10 Conn. App. 292 | Conn. App. Ct. | 1987
In these combined appeals, Harry Gould appeals from the trial court’s judgment denying his application to vacate an arbitration award and granting, in part, Martin Wolfs application to confirm the award. Gould claims that the trial court erred in confirming the award because the arbitrator exceeded their powers or so imperfectly executed them that a mutual, final and definite award upon the subject matter was not made, in violation of General Statutes § 52-418 (a) (4). More specifically, he claims that the trial court erred by rendering an award that (1) did not conform to the submission as narrowed by the arbitrator, (2) was against public policy, and (3) was rendered more than thirty days after completion of the hearing in violation of General Statutes § 52-416 (a). We find no error.
The trial court found the following facts. Harry Gould, Robert Fain and Martin Wolf entered into a joint venture agreement known as Park Mead Associates to purchase, own, develop and sell an apartment complex in New Canaan, Connecticut. The agreement provided that Fain and Wolf were to be referred to collectively as the “Wolf” interest and would share the profits equally with Gould, who was referred to as the “Gould” interest. Gould, therefore, owned 50 percent of the joint venture, and Wolf and Fain owned the remaining 50 percent. The agreement further provided that Gould was to manage the joint venture.
A hearing was held before an arbitrator. Both Gould and Wolf were represented by counsel. Fain, however, did not participate in the proceedings. On March 22, 1985, the arbitrator made his award, which provided, in relevant part: “2. Claimant’s demand that the respondent, Harry Gould is incorrectly claiming an excessive partnership interest is correct. As between the parties, Martin Wolf is entitled to one-half of the Park Mead Partnership. Harry Gould is entitled to the remaining one-half of the Park Mead Partnership. Harry Gould is to account to Martin Wolf for one-half of the Park Mead Partnership profits and make payments to Martin
On April 2, 1985, by letter, Wolf requested that the award be amended to answer specifically the questions propounded in the letter of April 16, 1984. The arbitrator responded by letter dated June 6, 1985 as follows: “The award made in the above referenced case was intended to provide to the complainant the relief requested. In this connection then, the questions asked on page 2 of the complainants letter of April 16, 1984, would be answered . . . Numbers 2 and 3 in the negative.” Wolf thereafter applied to the Superior Court, pursuant to General Statutes § 52-417
Judicial review of an arbitration award is limited in its scope by the provisions of General Statutes § 52-418. See footnote 2, supra. “ ‘ “[T]he court is bound by the arbitrator’s determination unless that determination clearly falls within the proscriptions of § 52-418 Gennarini Construction Co. v. Messina Painting & Decorating Co., 5 Conn. App. 61, 64, 496 A.2d 539 (1985). It is axiomatic in this jurisdiction that any challenge to an award based on General Statutes § 52-418 (a) (4), on the ground that the arbitrator exceeded his powers or imperfectly executed them is limited to a comparison of the award with the submission. Masters v. Masters, 201 Conn. 50, 70, 513 A.2d 104 (1986). New Haven v. AFSCME, Council 15, Local 530, 9 Conn. App. 396, 398, 519 A.2d 93 (1986); Gennarini Construction Co. v. Messina Painting & Decorating Co., supra, 65; Trumbull v. Trumbull Police Local 1745, supra, 212. In order to determine whether an arbitrator has exceeded his authority, the reviewing court must examine the submission together with the award and decide whether the award conforms to the submission. New Haven v. AFSCME, Council 15,
Gould claims first that the arbitrator narrowed the scope of the submission during the arbitration proceeding to a determination of who had the right to hold the Fain interest as opposed to who had the right to ownership of the interest.
We first note that it is doubtful that an arbitrator can ever narrow the scope of the submission at the urging of one party to the dispute during the proceedings. The parties to the arbitration have the burden of framing the submission; Waterbury Board of Education v. Waterbury Teachers Assn., 168 Conn. 54, 62, 357 A.2d 466 (1975); and if one party is unhappy with the initial claim, it can file responses to the submission. Gould did not file any responses to Wolf’s submission and, therefore, it was before the arbitrator unqualified.
The source of the arbitrator’s authority is found in the submission. Local 63, Textile Workers Union v. Cheney Bros., 141 Conn. 606, 613, 109 A.2d 240 (1954),
Even if we assume, however, that an arbitrator could narrow the scope of the submission during the proceedings, that did not occur in this case. While there are some confusing comments; see footnote 4, supra, it is nonetheless apparent that the arbitrator fully intended to adjudicate all issues between Wolf and Gould, including who was entitled to Fain’s portion of the “Wolf” interest as between them. The arbitrator stated: “I have not changed my point of view on the matter from the beginning. My point of view is that we have the power and the obligation under this proceeding to decide everything to do with this contract between these parties. They are arbitrating that contract pursuant to the arbitration clause in that contract and as between these two parties, we have the full power and obligation to decide all issues between those two parties.” This perception of his task is consistent with the powers delegated to him under the joint venture agreement. Further, we note that the arbitrator’s comments on the issue of “ownership” of the Fain interest may reflect no more than solicitude for the absent party’s right to claim an ownership interest at some other point against the prevailing party. We repeat, however, that the arbitrator understood his mission to involve a determination of the ownership of the Fain interest as between Wolf and Gould.
Gould next claims that the arbitrator exceeded his power by rendering an award that contravened public
Gould also claims that due process was violated by the failure to have all parties who may be affected by a decision before the tribunal. Gould appears to be raising the due process rights of Fain, who was not a party to the proceeding. Gould does not have standing to raise Fain’s rights. Trumbull v. Trumbull Police Local 1745, supra, 217.
Gould’s final claim
The parties have stipulated that the March 22,1985 award was timely.
The crux of Gould’s claim appears to be that the March 22,1985 award did not conform to the submission since it did not affirmatively address the questions posed. Only if the award did not conform to the submission would it be necessary to amend it. An award, however, need not specifically answer the submissions.
There is no error on either appeal.
In this opinion the other judges concurred.
The subject matter of this initial demand for arbitration is not in dispute.
General Statutes § 54-417 provides: “At any time within one year after an award has been rendered and the parties to the arbitration notified thereof, any party to the arbitration may make application to the superior court for the judicial district in which one of the parties resides or, in a controversy concerning land, for the judicial district in which the land is situated or, when the court is not in session, to any judge thereof, for an order confirming the award. The court or judge shall grant such an order confirming the award unless the award is vacated, modified or corrected as prescribed in sections 52-418 and 52-419.”
General Statutes § 52-418 provides in relevant part: “(a) Upon the application of any party to an arbitration, the superior court for the judicial district in which one of the parties resides or, in a controversy concerning land, for the judicial district in which the land is situated or, when the court is not in session, any judge thereof, shall make an order vacating the award if it finds any of the following defects: ... (4) if the arbitrators have exceeded their powers or so imperfectly executed them that a mutual, final and definite award upon the subject matter submitted was not made.”
Gould points to the following language by the arbitrator in support of his claim: “That’s absolutely correct. The ownership question is not between the panel as to Mr. Fain’s interest. The only question is who has the right to hold the money. Mr. Wold [sic] or Mr. Gould. Or who has the better right to hold the money if neither of them gave the right. That’s something we haven’t seen any evidence on yet.”
While Gould is bound by the arbitrator’s decision preventing him from interfering with the dispersal of the “Wolf” interest to Wolf, any defense that Fain may have against Wolf for an accounting of the interest involves questions separate from the dispute submitted to and decided by the arbitrators. The award does not determine Fain’s rights. See Trumbull v. Trumbull Police Local 1745, 1 Conn. App. 207, 217 n.15, 470 A.2d 1219 (1984).
Gould appears to make an additional claim that the awards of March 22, 1985 and June 9,1983, were inconsistent and irreconcilable. This claim was not raised in the trial court on his action to vacate and therefore will not be considered on appeal. New Haven v. AFSCME, Council 15, Local 530, 9 Conn. App. 396, 400, 519 A.2d 93 (1987).
The trial court memorandum does not reveal the date the hearings were completed.