority in granting an injunction as to the migration to Bing, even though the equitable relief that was granted is, in essence, final.
Yahoo also argues that there were no facts on the record demonstrating an emergency, and therefore the Emergency Arbitrator did not have jurisdiction to award any relief. (See Fumerton Decl., Ex. K, Emergency Measures Rule O-1.) Yahoo argues that the parties' regular course of conduct — which Yahoo alleges has included numerous delays as operational or business issues arose — makes clear that the latest delay was no emergency. (See Pet'r's Mem. at 17.) Further, under the Emergency Measures, the Emergency Arbitrator is required to find "that the party seeking the emergency relief has shown that immediate and irreparable loss or damage will result in the absence of emergency relief" before granting relief. (Fumerton Decl., Ex. K, Emergency Measures Rule O-4.) Yahoo argues that this standard was not met because mere fear or speculation cannot constitute irreparable harm, see JSG Trading Corp. V. Tray-Wrap, Inc., 917 F.2d 75, 80 (2d Cir.1990), and Yahoo alleges that during the hearing, Microsoft did not offer any non-speculative evidence. (Pet'r's Mem. at 17, 20.)
These arguments lack merit, however, because the Arbitrator made factual findings of both emergency (see Arbitrator's Award at 8-14) and immediate irreparable harm (id. at 2) based on the evidence that had been presented in arbitration. (Id. at 8-14.) "[A]n arbitration award may not be
Yahoo finally alleges that the Emergency Arbitrator disregarded well-settled law when he ordered an injunction without having made an appropriate finding that Microsoft is entitled to injunctive relief. In the Second Circuit, a party seeking a preliminary injunction "ordinarily must show: (1) a likelihood of irreparable harm in the absence of the injunction; and (2) either a likelihood of success on the merits or sufficiently serious questions going to the merits to make them a fair ground for litigation, with a balance of hardships tipping decidedly in the movant's favor." Doninger v. Niehoff, 527 F.3d 41, 47 (2d Cir.2008). Yahoo argues that the Arbitrator's failure to make these findings constitutes a manifest disregard of the law, and the Award should be vacated on these grounds. See Hardy v. Walsh Manning Secs., L.L.C., 341 F.3d 126, 131 (2d Cir.2003).
However, this argument also fails because Yahoo cannot point to a clear rule of law that the Emergency Arbitrator ignored or refused to apply. See Duferco Int'l Steel Trading v. T. Klaveness Shipping A/S, 333 F.3d 383, 389 (2d Cir.2003) (party seeking vacatur based on an arbitrator's manifest disregard of the law "bears the burden of proving that the arbitrators were fully aware of the existence of a clearly defined governing legal principle, but refused to apply it, in effect, ignoring it."). Here, the record shows that the Arbitrator considered and applied applicable law in granting the injunction: that is, the Arbitrator (1) found that there was a likelihood of irreparable harm, as to Microsoft (see Arbitrator's Award at 9-15); (2) found the balance of hardships was in favor of Microsoft (see id.); and (3) considered the likelihood of Microsoft's success on the merits (id. at 6-7 (finding Yahoo's pause is a breach of the Agreement)). Because Yahoo has not established a clear rule of law that the Arbitrator was aware of and refused to apply, there is no showing that the Arbitrator manifestly disregarded the law. The evidentiary dispute that Yahoo describes cannot be the basis for vacating an arbitration award. See Data & Development, 513 Fed.Appx. at 118.
Microsoft cross-petitions this Court to confirm the arbitration award. The FAA, in 9 U.S.C. § 9, provides that a court "must grant such an order [confirming an arbitration award] unless the award is vacated, modified, or corrected as prescribed in sections 10 and 11 of this title." 9 U.S.C. § 9. "The confirmation of an arbitration award is a summary proceeding that merely makes what is already a final arbitration award a judgment of the court." Florasynth, Inc. v. Pickholz, 750 F.2d 171, 171 (2d Cir.1984). The Court finds here that there is no basis to vacate the award, and the parties have not moved the Court to modify or correct it. Therefore, a plain reading of the FAA suggests that the Court should confirm the award.
Further, if "an arbitral award of equitable relief based upon a finding of irreparable harm is to have any meaning at all, the parties must be capable of enforcing or vacating it at the time it is made." Southern Seas Nav. Ltd. v. Petroleos Mexicanos, 606 F.Supp. 692, 694 (S.D.N.Y.1985) (Weinfeld, J.); see also Sperry Int'l Trade v. Gov't of Israel, 532 F.Supp. 901, 909 (S.D.N.Y.1982) aff'd 689 F.2d 301 (2d Cir.1982) (confirming an arbitrator's order to place a disputed $15 million letter of credit in escrow pending a decision on the merits, finding that the award would be rendered a meaningless exercise of the arbitrator's power if unenforced). Here, given the time-sensitive nature of the Hong Kong and Taiwan transition, the parties have a clear interest in enforcing the equitable award made by the Arbitrator as soon as possible. At oral argument, Microsoft additionally voiced concerns that Yahoo would not comply with the arbitration award without confirmation by this Court. (Tr. of Hr'g at 46, Oct. 18, 2013 ("They have told us they are not going to comply, and I can represent to your Honor, they are not complying.").) Because the Court finds no basis to vacate the Award and because the Court is mindful of the time-sensitive nature of Yahoo's compliance with the injunction, Microsoft's cross-petition to confirm the arbitration award is granted.
Yahoo did not meet the heavy burden required to show that the Emergency Arbitrator exceeded his authority under 9 U.S.C. § 10(a)(4). See ReliaStar, 564 F.3d at 86 ("If the parties agreed to submit an issue for arbitration, we will uphold a challenged award as long as the arbitrator offers a barely colorable justification for the outcome reached.") Yahoo similarly did not present sufficient evidence to show that that this Award was one of the "exceedingly rare instances" where an arbitrator manifestly disregards the law. See T.Co Metals, 592 F.3d at 340. Therefore, upon a review of the Award and upon due consideration of the arguments made by both parties, Yahoo's motion to vacate must be denied. Finally, given that the petition to vacate the Award is without merit and given the interest in enforcement of the equitable award made by the Arbitrator, the arbitration award should be confirmed. See 9 U.S.C. § 9 (a court "must grant such an order [confirming an arbitration award] unless the award is vacated, modified, or corrected").
Therefore, Yahoo's motion to vacate the arbitration award is DENIED. Microsoft's cross-petition to confirm the arbitration award is GRANTED.
SO ORDERED.
Fumerton Decl., Ex. B § 17.5.
