Phan v. ANDRE & BLAUSTEIN, LLP
309 Ga. App. 191
Ga. Ct. App.2011Background
- Phan and International Farmers Market 1, LLP (collectively Appellants) contested an arbitration award won by Andre & Blaustein, LLP (A&B).
- In August 2009, the parties consented to arbitration under Henning Mediation & Arbitration Service rules and Georgia Arbitration Code.
- The arbitrator ruled for A&B; A&B moved to confirm the award; Appellants sought vacatur claim of potential conflicts by the arbitrator.
- Appellants alleged the arbitrator failed to disclose prior associations and should have recused; trial court denied vacatur and confirmed the award.
- Appellants argued the superior court misinterpreted the arbitration award’s monetary terms; the court later entered an amended judgment favorable to A&B.
- Georgia Court of Appeals vacated the confirmation order, held no vacatur grounds proven, but remanded for proceedings not inconsistent with the opinion.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether the arbitrator should have been vacated for partiality | Phan claims disclosable conflicts required recusal | A&B contends no competent evidence of bias; no Henning Rules proven | No vacatur; no clear abuse of discretion |
| Whether the award should be vacated for manifest disregard of the law | Disregard of Henning Rules and improper disclosures | Record fails to show manifest disregard of law | No vacatur on this ground |
| Whether the superior court properly construed the arbitration award in the confirmation | Award language misinterpreted to yield a larger judgment | Court adopted findings of the award; no error in confirmation | Judgment vacated and remanded for consistency with opinion |
Key Cases Cited
- Greene v. Hundley, 266 Ga. 592 (1996) (exclusive grounds for vacating arbitration awards)
- ABCO Builders v. Progressive Plumbing, 282 Ga. 308 (2007) (review limited to five statutory grounds for vacating awards)
- Blum v. Blum, 242 Ga. 718 (1978) (partiality and evidentiary standards for vacatur)
- Torres v. Piedmont Builders, 300 Ga. App. 872 (2009) (same standard for partiality and review on appeal)
- White v. SunTrust Bank, 245 Ga. App. 828 (2000) (disclosure obligations of arbitrators under Henning Rules)
- Bell v. Forster, 211 Ga. App. 76 (1993) (duty to show error with competent record)