Controlotron Corp. v. Siemens Industry, Inc.
Opinion
*9 SUMMARY ORDER
Controlotron Corp. appeals from an order of the district court denying Controlo-tron’s motion to vacate an arbitration award and granting a cross-motion by Siemens Industry, Inc., to confirm that award. We assume the parties’ familiarity with the facts of the case, the procedural posture, and the issues on appeal.
“As a general matter, [w]e review a district court’s decision to confirm an arbitration award de novo to the extent it turns on legal questions, and we review any findings of fact for clear error.” Telenor Mobile Commc’ns AS v. Storm LLC, 584 F.3d 396, 408 (2d Cir. 2009) (alteration in original) (internal quotation marks omitted). An arbitrator’s award will be upheld “if an arbitrator is even arguably construing or applying the contract and acting within the scope of his authority.” Major League Baseball Players Ass’n v. Garvey, 532 U.S. 504, 509, 121 S.Ct. 1724, 149 L.Ed.2d 740 (2001) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Controlotron’s argument that the arbitrator exceeded her authority by allowing Siemens to add a new claim is without merit. The Scheduling Order at issue in this case contains a provision that explicitly empowered the arbitrator to modify the terms of the Order at any time. See J.A. 110 (making clear that the “order shall continue in effect unless and until amended by subsequent order of the Arbitrator ” (emphasis added)). Therefore, even if the parties had agreed not to bring new claims or amend existing ones, see J.A. 109, the plain language of the Scheduling Order makes clear that they also agreed that the arbitrator would retain authority to grant exceptions to that general prohibition. And the arbitrator’s decision to permit Siemens to add a new claim was itself an exercise of her authority to amend the Scheduling Order.
Controlotron also argues that the arbitrator’s written decision was insufficient under the terms of the parties’ arbitration agreement. We disagree. The parties’ agreement merely specified that the arbitrator’s “decision shall be written and shall be supported by written findings of fact and conclusions [of law] which shall set forth the award, judgment, decree or order.” J.A. 69. The arbitrator’s decision complied with that specification.
We have considered Controlotron’s remaining arguments and find them unpersuasive.
Accordingly, the order of the district court is AFFIRMED.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- CONTROLOTRON CORPORATION, Petitioner-Appellant, v. SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC., Respondent-Appellee
- Status
- Unpublished