Oakland-Macomb Interceptor Drain Drainage District v. Ric-Man Construction, Inc.
Oakland-Macomb Interceptor Drain Drainage District v. Ric-Man Construction, Inc.
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff Oakland-Macomb Interceptor Drain Drainage District (“Drainage District”), a public sector drainage district, seeks to enforce provisions of its agreement to arbitrate with defendant Ric-Man Construction. The American Arbitration Association (AAA) failed to appoint a lawyer-member of the arbitral panel that had the specific, specialized qualifications set forth in the parties’ agreement.
I. NATURE OF THE CASE
Plaintiffs objection to the AAA’s failure to comply with the contractual requirements of a specific, highly specialized arbitral agreement raises an issue of first impression for a Michigan court’s application of the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), 9 USC 1 et seq. That is, will our courts enforce the conditions of an arbitral
Other courts that have looked at this narrow, but important, issue have made the following distinction, which informs our analysis: Courts will not entertain suits to address preaward general objections to the impartiality or expertise of an arbitrator. But when suit is brought, as here, to enforce the key provisions of the agreement to arbitrate — i.e., when the criteria and method for choosing arbitrators are at the heart of the arbitration agreement — then courts will enforce these contractual mandates. To rule otherwise would essentially rewrite the parties’ contract and rob the objecting party of this key contractual right to have a panel with the specialized qualifications necessary to make an informed arbitral ruling — which goes to the precise purpose and reason to arbitrate such technically and legally complex claims.
With this key distinction in mind and after a careful review of the comprehensive arbitration agreement,
In addition, the arbitration agreement expressly modifies the already sophisticated complex construction rules of the AAA by mandating very specific qualifications for the three-member arbitral panel and outlining the precise manner in which the AAA must appoint these panel members. Again, the parties spelled out very particularized qualifications that the panel members must possess. Their specialized experience would make it more likely that the panel would understand the complexity of the technical and legal issues presented, and thus render an informed decision.
Any objective reading of this agreement to arbitrate makes this intention very clear. Neither the parties to the agreement nor the AAA — which agreed to act as the third-party entity to implement this arbitration agreement — could possibly misunderstand or miss the significance of having high-level, quality arbitrators to hear the matters at issue and render an informed arbitral ruling. Therefore, when the AAA blatantly and inexplicably ignored these key provisions, plaintiff had only one course of action to ensure an arbitral hearing with the type of panel envisioned: it brought suit to enforce the contract. Notwithstanding the plain language of the agreement, defendant took the position that these provisions did not clearly call for the qualifications claimed by plaintiff. It also claimed that plaintiffs prearbitration suit to enforce said provisions was premature and contrary to the FAA that, it says, disallows prearbitration litigation regarding the qualifications of an arbitrator.
The shibboleth that this approach would encourage delays is an artful and convenient dodge. It is quite obvious here that plaintiff strongly desires arbitration and, in fact, insists on an arbitral hearing, but only if it is meaningful, as contemplated by the contract between the parties. We also regard defendant’s contention that the AAA followed the agreement as, at best, disingenuous.
For the reasons set forth in this opinion, we reject defendant’s arguments, reverse the trial court’s findings, and remand to the trial court to issue an order to the AAA consistent with this opinion.
II. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Plaintiff is a special-purpose public corporation established under the Drain Code, MCL 280.1 et seq. It owns the Oakland-Macomb Interceptor (OMI), which is part of an extensive sanitary-sewer system that delivers wastewater from suburban areas to the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department for treatment. Defendant Ric-Man is a construction company that entered into two contracts with plaintiff to build infrastructure needed to perform repairs on the OMI. These construction contracts include a brief dispute-resolution clause, which allowed the parties to agree to submit the claim to another dispute resolution process. Because plaintiff
§ 1.3.4 Any selected arbitrator will be a member of the AAA Construction Panel. The arbitration panel shall include one construction lawyer and two construction professionals agreed upon by the parties or selected in accordance with the criteria set out below. If any arbitrators are selected by AAA, selection criteria shall be applied in the following order with the next level of criteria applied only if no candidates are available who meet the preceding criteria [emphasis added]:
§ 1.3.4.1 Construction Lawyer (1 member and 1 alternate)
A [m]ember of the Large Complex Construction Dispute (“LCCD”) panel and at least 20 years of experience in construction law with an emphasis in heavy construction. [Emphasis added.]
At least 20 years of experience in construction law with an emphasis in heavy construction.
A member of the LCCD panel and at least 10 years of experience with an emphasis in heavy [c]onstruction.
At least 10 years of experience with an emphasis in heavy [c]onstruction.
*52 A member of the LCCD panel and at least 20 years of experience in construction law with some experience in heavy construction.
At least 20 years of experience in construction law with some experience in heavy construction.
A member of the LCCD panel and at least 10 years of experience with some experience in heavy construction.
At least 10 years of experience with some experience in heavy construction.
Accordingly, the key provisions — and those provisions directly pertinent to this appeal — concern the composition and selection of the arbitral panel. If the parties could, not agree on two construction professionals and one construction lawyer, then the AAA would choose a panel member that met the parties’ stipulated qualifications. And, in order to ensure that the most qualified available lawyer was chosen, the arbitration agreement specifies the declining, but minimal order of qualifications in the event a lawyer with all the desired qualifications is unavailable. Taken together,
These portions of the arbitration agreement were triggered in January 2012, when the Drainage District
In August 2012, the AAA notified the Drainage District and Ric-Man that it had chosen Michael Hay-slip as the construction-litigator member of the panel. Hayslip unquestionably did not meet the qualification requirements of the contract. Though Hayslip was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1994, and worked in the construction industry throughout his career,
Plaintiff subsequently filed suit against Ric-Man and the AAA in October 2012 to enforce its contractual right to have an attorney with the aforementioned qualifications on the panel. Plaintiff sought (1) a declaration that the AAA was required to appoint a lawyer with a background in construction litigation in compliance with the arbitrator-selection procedures specified in the
Plaintiff also alleged that the AAA failed to follow the arbitrator-selection process outlined in the agreement, pointing to Hayslip’s relative lack of experience when compared to the alternate attorney-arbitrator, Weiers. Of course, as noted, in addition to his lack of experience in construction litigation, Hayslip’s professional background did not meet the first two criteria the AAA was supposed to take into account when choosing arbitrators: (1) he was not a Large Complex Construction Dispute panel member with at least 20 years of experience in construction law, and (2) he did not have at least 20 years of experience in construction law with an emphasis in heavy construction. Whereas Hayslip did not satisfy either qualification, Weiers possessed both.
In response, Ric-Man stated that a court cannot second-guess an arbitration decision and that the AAA followed the specified arbitrator-selection process. It contended that the arbitration agreement did not actually require the attorney-arbitrator to have construction-litigation experience, and that plaintiff sued simply because it was unhappy with the selected group of arbitrators.
The trial court rejected plaintiffs arguments, and held, erroneously, that the AAA’s selection of Hayslip complied with the plain language of the arbitration agreement. In so doing, it ruled that there was no language in the arbitration agreement requiring the AAA to appoint a construction lawyer with 10 to 20
Plaintiff filed an appeal in January 2013, claiming that the trial court erred when it denied the motion for summary disposition and dismissed the complaint. Specifically, plaintiff requests that our Court order the AAA to comply with the arbitration agreement.
III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
“This Court reviews de novo a trial court’s decision on a motion for summary disposition.” Hackel v Macomb Co Comm, 298 Mich App 311, 315; 826 NW2d 753 (2012). “In reviewing a motion under MCR 2.116(0(10), this Court considers the pleadings, admissions, affidavits, and other relevant documentary evidence of record in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party to determine whether any genuine issue of material fact exists to warrant a trial.” Walsh v Taylor, 263 Mich App 618, 621; 689 NW2d 506 (2004). “Summary disposition is appropriate if there is no genuine issue regarding any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Latham v Barton Malow Co, 480 Mich 105, 111; 746 NW2d 868 (2008). “A genuine issue of material fact exists when the record, giving the benefit of reasonable doubt to the opposing party, leaves open an issue upon which reasonable minds might differ.” West v Gen Motors Corp, 469 Mich 177, 183; 665 NW2d 468 (2003).
The interpretation of a contract presents a question of law that is reviewed de novo. Kloian v Domino’s Pizza, LLC, 273 Mich App 449, 452; 733 NW2d 766 (2006). “Arbitration agreements are generally interpreted in the same manner as ordinary contracts. They must be enforced according to their terms to effectuate
IV ANALYSIS
Because both the Drainage District and Ric-Man agree that this case involves materials shipped through interstate commerce and is thus is governed by the FAA,
Therefore, under §§ 4 and 5 of the FAA, courts have a statutory obligation to protect arbitral parties from abuse by the third-party agency conducting the arbitration. See Morrison v Circuit City Stores, Inc, 317 F3d 646, 678 (CA 6, 2003). If courts were to refuse prearbitration relief, arbitration agencies could ignore with impunity the specific terms of the arbitration agreement, thus effectively modifying the agreed-upon terms without eaph party’s consent. See id. at 678-680; Farrell v Subway Int’l, BV, unpublished opinion of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, issued March 23, 2011 (Docket No. 11 Civ 08), pp 10-11 (“[F]ederal law directs that the Court enforce the selection of the arbitrator in accordance with the terms of the [parties’] Agreement. . . .”) citing 9 USC 5; and Jefferson-Pilot Life Ins Co v LeafRe Reinsurance Co, unpublished opinion of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, issued November 20, 2000 (Docket No. 00 C 5257), p 4 (“The [FAA] clearly states that contractual provisions for the appointment of an arbitrator ‘shall be followed.’ ”), quoting 9 USC 5. To prevent such a material alteration of the contract, in cases in which the “parties have agreed to arbitrate, but disagree as to the operation or implementation of that agreement,” a court can remove an arbitrator before an award has been granted. B/E Aerospace, Inc v Jet Aviation St Louis, Inc, unpublished opinion of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, issued July 1, 2011 (Docket No. 11 Civ 4032), p 3 (citations and quotation marks omitted).
Accordingly, a party may petition a court for relief before an arbitral award has been made if (1) the
To hold otherwise under these facts would negate the purpose of arbitration: parties make arbitration agreements with the expectation that the third-party arbitral agency will honor important provisions of the agreements. If that agency disregards the explicit terms of the arbitration agreement — terms that were central to the initial contract between the parties — the disadvantaged party must have some access to judicial relief, and relief can be effective only before the arbitral hearing.
In such cases — as here, and contrary to defendant’s argument and the trial court’s ruling — it is not premature to give the disadvantaged party access to judicial relief before an arbitral award has been made.
V CONCLUSION
Pursuant to FAA §§ 4 and 5, plaintiff may enforce the precise language of the arbitration contract relating to the qualifications of the arbitrators and the method of choosing the arbitrators. Accordingly, we reverse and remand to the trial court to issue an order to the AAA requiring it to appoint an arbitral panel member who meets the criteria called for in the arbitration agreement, so that any subsequent arbitration will “proceed in the manner provided for in such agreement.” 9 USC 4; see also Morrison, 317 F3d at 678. We also award plaintiff its costs and attorney fees to be assessed by the
Reversed and remanded. We do not retain jurisdiction.
The agreement is attached as an appendix.
“We read contracts as a whole, giving harmonious effect, if possible, to each word and phrase.” Wilkie v Auto-Owners Ins Co, 469 Mich 41, 50 n 11; 664 NW2d 776 (2003).
After plaintiff brought suit, the AAA also chose Thomas Weiers as an alternate attorney-arbitrator. At the time of his appointment, Weiers had 25 years’ experience as a construction-industry attorney, with knowledge of both heavy construction and construction litigation, and was a member of the AAA’s LCCD panel.
See Burns v Olde Discount Corp, 212 Mich App 576, 580; 538 NW2d 686 (1995) (stating that “[t]he [PAA] governs actions in both federal and state courts arising out of contracts involving interstate commerce”). “State courts are hound under the Supremacy Clause, US Const, art VI, § 2, to enforce the substantive provisions of the federal act.” Id.
“The word ‘shall’ is generally used to designate a mandatory provision . ...” Old Kent Bank v Kal Kustom Enterprises, 255 Mich App 524, 532; 660 NW2d 384 (2003).
Our ruling conflicts with a decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which held that parties generally may not challenge the appointment of an arbitrator before an arbitral award is issued. Gulf Guaranty Life Ins Co v Conn Gen Life Ins Co, 304 F3d 476, 489-490 (CA 5, 2002) (holding that “the FAA does not expressly provide for court authority to remove an arbitrator prior to the issuance of an arbitral award” and “does not expressly endorse court inquiry into the capacity of any arbitrator to serve prior to issuance of an arbitral award”) (emphasis omitted). As the Fifth Circuit explained, this narrow interpretation of a court’s authority in the preaward stages of an FAA dispute prevents “endless applications [to the courts] and infinite delay” and also stops overly litigious parties from bringing lawsuit after lawsuit to delay arbitration. Id. at 492 (citations and quotation marks omitted).
As noted, we do not find this analysis applicable to or persuasive under the specific circumstances of our case. See Truel v City of Dearborn, 291 Mich App 125, 136 n 3; 804 NW2d 744 (2010) (noting that “[d]eci
As noted, Weiers was appointed as an alternate attorney-arbitrator after this litigation began. Our analysis might have been different if, on appointing Hayslip, the AAA had told plaintiff and defendant Ric-Man that it was unable to find any arbitrators that satisfied the contract terms. The AAA did not do so, however, and Ric-Man does not make this allegation on appeal — in fact, Ric-Man continues to maintain that Hay-slip was qualified to serve as an arbitrator under the terms of the arbitration agreement, which he clearly is not.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting). Because I conclude that the circuit court reached the correct result in this case, albeit for the wrong reason, I must respectfully dissent.
The circuit court dismissed plaintiffs complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief, concluding that defendant American Arbitration Association (AAA) had fully complied with the plain language of the arbitration agreement when it selected Michael Hayslip as the lawyer-member of the arbitral panel. The circuit court ruled that plaintiff was “reading into the arbitration [agreement] a requirement that does not exist.”
The circuit court reached the correct result by dismissing plaintiffs complaint, even though it did so for the wrong reason. For purposes of this appeal, it actually makes no difference whether the arbitration agreement required AAA to appoint a lawyer-member with a particular number of years of construction litigation experience. Irrespective of the exact requirements set forth in the arbitration agreement at issue in this case, it is well settled that “[a]ppellants cannot obtain judicial review of. . . decisions about the qualifications of the arbitrators . . . prior to the making of an award.” Cox v Piper, Jaffray & Hopwood, Inc, 848 F2d 842, 843-844 (CA 8, 1988). The Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), 9 USC 1 et seq., “does not provide for pre-award removal of an arbitrator.”
Of course, a court would have the authority to remove a particular arbitrator prior to issuance of the arbitral award if the dispute concerning the arbitrator’s qualifications implicated “grounds ... at law or in equity for the revocation of [the] contract.” 9 USC 2; see also Aviall, 110 F3d at 895. However, it is appropriate for the court to make such a preaward removal “only when there is a claim, for example, that there was ‘fraud in the inducement’ or some other ‘infirmity in the contracting process’ regarding the parties’ establishing arbitral qualifications, which ground would invalidate the agreement to arbitrate.” Gulf Guaranty, 304 F3d at 491, quoting Aviall, 110 F3d at 896. Similarly, preaward removal may be permissible under § 2 of the FAA when “the arbitrator’s relationship to one party was undisclosed, or unanticipated and unintended, thereby invalidating the contract.” Aviall, 110 F3d at 896.
In the present case, there is no claim that AAA’s selection of Hayslip as the lawyer-member of the arbitral panel involved fraud or any other fundamental infirmity in the contracting process that would com
Because the dispute over Hayslip’s qualifications to serve as the lawyer-member did not constitute a sufficient ground to warrant revocation of the entire arbitration agreement, the circuit court was without authority to reach the issue at this stage of the proceedings. See 9 USC 2; see also Gulf Guaranty, 304 F3d at 491 (noting that “a court may not entertain disputes over the qualifications of an arbitrator to serve merely because a party claims that enforcement of the contract by its terms is at issue, unless such claim raises concerns rising to the level that the very validity of the agreement be at issue”). The dispute regarding Hay-slip’s qualifications to serve, although framed by plaintiff as a request to enforce the arbitration agreement according to its terms, “is not the type of challenge that the [circuit] court was authorized to adjudicate pursuant to the FAA prior to issuance of an arbitral award.” Id. at 492.
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ALTFRNATTVE'Di.'sFUTE RESOLUTION AGREEMENT
IN COÑS!í)líRA7IOÑ ¿nhejfnuWa) promises etptaated fo thi» Altemthiys 'Disunite Rtisolutfqb Agreement ("Agreement"), .Oakíand'lyíacQmb Jmpr¿t?[Hór .Drain Drainage District-. '(^OMIDDD") and RIc-Mcn CojwtructíoQ, Ijjo. ('Ric-Man’’) agree- -la ¿mend Contract, j mid Contract, p as Identified below by-adding thair 'agreement fop ‘alternate, dispule resolution procedures pursuant to .Section 16.01 of the General conditions as follow?,’ effective ibis t'Z^ day flf Ap-t'rl__.201J;
.1; KFftlTALS
Oil or shorn January 19, 2üíQ QMIDDD and Ríc*Mau ónUaed.into a conti&CLfor thft construction of stiver access «id contrursimetwes designated us Installation ¿f Ploy,* -Control. ■McasuresBdfcop. Corridor.Interceptor,; Mtcomb County .Michigan designated’os Contract .1
Oft tir about iuttunQ*. J9i.2djp, OMIDDD miá Ric-Man entered pito a contract' foi the Installation of Flow Control -Measures Oakland Arm Interceptor Maconih County.Mic/wgiur 'designated as Coní?aeV2 ("Cotflttc* 2"). fU used hereíh, '-'FiOjKtif5 is defined as %. work performed or required to be psrforéncd ucder Couliact'í andCóntrüet.2,
During’construction of tho Projects', Ríc-Man bab'raisbd Various claims for •additional’ iiirie tsnd catfspensatiot* for perform fog the vork'aw) averted s?,lia work, including by example,, claims dleyedty arising under the Spéarin Doctrine asd-for ¿Jteged ciifíVring.site conditions. OM1DDD hc$ also raised claims agalnsf ftic-Map fof credits, reiniburfeíinánrt and other diiTjages allegedly arising from Rie.Miin's work on the Projects. Contract. 1 and 'Contract 2 provide Hint Hu panics.- may resow claTnis- Or’disputes'- thru ugh any Jorra of alternative dispute resolution agreed ypbn by foe-parties.
OMJDDD and Rlo-Man nfaSr-ieei: to amend Contract 1 and Contract. 2. by adding thwr agreemenfforajtemsta.dispmciesolutioft'procedures'pursu'ant.to Sectfon 16.01 oftbe.General, conditions for *he'r«diuiioii of any and' ail claims;.'disputes, or contioveraies 7fc#Jidmg ,the . Projects through bfoding'arbjtrattonfos follows:
If. AOKEEM^TfcjR ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE R^OLtJTION
§1.3 .-ARBITRATION AGREEMENT.
§ -1.1.1 This Agreement defines foe delusive-terms for'binding arbitration for any cjdrns arising ó¿t..of ofrelated-lo the. Pj-ojeci? as provided tiJJOd ngreemem.úf the. purties.m Section 16.01,of the. General .Cohditions of,Cobtraot.l andCamréclá.
i §i.-'l -2 Any claim1 pr díápure.anSirtgOUbOf ar related fo tire Prbjccts; b^ivteen OMJDDD sjid’Rte Man shall Ire ■subject to binding- arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (!'ÁAArj In occordarce with its Construction'industry -Arínimtícn Riñes which Include Laige, Complex ‘ConsifucUon'Dispute Rides la. effect on the dato of this Agreement. ax' modified by the tenosof this agreement.
In no event símil e demand for arbitration be nitric after the date-when tljo institution of legal or equitable proceedings based on tee claimfs) would bebarred by tee applicable statute of llmttetitms of applicable contractual limitations period. For statute of limitations or contractual limitations purposes, receipt oí,a, written demand for arbitration.by the person or entity administering tee arbitration shall constitute tea institution, of legal or equitable proceedings based on (be claim(s). An arbitration demand shall only address claims arislngteom or related to the Projects. If demands for arbitration are Sled on both Contrae^ I and Contract X the demands wall be asserted in a single demand ter arbitration before a .tingle arbitration panel. Fcr purposes of statute of limitations, each claim from each Contract shall be considered separately and the rime for bringing a ¿kora based on one Contract will riot b® extended by time limits applicable to claims ter the other Contract.
Unless otherwise agreed by tee parties in writing, tee arbitration demand shall Include only claims and disputes between ÜNUD0D and Ric?Man.
§ 13 SELECTION OF ARBITRATORS. Any arbitration conducted pursuant to this agreement ¿ball be decided by a panel of three arbitrators. This panel shall consist, of two construrtion, industry professionals and one attorney with a background in construction litigation. Al! arbitrationlieariQgs shall be conducted at the AAA office in Southfield Michigan, uni css the parties agree to an alternate location in Southeastern Michigan,
Once a demand ter arbitration is filed, the parties shidljointly ark the AAA to distribute a list of at least IS approved construction arbitrators. The parties shfilUequcsi teat AAA provide a list of 25 potential construction arbitrators who best meet tee criteria set forth it? section t.3.4 below and who are closest geographically to tee Southfield office of AAA. Priority shall be given t3 proximity first and to the remaining criteria second without regard to priority of the rcnminmg criteria. The 100 mile limitation set-out ip § 13.3 below shall no! apply to this inltifti selection. Within iliiriy (30) days of tee date of receipt of (he Jist of crbilretora. the parties shall
§ 1.3.J (Applicable ónly if the partid!- fgti lo agTcc ort’ácljHr¿¡(or(¿)l. No arbitrator shall bd selected V/bd'tvas'already rejected,by one ‘of the panics, A list of arbitrators thafwcw rejected fa initial díscússkmsi vrill HaprovidaJ byteeeft party vnfafa teri'OO) days cf Vrapiesi by the AAA,
§ 1,3.2 .(Applijrehlcoiitj If ibfpariiej fail to agree on arb¡iratori(j>))Í!i áildrtíon lo any • other gxpuD¿;on \vbzch a prospective- or&lraiw would He disqualifita under the AAA jlulcs to protect against- arbtjrstpr Hies.tJ»:.cotifiW3-of interest, ho erbitictor shall bo BEÍected..\vho''hú3 anycprmcctt'on, relationship id or Interest ip -any bf file parties» nay consultant. nnorqey, employee., subcontractor, or wítoe$s bf th¿ partías, The parties shall, provide c Ifct of all- such persons or «ifititT Y-itlirn tfeo’t \ 0j «toys Qt> request by itit AAA,
I' 2.3,3 '(Applicable oaly rf He parties fail to agre? ott arltitiitoríí]). Nu aiHilrator; will be selected -by the-.rtAA who'fasidy wrthm 100 miles of the offices of,círh¿r;pi?(tyr mclwfai&iield offibei bs well as the Florida office dr cny other subsidiary office o: lúe- Wart, •The parties will provide a list of-all.such addresses within ten fiO) clays of 6 request from the AAÁ.
§ I.3.-4 Arty selected arbitrator will be n'meraber of '.he AAA Constnirtion Pamjl. ThefirHitrólíOH -parid síiaií frtdudc one consti-ucllbn jav»-yct and i\\>o £onstr\ictiofl prófcssíqnids ügibtxT upon by -the parlies or. «-Iccicri in accordaacc wiih the criteria sei out bcloWlf any arHilrators are sejecteií'by AAA» «election criteria shaDbc applied la the following orderwith the pe,\t hysl of criteria applied only if ho candidates are tysjlablr.who the preceding criteria:
1-3AI Ccnalntciíonlawyer (l memberand S alternate)
.A Member of.the Large. Couple* Constnteticn dispute {"LCCDTpanei olid el Jsasi:20 years of experience i« construction law with in Cmphatis In hs&V/ co.iisiiuciiou,
At- least 20 years -of experience In construction lav?-with an emphasis xn-hsavy ccustwcticn,
A inemher- of the. LCCD panel ’and at 'least lO-years ol* BxpcrJestce wiih an empluisis InlieoVy Conalmction. ' ’ ’
At Jeu.vt Í 0 years árexperiente with an emphasáa in Heavy Construction,.
*68 A member of the LCCD' panel and at least 20 years of experience in construction law with some experience in heavy construction.
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A member of the LCCD pace! and at least 10'yeflrs of experience with some ftxjimenfirs in hynvy r.-msitvftdnn
At least 10 years of experience with some experience ih heavy construction.
1.3.4,2 Construction industry Professionals (2 members and 1 alternate).
A- member efthe LCCD panel and an advanced Civil Engineering Degree, with nt least 20 years of geotechnical experience emphasizing soils» soil loadings, dewatering, and structural steel design and leading.
An advanced Civil Engineering Degree with at least 20 years of geotechnical experience emphasizing soils, soil loadings» dewatering- end sLodural sled design mid 1 ceding.
A member of die LCCD panel and aa advanced Civil Engineering Degree with at least 10 years of geotechnical experience emphasizing soils, soil loadings, dasvaiering. and structural steel design, and loading.
An advanced Civil Engineering Degree with, at least 10. years of geotechnical experience emphasizing .soils, soil loadings, dewatering, and structural steel design «id loading,
A member of the LCCD panel and a Civil Engineering degree with, at least 20 years of geotechnical experience Emphasizing soils, soil loading, dewatering, end structural steel design and/or loading.
A CM) Engineering degree with at least 20 years of geotechnical experience emphasizing soils, soil loading, dewatering, and structural steel design and/or loading.
A member ofthe LCCD panel nod a Civil Engineering degree with st least 10 years of geotechnical experience emphasizing soils, soil loading, tltwittering» und slruuluruí meet dmatni and/or loiulln^.
A Civil Enginewing degree with at least 10 years of geotechnical experience emphástzi ng soils, soil loading, dewatering, and structural steel design and% loading.
*69 A .member of thq.DCCOpsnei and‘any Engineering degree wijii'ni leo&lD yi'?rs of- -geotechnical «penence ewpbastelua soils. soil loading.. dc«y{crlug.*íid jitmelural sic*} <14sign ind/or loading.
Any Eppirfcermg degree with at least 20 yeans ofgeQtwnnicaUxpsrifince empuasizing 'soil's.. sGj I loading; déWattring. apd structural. s?.«l design! chdVIoading,, ' *
An>emb$rcftheL£C¿'ponslnndanyEnginítnogdftgrtttwithaileast ID •yea# of goot^hvñc&l experience .empfeorisjwg soils, -soil loading* deivateiinp» and airwcturft) steel ¿«rigu w«d?o¿ typing;
Mtf Emjjmieripg.degToe with Gtj«¿Uüy«aS cfgíratóaltnichl expfcricnic Chipiw.sl'ZJti&soils, Kill hiding, dewTuering. wv! structural stwi design eodfpr loading.
A member of thq LCCD panel fiad áricasl 20 years ofVüióbtótl. c>¿eoí‘éch¡n«ii cxpenepcc in cpnsinjci|aa matiagcmcnl. or.’ design ¿ntyh¿3rafií* soils» sófi.ioadiags. d^alcmg,. and styusAwai design andi’or’loading;
At least20 yean oCgcdogicai cr-geoxechmea] eNperiencé Tuciinstrudkni oiflaastmaif or design implasiapngaoils, soil loading dewatering. t\hd Structural sled dcrigriímd/orjcading,
A .tocmbcr.’.of the LCCD-panel mid ot least 10 years of-gaolngkaf oi geóteáiinteai -experlcncd. -lit -epasimetion tHanagcnicrii ct design ¿mpbasiwng soiis»:?oii loadings,, dewatering; and structural steel design o»<tforJosdifi£.
AtJebst 1Ü years ofgeological cr gcatechaiccd eKpcriciictinconslniutjon incnnpviénl oí ¿taiga «njáiaslílng; soils* soil loadings, dewatering,-and 5 trasfitre! etefcl design ond/of.Ioading..
§ Í.’J DfSCOVF’.RY. Alb'díscovciypenmííed by the Mlthigan Siare. Ruit^of Court sViHU afeo luipínuiUrd in this arbitration places*» irpdw; ibis ^gra$me«»eúbjf5ci to-each party’s right Jo -iccj» y protccifyc* order if discovery becomes- harassing, pr cbu^yB, TJjcr &&/*, Construction Industry-ttuta* limitation on dfecnoíay. <dis1l -nnr; »pply: ■ Tbn«rhiiratioo paod E* hereby authorized tú decido.any olid all discovery ‘disputes pód issue appropriate sanctions Yfhfcw xvanaotid* The acburatfbn panel inéy'n-sotvé ‘disuovery disputa-tbrcugli any procedure •deemed prúdeñt b^.th’éarbitratqrs. iiicliidiiig Through', a c.cntarince.caU orij formal mo don. sad hearing.
.Notwilbwhdmg die tbrigolng. the- arbitration panel n^y liryifl discovery wh&e tfyj pend finds •tfssf ti)Bdr«pvi*ry rougbi slaVefno pcrjióít» oilier than io juoküco tbc'eHpcjioo.'cfTbe wbftrArion or lo Jvoss.ihe other party.
§RS VACAN'CtgSAbtn RP.yUAnEitTKKTOr AlHHTRATQRd’
In ihe-evcni that nn arbitrator "on the panol becomes unable io continue to serve as an irhitrator'white hrbítraiícn is pending th&rarbiirajion hqaring5.shali.be temporarily‘suspended
9 i.b EPILM-aNd FtHMjrv oy Avt^Ttn. The .arbitration award ahfilf ba a,stWdard tiwardg l-Smvcvcr. the ^tíü-.s atso-dcstró a .éetemii/ialiüu of iIjk gwiund bastó .vf'lhp award, and •diitribuUón oj.’áñimmís awarded arid pflscl or deducted boaul oatli'a general Issues, lo'.allow -.assessment. of'the potential Culpability of Of rtóaYery .by (hJrd'panie? including sqbconlractQrn, coruAiitantS. .pfc suppliers. ''Chétcfíihs the patfi&s rcquÜsí tbirf. panel profile a breakdown o'fjhu Mount ofatif.firifil award tha't-idwtiílcs'tbó basis’íói thfl[aüi3UntViid sets’ ouí l he aciicial.Sssnea. ilr?t constitute ibfc.basis for caen donar amount added to qt deducted from ihe Qmount;of the itWüVd. Siidf determination shall nof be considered for -purposés of appeal oc.reviow oíftht •awarj.. tn tbaevent oi'sücíi araytetf Pn appeal* Uto special detemúu&skm shall nót beadmlssibfe rjitt; prtn^derediby the reviewing entity»* The.aifciuattoa proceedings.shah be recorded by a certified Court tcgorteriictecjM by agre'cmsnl of the patties afcd. if jhbyore unable'íó agree.'then by the AAA. TJ>e parties 3hall aluno the cCsl ¿filié rcpüricr«^u<illy. Tbs avvárd Tiaide^^ by die srbifraÍKMJ pane] shall be finid. binding, and jUdgttxijl.inay.br:'entered upon It tn ?<ccó«lú[icc wifi.; applicable id guy court having .competent jurisdiction thereof
F.yF.rÍTTiok\Pyvn^s^rÁTiQ'ÑsÁNtt W'/uRAN-riEg.
§ 1A Tills Agieroiem.shajj bind the parlies hereto-ar.ctbei'r. Jteiis, assigns, suqsidiitnes. pfltvnl compontes. crcdhuiá. reipisenlaitvek'cir heneijcbyW
:§1.1 Tito individuals ésecuitng this Agreement h?teby: warrant rhey ha\e qmhoriiy to sign.lilts Agrément oubahajíiof íbrlr respective enthy and,to bind ibn! entity to thV terms uftbls ^¿?e<yue¡n,
§23 Thiii Agreement shall amend! rod to the extent of any.ccnfliéf, sujjwswlu the terms and conditions ol Contract 1 and 'Contract 2 defined above.
It is undisputed that the FAA applies in this case.
As the majority opinion correctly observes, “[djecisions from lower federal courts are not binding but may be considered persuasive.” Truel v City of Dearborn, 291 Mich App 125, 136 n 3; 804 NW2d 744 (2010). At the same time, however, the Supremacy Clause precludes this Court from applying any state law or policy that is inconsistent with the FAA. See Abela v Gen Motors Corp, 257 Mich App 513, 524-525; 669 NW2d 271 (2003), aff'd 469 Mich 603 (2004). Both our Supreme Court and this
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.