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NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 SAMUEL W.B. MILLINGHAUSEN, III

Appellant

v. KAREN DRAKE, ROBERT L. HYSLOP, JR., THERESA M. HYSLOP, JOY A. CAPKA, MARYANN DIRENZO, JOHN DOE ONE, JOHN DOE TWO, JOHN DOE THREE, AND JOHN DOE FOUR : : : : : : : : : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 477 EDA 2020

Appeal from the Judgment Entered March 9, 2020 In the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County Civil Division at No(s): No. 2012 - 06050 BEFORE: DUBOW, J., McCAFFERY, J., and FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E. MEMORANDUM BY DUBOW, J.: FILED OCTOBER 13, 2020 Appellant, Samuel W. B. Millinghausen, III, appeals from the Judgment entered on March 9, 2020, after the lower court denied Appellant’s Motion to Vacate the Award of the AAA Arbitrator (“Motion to Vacate”) . 1 

### Upon review, we agree with the court’s conclusion that Appellant failed to establish by clear and precise evidence that he was denied a hearing or that misconduct marred the underlying arbitration proceedings. Accordingly, the underlying

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### Initially, Appellant appealed from the January 8, 2020 Order denying his Motion to Vacate. Because this was not a final, appealable order, we issued a Rule directing Appellant to praecipe the common pleas court to enter Judgment. See Dunlap By Hoffman v . State Farm Ins. , 546 A.2d 1209 (Pa. Super. 1988). Appellant complied, and the court entered Judgment on March 9, 2020. Thus, we discharge the Rule and consider Appellant’s appeal .

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arbitration award is conclusive and binding. We affirm on the basis of the lower court’s Opinion filed April 1 6 , 2020. T he parties are well versed in the facts and procedural history of this case. Briefly, i n 2006, Appellant contracted with Legal Access Plans , LLC to provide legal services to its plan subscribers (“Contract”). The Contract included an arbitration clause. In 2012, Appellant commenced defamation litigation in common pleas court against Karen Drake, Robert L. Hyslop, Jr., Theresa Hyslop, Joy A. Capka, and Maryann Direnzo (collectively, “Clients”). 2 

### Clients filed Preliminary Objections to Appellant’s Complain t, seeking to compel arbitration. The lower court overruled their O bjections, and Clients appealed . Upon review, this Court determined that Clients were third - party beneficiaries of the Contract and that Appellant’s claims were within the scope of the ar bitration clause; accordingly , we reversed the lower court and remanded for arbitration proceedings. See Millinghausen v. Drake , 102 A.3d 540 (Pa. Super . 2014) (unpublished memorandum) . Arbitration proceedings commenced, and Appellant was unsuccessful p rosecuting his claims. On January 15, 2019, in accordance with the terms of

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### In addition to Clients, Appellant sued four unnamed defendants. Appel lant never identified these individuals.

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the Contract , the arbit rator imposed the costs of arbitration and Clients’ attorneys’ fees upon Appellant. 3 

### Appellant filed a Motion to Vacate in the court of common pleas , asse rting that the arbitrato r lacked jurisdiction to consider Appellant’s claims , that he had denied Appellant a fair hearing , and that the arbitration award was unjust . The common pleas court denied the Mo tion. Appellant timely appealed and filed a court - o rdered Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) Statement . The court issued a comprehensive and responsive Opinion. Appellant raises the following issues: 1. Should the [lower] [c]ourt’s denial of Appellant’s [ Motion to Vacate ] be reversed where there was no agreement to arbitrate[,] and the court failed to give de novo review[;] Appellees repudiated the alleged agreement to arbitrate[;] . . . the court improperly applied the standard of 42 Pa.C.S. § 7341 to the jurisdiction question[;] the court found an agreement by impl ication[;] the court implied consideration not in the disavowed document[;] and [the court] improperly relied on earlier decisions and the arbitrator’s determinations? 2. Should the [lower] [c]ourt’s denial of Appellant’s [ Motion to Vacate ] be reversed where the award was not properly encompassed with[in] [Clients’] counterclaim [;] not filed with AAA as required by their rules [;] and Appellant was denied a full and fair hearing on the claim where the arbitrator denied “All of [Clients’] claims filed and all co unterclaim damages (including punitive, contractual[,] lost wages, pain and suffering[,] and emotional distress)”, but awarded $381,292,50 [sic] for claims never raised as required by AAA

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### Clients’ fees totaled $355,000.00; Administrative fees of the American Arbitration Association were $10,050.00; and compensation due the arbitrator was $42,535.00. Motion to Vacate the Award of the AAA Arbitrat or, 2/14/19, Exhibit No. 1 ( “ Final Award of Arbitrator ” , 1/15/19, at 6) .

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- 4 - rules, denying Appellant an opportunity to a full and fair hearing o n the issues? 3. Should the Appellant’s Motion to Vacate . . . have been sustained where the record contains clear, precise and indubitable evidence that there was misconduct by [Clients’] and/or the arbitrator[,] which demonstrated fraud, misconduct, corrupt ion and irregularities [that] denied Appellant a full and fair hearing on his claim for defamation? Appellant’s Br. at 6 - 7 (suggested answers omitted). We review a court order confirming a common law arbitration award for an abuse of discretion or an erro r of law. Prudential Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. v. Stein , 683 A.2d 683, 685 (Pa. Super. 1996).

“ Judicial review of a common law arbitration award is severely limited as otherwise arbitration would be an unnecessary stage of litigation, causing only delay and e xpense without settling the dispute. ” U.S. Spaces, Inc. v. Berkshire Hathaway Home Servs., Fox & Roach , 165 A.3d 931, 934 (Pa. Super. 2017) (citation omitted). 4 

### An arbitrator is the final judge of both law and fact, and we shall not reverse a common law arbitration award for a mistake of either. F.J. Busse Co. v. Sheila Zipporah, L.P. , 879 A.2d 809 , 811 (Pa. Super. 2005). Thus, neither this Court nor the trial court may review the tribunal’s disposition of the merits of the case. Id . The award of an ar bitrator is binding. Sage v. Greenspan , 765 A.2d 1139, 1142 (Pa. Super. 2000) (citation omitted) . We may not vacate or modify an award “ unless it is clearly shown that a party was denied a hearing

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### This matter proceeded in common law arbitration because the Contract did not reference the Uniform Arbitration Act. See Fastuca v. L.W. Molnar & Assocs. , 950 A.2d 980, 988 (Pa. Su per. 2008).

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or that fraud, misconduct, corruption or other irregulari ty caused the rendition of an unjust, inequitable or unconscionable award. ” 42 Pa.C.S. § 7341. Thus, t o challenge an arbitration award successfully, the appellant must establish by “clear, precise, and indubitable evidence” both the underlying irregulari ty and the resulting inequity. Gargano v. Terminix Int’l Co., L.P. , 784 A.2d 188, 193 (Pa. Super. 2001) (internal citation omitted). Appellant raises three broad issues on appeal. First, Appellant maintains that there was no agreement to arbitrate and that the arbitrator lacked jurisdiction to consider Appellant’s claims. See Appellant’s Br. at 25 - 55. Second, Appellant contends that we must vacate the arbitration award because Clients never filed a claim for fees and expenses and because the arbitrato r had denied Clients’ several counterclaims during the arbitration proceedings. See Appellant’s Br. at 55 - 63. Third, Appellant alleges several instances of misconduct by the arbitrator such that he denied Appellant a full and fair hearing on his claim s f or defamation. See Appellant’s Br. at 63 - 77. 5 

### The Honorable Garrett D. Page has authored a comprehensive, thorough, and well - reasoned Opinion addressing each of Appellant’s claims. After a careful review of Appellant’s arguments and the certified record, we

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### In his Statement of Questions for the appeal, Appellant asserted that Clients also engaged in misconduct. See Appellant’s Br. at 7 . However, Appellant fails to develop any argument in support of this assertion. See Appellant’s Br. at 63 - 7 7. Thus, we find it waived. See Sephakis v. Pa. State Police Bureau of Records and Id. , 214 A.3d 680, 686 - 87 (Pa. Super. 2019); Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a).

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adopt the Opinion as our own and affirm the lower court’s decision to deny Appellant’s Motion to Vacate . See Trial Ct. Op , 4/16/20 , at 1 - 2, 9 - 10, 14 - 20 ( discussing this Court’s dispositive ruling that Appellant’s defamation claims were subject to arbi tration pursuant to the Contract and that Appellant’s claims to the contrary are without merit ) ; 6 

### 12 - 14 ( concluding that (a) the Contract’s arbitration clause granted the arbitrator authority to award costs and fees , (b) the award was supported by evidence , (c) Appellant was given an opportunity to challenge the evidence , and (d) the size of the award reflects Appellant’s “ dilatory and obdurate conduct ” , which needlessly prolonged the proceedings ); and 6 - 9, 10 - 12 ( (a) examining relevant portions of the proceedings , (b) finding that Appellant’s assertions of misconduct were unfounded and often misleading , and (c) concluding that Appellant failed to demonstrate with clear and precise evidence that he was denied a hearing or that misconduct led to an unjus t or inequitable award ). We direct the parties to annex the lower court’s April 16, 2020 Opinion to any future filings. Rule discharged. Judgment affirmed.

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### The lower court also cites to a related appeal by Appellant, involving Legal Access Plans, LLC, in which a panel of this Court similarly determined that the Contract included a valid agreement to arbitrate. Millinghausen v. Legal Access Plans, LLC , 60 A. 3d 846 (Pa. Super. 2012) (unpublished memorandum), allocatur denied , 64 A.3d 632 (Pa. 2013) .

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Judgment Entered. Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 10/13/20202012-06050-0237 Opinion, Page 1 Circulated 09/18/2020 02:39 PM

1 N umb e r 2 0 1 1 - 13 4 4 6 . F A C T S AN D P R O C E D U RAL H I S T O R Y A

p ri l 1 5 , 2 02 0 4 7 7 E D A 2 0 2 0 L o w e r C o u rt D o c k e t : N o . 2 0 1 2 - 0 6 0 5 0

O P I N I O N 

### v . P l a i n ti ff

D e f e n d a n t s

T h e i n s t an t a

p p e a l ari s e s fr o m P l a i n t i ff S amu el W . B . M i ll in g h au s e n , I ll ' s c h a ll e n g e t o an I N T H E C O U R T O F C O M M O N P L E A S O F M O N T G O M E R Y C O U N T Y , P E N N S Y L V AN IA C I V I L D I V I S I O N

P l a i n t i ff a

p p e a l s fr o m th i s C o urt ' s O r d e r o f Janu ary 8 , 2 0 2 0 . F o r th e r e a s o n s s e t fo rth

In th e s e p ar at e m att e r at D o c k e t N umb e r 2 0 11 - 13 4 4 6 , th e L e g a l A c c e s s D e fe n d an t s L e g a l A c c e s s P l an s , L L C - m a d e d e fam at o ry s t at e m e n t s th at l e d t o th e t e rm in at i o n o f h i s E n try 1 6 8 . I n th e un d e rl y in g a c t i o n , P l a in t i ff a ll e g e s th at D e fe n d an t s K ar e n D r ak e , Jo y C a p k a , S AM U E L W . B . M I L L I N G HA U S E N , I II

r el a t i o n s h i p w i th L e g a l A c c e s s P l an s , L. L. C . S e e D o c k e t E n try 2 2 . P l a i n t i ff a l s o b ro u g h t s u i t a g a in s t th e L e g a l A c c e s s D e fe n d an t s i n a s e p ar a t e a c t i o n in M o n t g o m e ry C o un ty un d e r D o c k e t s h o u l d b e d i s m i s s e d , an d th e ru l in g s h o u l d b e a f fi rm e d .

ar b i tr a t i o n aw ar d i s s u e d b y Ar b i tr a t o r B e i t c h ( " th e Ar

b i tr a t o r " ) o n J anu ary 1 5 , 2 0 1 9 . S e e D o c k e t

r e qu e s t e d th a t th e c a s e b e r e m an d e d t o ar b i tr at i o n p ur s u an t t o an ar b i tr at i o n cl au s e c o n t a i n e d i n M ary ann D i R e nz o , R o b e rt H y s l o p , J r . , an d Th e r e s a H y s l o p - a ll cl i e n t s o f P l a in t i ff r e fe rr e d b y P a g e , J .
b el o w , P l a i n t i f

f' s a p p e a l i s w i th o u t m e ri t . T h e r e fo r e , any cl a i m o f e rr o r o n th e p art o f th i s C o urt KARE N M . D RA KE , E T AL .2012-06050-0237 Opinion, Page 2

2 0 0 6 an d 2 0 0 8 a gr e e m e n t s b e tw e e n th e p art i e s . Up o n th e tri a l c o urt d e cl i n i n g t o r e m an d th e m a tt e r t o ar

b i tr at i o n , th e L e g a l A c c e s s D e fe n d an t s fi l e d an a p p e a l. D uri n g th e p e n d e n c y o f th e a p p e a l i n th e m att e r at D o c k e t N umb e r 2 0 1 1 - 1 3 4 4 6 , D e fe n d an t s un d e r th i s d o c k e t s i m i l arl y d e m an d e d th a t th e in s t an t m att e r b e r e m an d e d t o ar b i tr a t i o n p ur s u an t t o th e s am e ar b i tr at i o n cl au s e in th e 2 0 0 6 an d 2 0 0 8 a g r e e m e n t s , a p p e a l i n g th e tri a l c o urt ' s d e n i a l o f th e ir M o t i o n t o C o mp e l Ar

b i tr at i o n . B o th P e nn s y l v an i a S u p e ri o r C o urt p an el s fo r th e m att e r un d e r D o c k e t N umb e r 2 0 11 - 13 4 4 6 an d th e m att e r un d e r D o c k e t N umb e r 2 0 1 2 - 0 6 0 5 0 i s s u e d o p in i o n s r e m an d i n g P l a in t i f

f s c a s e s - b a s e d o n th e s am e a gr e e m e n t s an d s am e un d e rl y in g fa c t s - t o ar b i tr a t i o n . P l a in t i f

f s P e t i t i o n fo r A ll o w an c e o f Ap p e a l t o th e P e nn s y l v an i a S u p r e m e C o urt w a s d e n i e d fo r th e m att e r at D o c k e t N umb e r 2 0 1 1 - 1 3 4 4 6 an d d e n i e d a s h av i n g b e e n i mp ro v i d e n t l y g r an t e d fo r th e m att e r at D o c k e t N umb e r 2 0 1 2 - 0 6 0 5 0 . O n Janu ary 1 5 , 2 0 1 9 , th e Ar b i tr at o r i s s u e d an ar

b i tr a t i o n aw ar d i n fav o r o f D e fe n d an t s an d a g a i n s t P l a in t i ff o n h i s cl a i m s fo r d e fam at i o n , fa l s e l i g h t , in v a s i o n o f p ri v a c y , an d unp a i d b i ll s an d o r d e r e d th at P l a in t i ff p ay D e fe n d an t s ' c o un s el fe e s . 

### S e e D o c k e t E n try 1 8 1 at E x . 5 . O n F e b ru ary 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 , P l a in t i ff fi l e d a M o t i o n t o V a c a t e th e A w ar d o f th e AAA Ar b i tr a t o r . 

### S

e e D o c k e t E n try 1 6 8 . I n s a i d m o t i o n , P l a i n t i ff a ll e g e s th a t fr au d , m i s c o n d u c t , c o rru p t i o n , an d o th e r i rr e gu l ari t i e s o n th e p art o f b o th th e Ar b i tr a t o r an d d e fe n s e c o un s el d e n i e d h i m a fa i r h e arin g an d r e n d e r e d an un

j u s t , in e qu i tab l e , an d un c o n s c i o n ab l e aw ar d . P l a i n t i ff a l s o c o n t e n d s th e ar b i tr a t i o n aw ar d s h o u l d b e v a c a t e d b a s e d o n th e a ll e g a t i o n th at th e 2 0 0 6 an d 2 0 0 8 d o c um e n t s w e r e n o t e n fo r c e ab l e c o n tr a c t s , thu s th e Ar b i tr at o r l a c k e d j uri s d i c t i o n i n th e ab s e n c e o f an e n fo r c e ab l e ar b i tr a t i o n p ro v i s i o n . O n M ar c h 2 2 , 2 0 1 9 , P l a i n t i ff fi l e d an E m e r g e n c y M o t i o n t o R e t a in Juri s d i c t i o n an d S tri k e D e fe n d an t s ' P e t i t i o n t o C o n fi rm Ar b i tr at i o n A w ar d , w h i c h th e C o urt gr an t e d . 

### S e e D o c k e t 22012-06050-0237 Opinion, Page 3

E n tri e s 1 7 1 ; 1 7 7 . D e fe n d an t s fi l e d a r e s p o n s e in o p p o s i t i o n t o P l a i n t i f f' s M o t i o n t o V a c at e th e Aw ar d o fth e AAA Ar

b i tr at o r o n M ar c h 2 2 , 2 0 1 9 . S e e D o c k e t E n try 1 8 1 . P l a i n t i ff fi l e d a B ri e f i n S u p p o rt o f h i s M o t i o n t o V a c at e th e A w ar d o f th e AAA Ar b i tr at o r o n O c t o b e r 3 , 2 0 1 9 , an d D e fe n d an t s fi l e d th e i r o w n B ri e f in S u p p o rt o fth e ir e arl i e r o p p o s i t i o n o n N o v e mb e r 4 , 2 0 1 9 . S e e D o c k e t E n tri e s 2 1 7 ; 2 1 9 . P l a in t i ff fi l e d a R e p l y B ri e f in S u p p o rt o f h i s M o t i o n t o V a c at e th e A w ar d o n N o v e mb e r 2 5 , 2 0 1 9 . S e e D o c k e t E n try 2 2 0 . P l a i n t i ff fi l e d an Ar gum e n t P r a e c i p e , an d th i s C o urt h el d o r a l ar gum e n t o n P l a i n t i f f' s M o t i o n t o V a c at e th e Aw ar d o f th e AAA Ar b i tr at o r o n Janu ary 7 , 2 0 2 0 . S

e e D o c k e t E n tri e s 2 2 2 - 2 3 . F o ll o w i n g ar gum e n t , th e C o urt d e n i e d P l a i n t i f f' s M o t i o n o n Janu ary 8 , 2 0 2 0 . S e e D o c k e t E n try 2 2 4 . P l a in t i ff fi l e d a M o t i o n fo r R e c o n s i d e r at i o n , w h i c h th i s C o urt d e n i e d o n Janu ary 2 3 , 2 0 2 0 . S e e D o c k e t E n tri e s 2 2 5 - 2 6 . P l a i n t i ff fi l e d a t i m el y N o t i c e o fAp p e a l o n Janu ary 3 0 , 2 0 2 0 . I S S U E S P l a i n t i f f' s C o n c i s e S t at e m e n t i s r e p ro d u c e d v e r b at i m b el o w : 1 . T h e T ri a l C o urt e rr e d a s a m att e r o f l aw an d/ o r fa c t o r c o mm i tt e d an ab u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n w h e n i t fa i l e d t o f

m d ar b i tr at o r d e n i e d Ap p e ll an t a fu ll an d fa i r h e ari n g w h e r e th e ar b i tr at o r d e n i e d Ap p e ll an t d i s c o v e ry w h i c h i d e n t i fi e d o r i n cl u d e d i n fo rm at i o n r el at e d t o th e p art i e s w h o m a d e th e d e fam at o ry [ s i c ] t o L e g a l A c c e s s an d/ o r R o b e rt L. H e s t o n , J r . 2 . T h e T ri a l C o urt e rr e d a s a m att e r o fl aw an d/ o r fa c t o r c o mm i tt e d an ab u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n w h e n i t fa i l e d t o f

m d ar b i tr at o r d e n i e d Ap p e ll an t a fu ll an d fa i r h e ari n g w h e r e th e ar b i tr at o r d e n i e d Ap p e ll an t d i s c o v e ry w h i c h i n cl u d e d L e g a l A c c e s s P l an s c o mp l e t e fi l e o n Ap p e ll an t . 3 . T h e T ri a l C o urt e rr e d a s a m att e r o fl aw an d/ o r fa c t o r c o mm i tt e d an ab u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n w h e n th e ar

b i tr at o r d e n i e d Ap p e ll an t a fu ll an d fa ir h e arin g w h e n Ap p e ll e e s fa i l e d t o m o v e any e xh i b i t i n t o e v i d e n c e , i g n o rin g th e ar b i tr at o r ' s o r d e r t o m o v e e xh i b i t s , an d d e ny i n g Ap p e ll an t any m e an in g fu l o p p o rtun i ty t o o b j e c t t o e xh i b i t s . 4 . T h e T ri a l C o urt e rr e d a s a m att e r o fl aw an d/ o r fa c t o r c o mm i tt e d an ab u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n w h e n h e fa i l e d t o fi n d an i rr e gu l ari ty w h e r e th e ar b i tr at o r d e n i e d Ap p e ll an t a fu ll an d fa ir h e ari n g w h e n th e ar

b i tr at o r r e qu i r e d Ap p e ll an t t o p art i c i p at e i n o r a l ar gum e n t c o n d u c t e d in F l o ri d a o v e r th e o b

j e c t i o n s o fAp p e ll an t. 5 . T h e T ri a l C o urt e rr e d a s a m att e r o fl aw an d/ o r fa c t o r c o mm i tt e d an ab u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n w h e n h e fa i l e d t o fi n d an i rr e gu l ari ty w h e r e th e ar b i tr at o r e n g a g e d i n e

x p a r te d i s c u s s i o n s o f th e c a s e w i th Ap p e ll e e s ' c o un s e l fo ll o w i n g th e cl o s e o f o r a l ar g um e n t. 6 . T h e T ri a l C o urt e rr e d a s a m att e r o fl aw an d/ o r fa c t o r c o mm i tt e d an ab u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n w h e n h e fa i l e d t o fi n d an i rr e gu l ari ty w h e r e th e ar b i tr at o r ' s aw ar d w a s un

j u s t , i n e qu i t ab l e o r 

### 32012-06050-0237 Opinion, Page 4

un c o n s c i o n ab l e w h e r e i t e x c e e d e d Ap p e ll an t ' s S c h e d u l e C i n c o m e fo r h i s p r a c t i c e an d h i s I R S A d j u s t e d G ro s s I n c o m e fo r t e n y e ar s an d Ap p e ll an t w a s d e n i e d a fu ll an d fa i r h e ari n g . 7 . T h e T ri a l C o urt e rr e d a s a m att e r o fl aw an d/ o r fa c t o r c o mm i tt e d an ab u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n w h e n h e fa i l e d t o fi n d an i rr e gu l ari ty w h e r e th e ar b i tr a t o r d e n i e d Ap p e ll an t a fu ll an d fa ir h e ari n g w h e n n o cl a i m w a s m a d e b a s e d o n th e fa l s el y a ll e g e d ar b i tr at i o n cl au s e o f

th e r e n o un c e d d o c um e n t s b e fo r e th e cl o s e o f h e ari n g s . 8 . T h e T ri a l C o urt e rr e d a s a m att e r o fl aw an d/ o r fa c t o r c o mm i tt e d an ab u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n w h e n h e fa i l e d t o fi n d an i rr e gu l ari ty w h e r e th e ar b i tr a t o r d e n i e d Ap p e ll an t a fu ll an d fa ir h e ari n g w h e n th e ar

b i tr at o r a ll o w e d Ap p e ll e e s t o e xh au s t Ap p e ll an t e c o n o m i c a ll y b y r e fu s i n g t o d i s m i s s th e i r fri v o l o u s D r a g o n e tt i cl a i m fo r fi v e d ay s o ft e s t i m o ny at gr e a t fi n an c i a l b e n e fi t t o Ap p e ll e e s an d t o th e ar b i tr at o r . 9 . T h e T ri a l C o urt e rr e d a s a m att e r o fl aw an d/ o r fa c t o r c o mm i tt e d an ab u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n w h e n h e fa i l e d t o fi n d an i rr e gu l ari ty w h e r e th e ar b i tr a t o r d e n i e d Ap p e ll an t a fu ll an d fa ir h e ari n g w h e n th e ar

b i tr at o r d e m o n s tr a t e d b a d fa i th , i gn o r an c e o fth e l aw an d i n d i ff e r e n c e t o th e j u s t i c e o fth e r e s u lt i n r e a c h in g an un j u s t , i n e qu i t ab l e an d un c o n s c i o n ab l e aw ar d w h e n h e s ta t e d " I c an ru l e , I b e l i e v e , th at I h av e j uri s d i c t i o n o f a cl a im b e fo r e i t' s fi l e d . " 10 . T h e T ri a l C o urt e rr e d a s a m att e r o fl aw an d/ o r fa c t o r c o mm i tt e d an ab u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n w h e n h e fa i l e d t o fi n d an i rr e gu l ari ty w h e n th e ar b i tr a t o r d e n i e d Ap p e ll an t a fu ll an d fa ir h e ari n g w h e n th e ar

b i tr at o r s t at e d h e , [ s i c ] s t o p p e d r e v i e w i n g Ap p e ll an t ' s fi l in g s m i d s tr e am . 1 1 . T h e T ri a l C o urt e rr e d a s a m att e r o f l aw an d/ o r fa c t o r c o mm i tt e d an ab u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n w h e n w h e r e [ s i c ] th e T ri a l C o urt a p p l i e d an in c o rr e c t s tan d ar d w h e n i t r e fu s e d t o fi n d th e ar b i tr a t o r l a c k e d any j uri s d i c t i o n t o ru l e i n th i s c a s e . 1 2 . T h e T ri a l C o urt e rr e d a s a m att e r o fl aw an d/ o r fa c t o r c o mm i tt e d an ab u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n w h e n th e T ri a l C o urt fa i l e d t o p ro p e rl y c o n s i d e r a ft e r a c qu i r e d e v i d e n c e t o d e t e rm i n e th e r e w a s n o j uri s d i c t i o n fo r th e ar b i tr at o r t o ru l e in th i s c a s e . 13 . T h e T ri a l C o urt e rr e d a s a m att e r o fl aw an d/ o r fa c t o r c o mm i tt e d an ab u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n w h e n w h e r e [ s i c ] th e ar

b i tr at o r d e n i e d Ap p e ll an t a fu ll an d fa ir h e arin g o n th e cl a i m fo r c o un s el fe e s , c o s t s an d e xp e n s e s , w h e r e th e ar b i tr a t o r m a d e th e aw ar d b a s e d o n a cl a i m n e v e r r a i s e d at any t i m e d

uri n g th e AAA p ro c e e d i n g s .



### AN AL Y S I S

" Ju d i c i a l r e v i e w o f a c o mm o n l aw ar b i tr a t i o n aw ar d i s s e v e r e l y l i m i t e d a s o th e rw i s e ar b i tr a t i o n w o u l d b e an unn e c e s s ary s t a g e o f l i t i g a t i o n , c au s i n g o n l y d el ay an d e xp e n s e w i th o u t s e tt l in g th e d i s p u t e . " 

### U

S. S p a c es , I n c . v . B e r ks h i re H a t h a w a y H o m e S e rv s . , F o x & 

### R o a c h , 1 6 5 A .3 d 9 3 1 , 9 3 4 ( P a . S u

p e r . C t. 2 0 1 7 ) ( c i t at i o n o mi tt e d ) . " T h e ar b i tr a t o r s ar e th e fi n a l j u d g e s o f b o th l aw an d fa c t , an d an ar b i tr at i o n aw ar d i s n o t s ub j e c t t o a r e v e r s a l fo r a m i s tak e o f e i th e r . " 

### M

c K e n n a v . S o s s o , 7 4 5 A . 2 d 1 , 4 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 1 9 9 9 ) ( c i t a t i o n o m i tt e d ) . " N e i th e r [ th e a p p e ll at e c o urt ] n o r th e tri a l c o urt m ay r e try th e i s s u e s a d dr e s s e d in ar b i tr at i o n o r r e v i e w th e
42012-06050-0237 Opinion, Page 5

tri b un a l ' s d i s p o s i t i o n o fth e m e ri t s o fth e c a s e . " I d
. T h e r e e x i s t s a " h i g h b ur d e n u p o n th e p arty w h o e x c e p t s t o an ar

b i tr at i o n aw ar d , " w i th " e v e ry p r e s ump t i o n [ b e in g ] in fav o r o f [ th e ar b i tr a t i o n aw ar d ' s ] v a li d i ty . " R e i n h a r t v . S ta te A u to . I

n s . A s s ' n , 3 6 3 A . 2 d 1 13 8 , 1 1 4 2 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 1 9 7 6 ) . T h e fo ll o w i n g s t an d ar d a p p l i e s in r e v i e w i n g an ar b i tr a t i o n aw ar d in a c o mm o n l aw ar b i tr a t i o n : T h e aw ar d o f an ar

b i tr at o r i n a n o n

j u d i c i a l ar

b i tr a t i o n w h i c h i s n o t s ub j e c t t o S ub c h a

p t e r A ( r el a t i n g t o s t atut o ry ar b i tr a t i o n ) o r a s im i l ar s t atu t e r e gu l at i n g n o n j u d i c i a l ar

b i tr a t i o n p ro c e e d i n g s i s b i n d i n g an d m ay n o t b e v a c a t e d o r m o d i fi e d un l e s s i t i s cl e arl y s h o w n th at a p arty w a s d e n i e d a h e ari n g o r th a t fr au d , m i s c o n d u c t , c o rru p t i o n o r o th e r i rr e gu l ari ty c au s e d th e r e n d i t i o n o f an un j u s t , i n e qu i t ab l e o r un c o n s c i o n ab l e aw ar d . 4 2 P a . C . S . A . 

### § 7 3 4 1 ; s e e a l s o P G M

e t a l s C o . v . H o jld n , 2 1 8 A. 2 d 2 3 8 , 2 3 9 - 4 0 ( P a . 1 9 6 6 ) ( c i t a t i o n s o m i tt e d ) ( " [ A ] n aw ar d o f ar b i tr a t o r s i n a c o mm o n l aw ar b i tr at i o n i s c o n cl u s i v e an d b i n d i n g an d c ann o t b e att a c k e d un l e s s i t c an b e s h o w n b y cl e ar , p r e c i s e an d c o n v in c in g e v i d e n c e th a t th e p art i e s w e r e d e n i e d a h e ari n g , o r th e r e w a s fr au d , m i s c o n d u c t , c o rru p t i o n , o r s o m e o th e r i rr e gu l ari ty w h i c h c au s e d th e r e n d i t i o n o f an un j u s t , i n e qu i t ab l e o r un c o n s c i o n ab l e aw ar d . " ) .
" T o p r e v a i l o n th e s e gr o un d s , a c tu a l fr au d mu s t b e s h o w n , i n v o l v i n g c o ll u s i o n w i th o n e o fth e p art i e s , o r m i s c o n d u c t i n t e n d e d t o c r e a t e a fr au d u l e n t r e s u l t. " G w i n E

ng i n e e r s , I n c . v . C r i c k e t C lu b E s t a tes D e v . G r

p . , 5 5 5 A . 2 d 13 2 8 , 13 2 9 ( P a . S u p e r . C t . 1 9 8 9 ) ( c i t i n g M

e llo n v . T ra v e le r s I n s . C o . , 4 0 6 A .2 d 7 5 9 , 7 6 1 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 1 9 7 9 ) ) . " An ar g um e n t th at th e ar b i tr a t o r s w e r e p r e j u d i c e d o r p art i a l , o r th at th e y r e a c h e d an aw ar d s o un j u s t th a t i t c o n s t i tu t e s c o n s tru c t i v e fr au d , w i ll n o t b e h e e d e d . " M e llo n , 4 0 6 A . 2 d at 7 6 1. " S i mi l arl y , an ' i rr e gu l ari ty ' w i ll n o t b e fo un d s i mp l y u

p o n a s h o w in g th at an i n c o rr e c t r e s u lt w a s r e a c h e d . " I d. " I n an ar

b i tr a t i o n p ro c e e d i n g , an irr e gu l ari ty r e fe r s t o th e p ro c e s s e mp l o y e d in r e a c h i n g th e r e s u lt o fth e ar b i tr a t i o n ,

52012-06050-0237 Opinion, Page 6

n o t t o th e r e s u lt i t s e l f

. " C h e rv e n a k , K e a n e & C o . , I n c . v . H o te l R i tte n h o u s e A s s o c . , I n c . , 4 7 7 A . 2 d 4 8 2 ( P a . S u

p e r . C t. 1 9 8 4 ) . 

### I . D I S C O V E R

Y /E V I D E N T I A R

Y I S S U E S P l a i n t i f f s fi r s t thr e e i s s u e s g e n e r a ll y b o i l d o w n i n t o a s in g l e o v e r ar c h i n g e rr o r - th a t th i s C o urt e rr e d in n o t fi n d i n g th e Ar b i tr at o r d e n i e d P l a i n t i ff a h e ari n g w i th r e g ar d t o s e v e r a l d i s c o v e ry i s s u e s . P r el i m in ari l y , th e C o urt n o t e s th at n o n e o f P l a in t i f f s a ll e g at i o n s o f e rr o r r el a t e d t o d i s c o v e ry am o un t t o d e n i a l o f a h e ari n g o r " fr au d , mi s c o n d u c t , c o rru p t i o n o r o th e r i rr e gu l ari ty " a s r e qu ir e d t o v a c a t e th e aw ar d - p art i c u l arl y w h e r e P l a in t i ff w a s a f fo r d e d th e o p p o rtun i ty fo r e x t e n s i v e d i s c o v e ry . I n h i s fi r s t tw o i s s u e s , P l a i n t i ff a ll e g e s th at th e Ar b i tr a t o r d e n i e d h i m d i s c o v e ry r el a t e d t o th e i d e n t i t i e s o fth o s e w h o m a d e d e fam at o ry s ta t e m e n t s an d L e g a l A c c e s s P l an s ' c o mp l e t e fi l e o n h i m s el f . H e r e , i t i s fa c tu a ll y un tru e th at th e Ar b i tr at o r d e n i e d P l a in t i ff d i s c o v e ry o n th e i d e n t i t i e s o fth e in d i v i d u a l s w h o a ll e g e d l y m a d e d e fam at o ry s ta t e m e n t s . Th e Ar

b i tr at o r o r d e r e d th at D e fe n d an t s d i s cl o s e th e i d e n t i t i e s o f s a i d in d i v i d u a l s b y p ro v i d in g P l a i n t i ff w i th r e s p o n s i v e d o c um e n t s . S e e D o c k e t E n try 2 1 9 at E x . 2 1 . Wh e n P l a in t i ff e xp r e s s e d d i s s a t i s fa c t i o n w i th D e fe n d an t s ' l a c k o f p ro d u c t i o n o f m a i l in g a d dr e s s e s fo r s a i d i n d i v i d u a l s , th e Ar

b i tr at o r an d D e fe n d an t s o ff e r e d t o c o n fe r e n c e th i s i s s u e , t o w h i c h P l a in t i ff d e cl i n e d th e n e e d t o furth e r p ur s u e th i s d i s c o v e ry in th e fo ll o w i n g e m a i l :

I [ P l a in t i ff] d o n o t w i s h t o d i s c u s s th e i s s u e furth e r . M s . W y nk o o p [ d e fe n s e c o un s e l ] h a s s t a t e d L AP [ L e g a l A c c e s s P l an s ] d o e s n o t h av e i n fo rm at i o n o n th e in d i v i d u a l s th e y h av e o ff

e r e d a s m ak in g th e s t at e m e n t s th e y p ro v i d e d . I d o n o t w i s h t o s p e n d t i m e o r r e s o ur c e s li s t e n in g t o th e ir a s s e rt i o n s . I b el i e v e th e r e i s n o i s s u e fo r Mr . B e i t c h [ th e Ar

b i tr at o r ] t o a d dr e s s an d r e qu e s t y o u d o n o t s c h e d u l e any c o n fe r e n c e . S e e i d
. at E x . 2 3 .

62012-06050-0237 Opinion, Page 7

S i m i l arl y , th e Ar

b i tr at o r a d dr e s s e d P l a in t i f f s c o n c e rn s r el at e d t o p ro d u c t i o n o f a

" c o mp l e t e fi l e " o n P l a in t i ff , fi n d i n g th at s u c h a fi l e l i k el y d o e s n o t e x i s t an d w o u l d n e v e rth el e s s b e unn e c e s s ary t o p ro v e h i s c a s e in l i g h t o f P l a i n t i ff b e i n g a f fo r d e d e x t e n s i v e d i s c o v e ry : C l a im an t c o n t i nu e s t o o b j e c t t o a n o n - e x i s t i n g r e fu s a l t o gr an t h i m d i s c o v e ry . I o r d e r e d th at h e b e s u p p l i e d w i th a ll g e rm an e r e qu e s t e d d o c um e n t s an d th i s w a s d o n e . H e c o n t i nu e s t o w an t " h i s fi l e " a s i f th i s w i ll c o n t a i n a d d i t i o n a l p e j o r at i v e s t at e m e n t s ab o ut h i m p ro v in g h i s c a s e . I b e li e v e th at th e r e i s n o t a g e n e r a l fi l e l ab el e d an d m a in t a in e d a s s u c h . Th e r e w e r e mu lt i p l e d ay s o f H e arin g s i n cl u d i n g t e s t i m o ny o fth e In d i v i d u a l R e s p o n d e n t s an d e mp l o y e e s un d e r o ath . C l a i m an t h a d amp l e o p p o rtun i ty t o d e v el o p an d p ro v e h i s c a s e d uri n g th e C o ur s e o fAr

b i tr at i o n ) . S e e D o c k e t E n try 1 8 1 at E x . 5 , 

## ,r C . U lt i m at el y , th e Ar

b i tr at o r d e t e rm in e d i n h i s F i n a l A w ar d th at D e fe n d an t s s u f fi c i e n tl y c o mp l i e d w i th h i s o r d e r c o mp e ll i n g d i s c o v e ry . 

### I d
. T h e C o urt i s b o un d b y 4 2 P a . C . S . § 7 3 4 1 an d c ann o t d i s tur

b th e Ar b i tr at o r ' s fi n d i n g s o f l aw an d fa c t - p art i c u l arl y h e r e , w h e r e P l a in t i f f s a ll e g at i o n s o f

b e in g d e n i e d a h e ari n g b y w ay o f d e n i a l o f d i s c o v e ry ar e e s p e c i a ll y un av a i l i n g . P l a i n t i f f s th ir d i s s u e a ll e g e s th e C o urt e rr e d in n o t fi n d in g P l a i n t i ff w a s d e n i e d a h e ari n g d u e t o th e a ll e g e d fa i l ur e o fD e fe n d an t s t o m o v e e xh i b i t s in t o e v i d e n c e -d e ny in g P l a i n t i ffth e o p p o rtun i ty t o o b

j e c t t o e xh i b i t s . T h e C o urt fi n d s th i s cl a i m w i th o ut m e ri t. H e r e , th e Ar b i tr at o r n o t e d in h i s F in a l Aw ar d th at b o th p art i e s - n o t j u s t D e fe n d an t s - w e r e " n o t d i l i g e n t i n m o v in g th e i r e xh i b i t s i n t o e v i d e n c e . " S e e D o c k e t E n try 1 8 1 at E x . 5 , 

## ,r M . I n fa c t , D e fe n d an t s a ll e g e i n th e i r o p p o s i t i o n th at P l a i n t i ff s ub m i tt e d n e w t e s t i m o ny an d d o c um e n t ary e v i d e n c e a ft e r th e cl o s e o fth e h e arin g s . D e s p i t e P l a i n t i f f s o wn fa i l ur e t o d i l i g e n tl y m o v e e xh i b i t s i n t o e v i d e n c e , th e Ar b i tr at o r n e v e rth e l e s s a ll o w e d P l a in t i ff t o s ub m i t th e e v i d e n c e h e fe lt n e c e s s ary t o s u p p o rt h i s c a s e . Th e Ar

b i tr at o r a l s o n o t e d i n h i s F i n a l A w ar d th at i n r e n d e ri n g h i s d e c i s i o n , h e " a c c e p t [ e d ] a ll th e p ro ff

e r e d e xh i b i t s fo r th e c o n s i d e r at i o n th e y d e s e rv e , n o t in g th at s o m e o fth e s e l a c k
72012-06050-0237 Opinion, Page 8

fo un d at i o n an d s o m e ar e o f l im i t e d p ro b at i v e v a l u e . " 

### I d
. I n th i s c a s e , D e fe n d an t s s ub m i tt e d e xh i b i t s th at w e r e m ark e d thr o u g h o ut th e e v i d e n t i ary h e ari n g an d r e fe r e n c e d w i th d e t a i l e d c i t at i o n s i n c o rr e s p o n d in g m o t i o n s an d b ri e f s . 

### S e e D o c k e t E n try 2 1 9 . A s s u c h , P l a i n t i ff w a s a f fo r d e d th e o p p o rtun i ty t o o b j e c t t o e xh i b i t s thr o u g h r e p l i e s t o D e fe n d an t s ' b ri e f s an d thr o u g h o u t th e fi v e d ay s o f h e ari n g s , an d th e Ar

b i tr at o r c ann o t b e s a i d t o h av e d e n i e d P l a in t i ff a h e ari n g a s r e qu ir e d t o v a c at e th e aw ar d . II . O RAL AR G U M E N T In i s s u e s fo ur an d fi v e , P l a i n t i ff a ll e g e s th i s C o urt e rr e d i n n o t fi n d i n g i rr e gu l ari t i e s in th e o r a l ar gum e n t c o n d

u c t e d at th e cl o s e o f ar

b i tr at i o n . F ir s t , P l a i n t i ff ar gu e s th at th at th e s c h e d u li n g o f cl o s in g ar gum e n t s in F l o ri d a o v e r h i s o b j e c t i o n s d e n i e d h i m a h e arin g o r r e s u l t e d in an i rr e gu l ari ty i n th e p ro c e e d i n g s . T h i s cl a im l a c k s m e ri t. P l a in t i ff c ann o t b e s a i d t o h av e b e e n d e n i e d a fu ll an d fa i r h e arin g a ft e r b e in g g i v e n th e b e n e fi t o f fi v e d ay s o f e v i d e n t i ary h e arin g s o v e r th e c o ur s e o f tw o y e ar s an d th e o p p o rtun i ty t o att e n d cl o s i n g ar g um e n t s in - p e r s o n o r t el e p h o n i c a ll y . 

### S

e e D o c k e t E n try 1 8 1 at E x . 9 . T h e C o urt n o t e s th at at th e cl o s e o f th e h e ari n g s , th e p art i e s a gr e e d th e y p r e fe rr e d i n - p e r s o n cl o s i n g ar gum e n t s , w i th P l a i n t i ff m ak in g th e fo ll o w in g o n - th e - r e c o r d s t at e m e n t w h e n F l o ri d a w a s r a i s e d a s a p o t e n t i a l l o c at i o n :

M R . M I L L I N G HA U S E N : I h av e a s u g g e s t i o n . If y o u ' r e g o i n g t o F l o ri d a , I th ink Mr . W a gn e r [ d e fe n s e c o un s el ] w i ll fl y m e an d th e fam i l y d o w n . 

### S e e D o c k e t E n try 2 1 9 at E x . 1 7 (N . T . H e arin g 5 / 1 4 / 1 8 , p p . 4 10 - 1 1 ) . C o n s i s t e n t w i th P l a i n t i f f s c o mm e n t , D e fe n d an t s a s s e rt b o th in th e ir b ri e f in s u p p o rt o f th e i r o p p o s i t i o n an d d

uri n g o r a l ar g um e n t o n P l a i n t i f f s M o t i o n t o V a c at e th e Ar b i tr at i o n Aw ar d th at d e fe n s e c o un s el d i d i n fa c t o ff e r t o p ay fo r P l a in t i f

f s tr av el t o cl o s in g ar g um e n t i n F l o ri d a . 

### S e e i d
. ; s e e a l s o N . T . H e ari n g 1 /7 / 2 0 , p p . 4 8 ; 5 0 - 5 1. T h e r e c o r d b e fo r e th e C o urt i n d i c at e s th e 82012-06050-0237 Opinion, Page 9

Ar b i tr a t o r o ff

e r e d t o m ak e s i m i l ar a c c o mm o d a t i o n s t o P l a i n t i f f' s o b j e c t i o n s t o F l o ri d a , o ff

e ri n g th a t th e p art i e s c o u l d fo r e g o cl o s i n g ar g um e n t s o r c o n d u c t th e m t el e p h o n i c a ll y . 

### S e e D o c k e t E n try 2 1 9 at E x . 1 7 (N . T . H e ari n g 5 / 1 4 / 1 8 , p p . 4 10 - 11 ) ; 

### s e e a l s o i d
. at E x . 9 ; 1 8 . T h a t P l a i n t i ff i s n o w unh a p p y w i th h i s d e c i s i o n t o n o t m ak e an i n - p e r s o n a p p e ar an c e at cl o s i n g ar gum e n t s d o e s n o t ri s e t o th e l e v el o f " fr au d , m i s c o n d u c t , c o rru

p t i o n o r o th e r irr e g u l ari ty " o r d e n i a l o f a h e ari n g r e qu i r e d fo r th e C o urt t o v a c a t e th e aw ar d . S e c o n d , P l a in t i ff c o n t e n d s th a t a ll e g e d 

### e x p a r te d i s c u s s i o n s o v e r h e ar d o n th e t el e c o n fe r e n c e at th e e n d o f cl o s i n g ar g um e n t s c o n s t i tu t e an i rr e gu l ari ty p ro v i d i n g j u s t i fi c at i o n t o v a c a t e th e aw ar d . P l a in t i ff a ll e g e s th a t a ft e r cl o s i n g ar gum e n t s w e r e fi n i s h e d , h e c o u l d o v e r h e ar

" b an t e r " an d d e fe n s e c o un s el an s w e ri n g th e Ar b i tr at o r ' s qu e s t i o n ab o u t w h e r e t o fi n d th e l an gu a g e c o n c e rn i n g " a c c e s s t o cl i e n t s " in th e 2 0 0 6 a gr e e m e n t. D e fe n d an t s c o n t e n d th a t d e fe n s e c o un s el m e r e l y an s w e r e d a qu e s t i o n o f th e Ar b i tr a t o r ' s d

uri n g cl o s in g ar gum e n t s . E v e n t aki n g P l a i n t i f f' s v e r s i o n o f e v e n t s t o b e tru e , th e C o urt fi n d s th a t P l a in t i ff h a s n o t e s t ab l i s h e d th a t th e a ll e g e d c o n d

u c t c o n s t i tu t e s an irr e g u l ari ty o r d e n i a l o f a h e ari n g , w h e r e th e qu e s t i o n o f w h e th e r

" a c c e s s t o cl i e n t s " w a s a fo rm o f c o n s i d e r a t i o n w a s a lr e a dy b e l ab o r e d a t l e n gth o v e r th e c o ur s e o f fi v e d ay s o f e v i d e n t i ary h e ari n g s . T hu s , P l a i n t i f f' s fo urth an d fi fth i s s u e s mu s t fa i l. II I . O T H E R I RRE G U L A RI T I E S W I T H ARB I T RA T O R P l a i n t i ff a l s o r a i s e s a numb e r o f o th e r e rr o r s a s s o c i a t e d w i th th e C o urt d e cl in in g t o fi n d i rr e gu l ari t i e s i n th e c o n d u c t o f th e Ar

b i tr a t o r i n i s s u e s s e v e n , e i g h t , an d t e n . In i s s u e s e v e n , P l a i n t i ff a ll e g e s an i rr e gu l ari ty i n th e p ro c e e d in g s an d d e n i a l o f a h e arin g b y w ay o f th e fa c t th a t

" n o cl a i m w a s m a d e b a s e d o n th e fa l s e l y a ll e g e d ar b i tr a t i o n cl au s e [ . ] " In o th e r w o r d s , P l a i n t i ff c o n t e n d s th e m att e r s h o u l d n o t h av e b e e n r e m an d e d t o ar b i tr at i o n w h e r e P l a i n t i f

f' s cl a i m w a s fo r d e fam at i o n an d n o t b r e a c h o f c o n tr a c t. H e r e , th e S u p e ri o r C o urt a lr e a dy s o un d l y r e j e c t e d 

### 92012-06050-0237 Opinion, Page 10

P l a i n t i f f s p o s i t i o n o n th i s e x a c t i s s u e in h i s e arl i e r a p p e a l , fi n d i n g D e fe n d an t s ar e th i r d p arty b e n e fi c i ari e s o f th e c o n tr a c t an d th at th e b ro a d l an gu a g e o f th e ar b i tr a t i o n cl au s e c o v e r s cl a i m s

" p r e m i s e d u

p o n d e fam at i o n an d s l an d e r " - a ll o w i n g th e d e fam a t i o n cl a i m t o g o t o ar b i tr a t i o n o v e r P l a in t i f

f s o b j e c t i o n s . 

### S

e e M ill i ng h a u s e n v . L e

g a l A c c es s P la n s , LL C

, 6 0 A .3 d 8 4 6 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 2 0 1 2 ) ( unp ub l i s h e d m e m o r an d um ) . S p e c i fi c a ll y , th e S u p e ri o r C o urt p ro v i d e d i t s r e a s o mn g fo r th e a g r e e m e n t t o ar b i tr a t e e x t e n d in g t o D e fe n d an t s in a d e fam a t i o n cl a i m a s fo ll o w s : W e n o w tum t o w h e th e r M i ll in g h au s e n ' s t o rt cl a i m s a g a in s t

Ap p e ll an t s ar e w i th i n th e s c o p e o f th e ar b i tr a t i o n a g r e e m e n t. T h e tri a l c o urt d e t e rm i n e d th a t M i ll in g h au s e n ' s d e fam at i o n cl a i m s a g a in s t Ap p e ll an t s w e r e o u t s i d e th e s c o p e o f th e ar b i tr at i o n cl au s e . 

### S e e T ri a l C o urt O p in i o n , 8 / 1 5 / 0 3 , at 8 . W e d i s a gr e e w i th th e tri a l c o urt b a s e d o n o ur p ri o r c o n cl u s i o n th at th e ar b i tr at i o n cl au s e w a s b ro a d , an d a p p l i e d t o M i ll in g h au s e n ' s b r e a c h o f c o n tr a c t cl a i m a g a i n s t L e g a l A c c e s s , w h i c h w a s p r e mi s e d in p art o n Ap p e ll an t s ' a ll e g e d d e fam a t o ry s t a t e m e n t s . 

### M ill i ng h a u s e n , s u p ra , at 10 . 

### W e a r e n o t p e r s u a d e d t h a t t h e c u r r e n t a c ti o n i s o u t s i d e t h e s c o p e o f t h e b r o a d a r b i t r a t i o n cl a u s e b y w h i c h M i lli n g h a u s e n i s b o u n d . T h e r e fo r e , b a s e d o n o ur p ri o r d e t e rm i n at i o n s i n 

### E l

wy n , C a ll a n , P i s a n o , S c h o e l/ h a m m e r ' s H a t b o ro M a n o r , an d M i ll i n g h au s e n ' s a c t i o n a g a in s t L e g a l A c c e s s , w e r e v e r s e th e tri a l c o urt ' s r e fu s a l t o c o mp el th i s a c t i o n t o ar b i tr a t i o n . 

### S e e M i lli ng h a u s e n v . D ra k

e, N o . 1 2 0 5 E D A 2 0 13 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 2 0 1 4 ) ( e mp h a s i s a d d e d ) . T hu s , th e S u

p e ri o r C o urt a lr e a dy r e v e r s e d th e tri a l c o urt an d d e t e rm i n e d ar b i tr a t i o n i s a p p ro p ri a t e -d e s p i t e th e cl a i m b e in g o n e o f d e fam a t i o n an d n o t b r e a c h o f c o n tr a c t - an d P l a i n t i f f s i s s u e s e v e n mu s t b e d i s m i s s e d . P l a i n t i ff a l s o a ll e g e s th e C o urt e rr e d in n o t fi n d in g an irr e gu l ari ty o r d e n i a l o f a h e ari n g w h e r e th e Ar

b i tr at o r a ll o w e d D e fe n d an t s t o p r e s e n t th e i r D r a g o n e tt i cl a i m d uri n g th e h e arin g s . I n th i s c a s e , b o th P l a in t i ff an d D e fe n d an t s r a i s e d D r a g o n e tt i cl a im s , w h i c h th e Ar b i tr a t o r u l t i m at el y d i s m i s s e d i n h i s F in a l A w ar d . T h at th e Ar b i tr a t o r p e rm i tt e d b o th p art i e s t o a s s e rt c o un t e r cl a i m s 102012-06050-0237 Opinion, Page 11

c an h ar d l y b e s a i d t o c o n s t i tu t e " cl e ar , p r e c i s e an d c o n v i n c i n g e v i d e n c e " o f d e n i a l o f a h e arin g o r

" fr au d , m i s c o n d

u c t , c o rru

p t i o n , o r s o m e o th e r irr e gu l ari ty " a s r e qu i r e d b y th e s tan d ar d s e t fo rth i n 4 2 P a . C . S . A . 

### § 7 3 4 1. I n s o far a s P l a i n t i ff fi n d s th e Ar b i tr a t o r m i s a

p p li e d th e l aw o r m i s i n t e rp r e t e d fa c t s i n n o t d i s mi s s i n g D e fe n d an t s ' D r a g o n e tt i cl a i m s o o n e r , a mi s t ak e o fl aw o r fa c t i s n o t s ub

j e c t t o j u d i c i a l r e v i e w fo r c o mm o n l aw ar b i tr a t i o n . T o th e e x t e n t th a t P l a i n t i ff a ll e g e s e rr o r in D e fe n d an t s ' D r a g o n e tt i cl a i m c o n tri b u t i n g t o a d d i t i o n a l c o s t s fo r P l a in t i ff , th e C o urt n o t e s th at th e Ar

b i tr at o r i d e n t i fi e d P l a i n t i f f s o w n l e g a l m an e uv e r s a s i n c r e a s in g th e t i m e an d m o n e y s p e n t o n th e p ro c e e d in g s , a s w i ll b e d i s c u s s e d i n S e c t i o n I V 

### i nfra . In i s s u e t e n , P l a i n t i ff a ll e g e s an i rr e gu l ari ty an d d e n i a l o f a h e ari n g w h e r e th e Ar b i tr at o r s ta t e d h e s t o p p e d r e v i e w i n g P l a in t i ff' s fi l i n g s " m i d s tr e am . " I n i t i a ll y , th e C o urt n o t e s th a t th e Ar b i tr a t o r n e v e r p ro cl a i m e d t o r e fu s e t o r e v i e w P l a in t i f f s fi li n g s a lt o g e th e r , b u t r ath e r , s t a t e d th e fo ll o w in g : 

### M R . M I L L I N G HA U S E N : W e ll , w e ' r e n o t n e c e s s ari l y a gr e e i n g

t o th at. W e d o n o t n e c e s s ari l y a g r e e t o an ar b i tr a t i o n . W e a gr e e d t o a ll o w th e o p p o rtun i ty fo r a fa i r h e arin g . T h a t ' s w h y w e ar e h e r e . 

### ARB I T RA T O R B E I T C H : O k ay . I t ak e e x c e p t i o n t o th a t . W e a lr e a dy h a d th e i s s u e e arl y o n in th e p ro c e e d i n g s . Y o u o b j e c t e d t o ar b i tr a t i o n . An d e v e ryb o dy kn o w s , th e r e i s a w h o l e c a s e h i s t o ry h e r e w h e r e th e P e nn s y l v an i a C o urt s y s t e m d e a lt w i th w h e th e r ar b i tr a t i o n w a s r e qu i r e d i n th i s c a s e . A n d I b el i e v e th e u l t i m a t e ru l in g w a s , an d y o u fi l e d an o b j e c t i o n , s t at in g , I b el i e v e c o rr e c tl y , th at th e u lt im a t e d e c i s i o n i s m i n e a s t o w h e th e r I h av e j uri s d i c t i o n . An d i n m i d s tr e am , y o u m a d e a fi l i n g i n w h i c h y o u , I b e li e v e , a gr e e d t o w a i v e y o ur ar gum e n t a g a i n s t th e ar b i tr a t i o n an d p ro c e e d . S a i d a n i c e th i n g o r tw o ab o u t m e i n th at , an d I a c c e p t e d i t v e r b a t i m . [ . . . ] 

### ARB I T RA T O R B E I T C H : L e t m e c u t y o u s h o rt a m o m e n t. I d o n ' t w an t u s t o g e t o n s i d e tr a c k s . Wh a t I am try in g t o d e t e rm i n e ri g h t n o w i s w h e th e r y o u h av e a gr e e d t o ar b i tr a t i o n , o r I m i s un d e r s t o o d w h a t y o ur p l e a d i n g w a s . An d [ i f] y o u ar e n o t a gr e e i n g o r r e n e w i n g y o ur o b j e c t i o n . I n w h i c h c a s e , I w i ll h e ar furth e r ar g um e n t o n i t. I s t o p p e d r e v i e w i n g y o ur fi l i n g s i n m i d s tr e am b a s e d o n y o ur r e p r e s e n t a t i o n th a t y o u fi n d ar b i tr at i o n 112012-06050-0237 Opinion, Page 12

a c c e p t ab l e , s o I d o n ' t w an t u s t o s p e n d o ur p r e c i o u s t i m e n o w d e b a t i n g th e i s s u e . Y o u b o th b ri e fe d i t fo r m e . 

### S e e D o c k e t E n try 2 1 9 at E x . 2 2 (N . T . H e arin g 10 / 2 / 1 7 , p p . 8 : 7 - 9 : 2 ; 1 1 : 2 - 13 ) . A s s e e n b y th e e x c e rp t e d l an gu a g e , th e Ar b i tr at o r ' s s t a t e m e n t ab o u t s t o p p i n g r e v i e w o f P l a i n t i f f s fi li n g s i s c o u c h e d i n th e c o n t e x t o f th e p art i e s h av in g t o c o n t inu o u s l y r e v i s i t th e i s s u e o f th e Ar b i tr a t o r ' s j uri s d i c t i o n thr o u g h o u t th e p ro c e e d i n g s d u e t o P l a i n t i f

f s r e p e a t e d o b

j e c t i o n s . In e s s e n c e , P l a in t i ff t ak e s a s i n g l e o u t - o f - c o n t e x t s t at e m e n t fr o m th e Ar b i tr a t o r an d att e mp t s t o fr am e i t a s th e Ar

b i tr at o r h av i n g c o mp l e t el y n e g l e c t e d t o p e r fo rm h i s d u t i e s -d e s p i t e amp l e r e c o r d e v i d e n c e s u g g e s t i n g th e Ar b i tr at o r c o n s i d e r e d th e p art i e s ' b ri e f s an d ar gum e n t s i n m aki n g a r e a s o n e d d e t e rm in a t i o n o f h i s j uri s d i c t i o n . A c c o r d i n g l y , th e C o urt fi n d s th a t P l a in t i ff h a s n o t i d e n t i fi e d w i th " cl e ar , p r e c i s e an d c o n v i n c i n g e v i d e n c e " e i th e r d e n i a l o f a h e arin g o r " fr au d , m i s c o n d u c t , c o rru p t i o n , o r s o m e o th e r i rr e gu l ari ty " a s r e qu i r e d b y th e s t an d ar d s e t fo rth in 4 2 P a . C . S . A. 

### § 7 3 4 1. T hu s , th e r e w a s n o e rr o r i n th i s C o urt ' s d e n i a l o f th e M o t i o n t o V a c a t e th e Ar b i tr a t i o n A w ar d . 

### I V . A RB I T RA T I O N A W A RD P l a i n t i f f s s i x th an d th irt e e n th i s s u e s b o th a ll e g e e rr o r in th e C o urt h av i n g n o t fo un d i rr e gu l ari ty a s s o c i at e d w i th th e am o un t an d m ak e u p o f th e ar

b i tr at i o n aw ar d i t s e l f

. S p e c i fi c a ll y , P l a i n t i ff a ll e g e s th at th e aw ar d i s un j u s t , in e qu i tab l e , o r un c o n s c i o n ab l e a s e x c e s s i v e i n r el a t i o n t o h i s in c o m e an d th at th e Ar b i tr at o r h a d n o b a s i s fo r aw ar d in g c o un s el fe e s , c o s t s , an d e xp e n s e s a s a c o mp o n e n t o f th e aw ar d . W i th r e g ar d t o P l a i n t i f f s cl a i m th a t h i s p e r s o n a l fi n an c i a l s i tu a t i o n m e ri t s v a c at i n g th e aw ar d , P l a i n t i ff p ro v i d e s n o l e g a l o r fa c tu a l s u p p o rt t o e s t ab l i s h th a t th e s i z e o f th e ar b i tr at i o n aw ar d in th i s c a s e c o n s t i tu t e s " cl e ar , p r e c i s e an d c o n v i n c i n g e v i d e n c e " o f

" fr au d , m i s c o n d

u c t , c o rru

p t i o n , o r s o m e o th e r irr e gu l ari ty " a s r e qu i r e d b y th e s tan d ar d s e t fo rth i n 4 2 P a . C . S . A . 

### § 7 3 4 1 ; 

### P G M e t a l s C o . , 2 1 8 A . 2 d at 2 3 9 - 4 0 . O f n o t e , P l a i n t i ff m ak e s n o 1 22012-06050-0237 Opinion, Page 13

a ll e g at i o n in h i s M o t i o n t o V a c a t e o r c o rr e s p o n d i n g b ri e f th a t th e am o un t aw ar d e d b y th e Ar b i tr a t o r e x c e e d e d th e a c tu a l fe e s an d c o s t s in D e fe n d an t s ' fe e p e t i t i o n s . H e r e , th e Ar

b i tr at o r i d e n t i fi e d P l a i n t i f f' s " mu l t i p l e m o t i o n s an d o th e r e xp e n s i v e an d t i m e c o n s um in g a c t i o n s , " " c o n t i nu a l [ ] r e s i s t [ an c e ] " o f ar b i tr a t i o n , " o b d

ur a t e i n s i s t e n c e o n p r e s e n t i n g an d r e n e w i n g mu l t i p l e un fo un d e d p o s i t i o n s , " an d ' 'un fo c u s e d an d s l o w - p a c e d p r e s e n t at i o n o f th e e v i d e n c e " a s r e a s o n s m e ri t in g th e a ll o c a t i o n o f c o un s el fe e s , c o s t s , an d e xp e n s e s i n h i s F i n a l A w ar d . S e e D o c k e t E n try 1 8 1 at E x . 5 , 

## ,r K. G i v e n th a t th e Ar b i tr at o r i d e n t i fi e d P l a i n t i f f' s o wn d i l a t o ry an d o b d

ur at e c o n d

u c t a s a p ri m ary fa c t o r in c o n tri b u t i n g t o th e " e xp e n s i v e " an d " t i m e c o n s um in g " n atur e o f th e ar b i tr at i o n , th i s C o urt n o t e s th a t P l a i n t i ff n e e d l o o k n o furth e r th an h i s o w n c o n d

u c t w i th r e s p e c t t o r a i s i n g a c o mp l a in t o v e r th e s i z e o f th e ar b i tr at i o n aw ar d . P l a i n t i ff a l s o c ann o t cl a i m t o h av e b e e n d e n i e d a fu ll an d fa i r o p p o rtun i ty t o c h a ll e n g e D e fe n d an t s ' c o un s el fe e s an d c o s t s , w h e r e P l a i n t i ff w a s g i v e n th e o p p o rtun i ty t o s ub m i t o b j e c t i o n s t o D e fe n d an t s ' fe e r e qu e s t s an d a d d i t i o n a l t i m e t o s u p p l e m e n t s a i d o b

j e c t i o n s . S

e e D o c k e t E n try 1 8 1 at E x . 1 1. T h a t th e Ar b i tr at o r d i d n o t a gr e e w i th P l a in t i f f' s o b j e c t i o n s d o e s n o t i n d i c a t e th a t h i s c o n d u c t ro s e t o th e l e v e l o f " fr au d , m i s c o n d u c t , c o rru

p t i o n , o r s o m e o th e r i rr e gu l ari ty " n e c e s s ary fo r th e C o urt t o j u s t i fy v a c a t in g h i s aw ar d , thu s i s s u e s i x mu s t fa i l. A s fo r P l a i n t i f

f' s c o n t e n t i o n th a t th e Ar b i tr a t o r h a d n o b a s i s t o aw ar d c o un s e l fe e s , c o s t s , an d e xp e n s e s d

u e t o D e fe n d an t s ' a ll e g e d l y n o t cl a i m in g s a i d i t e m s , th i s cl a i m l a c k s m e ri t. H e r e , th e ar b i tr a t i o n cl au s e o f th e un d e rl y in g a gr e e m e n t at i s s u e s p e c i fi c a ll y gr an t e d th e Ar b i tr a t o r th e au th o ri ty t o r e qu ir e P l a i n t i ff t o p ay c o un s el fe e s an d c o s t s , p ro v i d i n g th at " E a c h p arty s h a ll b e ar th e c o s t s o f i t s o w n att o rn e y s ' fe e s i n c o nn e c t i o n w i th an ar b i tr a t i o n un l e s s s u c h c o s t s ar e o th e r wi s e a ll o c a t e d b y th e ar b i tr a t o r . " S

e e D o c k e t E n try 1 8 1 a t E x . 1 , § 1 1 ( e mp h a s i s a d d e d ) . A c c o r d i n g l y , th e Ar

b i tr at o r ab i d e d b y th e ar b i tr at i o n cl au s e i n § 1 1 o f un d e rl y i n g a gr e e m e n t i n 132012-06050-0237 Opinion, Page 14

a ll o c at i n g c o un s el fe e s , c o s t s , an d e xp e n s e s t o P l a in t i ff i n h i s F in a l A w ar d . S e e i d
. at E x . 5 , 

## ,r K . T h e r e fo r e , t o th e e x t e n t th a t P l a i n t i ff ar gu e s th e r e w a s n o " cl a i m " fo r c o un s el fe e s , c o s t s , an d e xp e n s e s , th e Ar

b i tr at o r d i d in fa c t h av e fu ll au th o ri ty t o aw ar d s u c h a ll o c a t i o n s , an d P l a i n t i f f s th i rt e e n th i s s u e mu s t b e d i s mi s s e d . 

### V . ARB I T RA T O R ' S JU RI S D I C T I O N P l a i n t i ff r a i s e s s i m i l ar a ll e g a t i o n s o f e rr o r i n i s s u e s n in e , el e v e n , an d tw e l v e , a ll o f w h i c h r el a t e t o th e cl a i m th at th e Ar b i tr a t o r l a c k e d j uri s d i c t i o n t o ru l e i n th i s c a s e . E s s e n t i a ll y , P l a i n t i ff ar g u e s th a t th e tw o a g r e e m e n t s un d e rl y i n g th e a c t i o n w e r e n o t e n fo r c e ab l e c o n tr a c t s , m ak i n g th e ar b i tr a t i o n cl au s e un e n fo r c e ab l e . P r e li m i n ari l y , th e C o urt w i ll n o t e th a t th e i s s u e o f th e Ar b i tr a t o r ' s j uri s d i c t i o n c am e b e fo r e th e S u p e ri o r C o urt tw i c e b e fo r e , w i th th e S u p e ri o r C o urt tw i c e fi n d i n g th a t th e r e w a s an e n fo r c e ab l e c o n tr a c t r e qu i rin g e a c h o f P l a in t i f f s l aw s u i t s b e r e m an d e d t o ar

b i tr at i o n . S p e c i fi c a ll y , th e S u p e ri o r C o urt o p i n e d th e fo ll o w in g o n th e i s s u e o f th e c o n tr a c t ' s e n fo r c e ab i l i ty :

A c c o r d i n g l y , w e fo un d i n M i ll i ng h a u s e n th a t M i ll i n g h au s e n an d L e g a l A c c e s s e n t e r e d i n t o a v a l i d a gr e e m e n t t o ar b i tr a t e , a c o n cl u s i o n w i th w h i c h th e tri a l c o urt a g r e e d a ft e r c o n d u c t in g i t s o w n an a l y s i s . T ri a l C o urt O p i n i o n , 8 / 1 5 / 13 , at 4 - 7 ( " It 

### i s cl e ar t o th i s C o urt , fo ll o w i n g a r e vi e w o f th e A g r e e m e n t [ b e tw e e n M i lli n g h au s e n an d L e g a l A c c e s s ] , th a t a v a li d ar b i tr a t i o n a g r e e m e n t e x i s t s . " ) . W e a g r e e w i th b o th th e 

### M i ll i ng h a u s e n p an e l f r o m o ur C o urt an d w i th th e tr i a l c o urt . S e e M i lli ng h a u s e n v . D ra k

e, N o . 1 2 0 5 E D A 2 0 13 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 2 0 1 4 ) ( e mp h a s i s a d d e d ) . T h e S u p e ri o r C o urt i n P l a i n t i f

f s l aw s u i t a g a in s t th e L e g a l A c c e s s D e fe n d an t s a l s o fo un d th a t th e s am e 2 0 0 6 d o c um e n t un d e rl y i n g th e in s t an t a c t i o n w a s an e n fo r c e ab l e c o n tr a c t , i n a d d i t i o n t o f

m d i n g th at P l a i n t i ff a lr e a dy a dm i tt e d a s mu c h : In th i s c a s e , th e p art i e s e n t e r e d a N e tw o rk P ro v i d e a gr e e m e n t o n Janu ary 2 7 , 2 0 0 6 . . . In th e p r e s e n t c a s e , 

### Ap p e ll e e [ P l a i n t i ff] d o e s n o t c o n t e s t th e v a li d i ty o f th e a g r e e m e n t t o ar b i tr a t e ; r a th e r , h e 1 42012-06050-0237 Opinion, Page 15

m a i n t a i n s th at h i s p r e s e n t a c t i o n i s o u t s i d e i t s s c o p e b e c au s e i t p e rt a i n s t o s l an d e r an d d e fam a t i o n an d Ap p e ll an t' s r e - p ub l i c a t i o n o f s l an d e r an d d e fam at i o n . 

### S e e Mi lli ng

h a u s e n v . L e

g a l A c c es s P la n s , LL C

, 6 0 A .3 d 8 4 6 ( P a . S u

p e r . C t. 2 0 1 2 ) ( e mp h a s i s a d d e d ) . F urth e r , th e Ar

b i tr at o r m a d e h i s o w n i n d e p e n d e n t e v a l u a t i o n a s t o th e i s s u e o f h i s j uri s d i c t i o n a ft e r mu l t i p l e ro un d s o f b ri e fi n g an d ar gum e n t d

urin g th e e v i d e n t i ary h e ari n g s : C l a im an t c o n t inu e d/ c o n t inu e s t o o b j e c t t o AAA j uri s d i c t i o n d e s p i t e h i s w ri tt e n c o n c e s s i o n in th e c o ur s e o f i n i t i a l ar g um e n t o n th e i s s u e . H e a s s e rt s th a t th e A gr e e m e n t o f th e P art i e s w a s n o t s u p p o rt e d b y l e g a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n . 

### T h e A g r e e m e n t o ff

e r s p o s s i b l e c o n s i d e r a ti o n o f C l a i m an t fo r cl i e n t r e f

e r r a l s i n e x c h an g e fo r h i s a g r e e m e n t t o t e rm s g o v e r n i n g th e r e s u l ti n g r e l a ti o n s h i p s . R e fe rr a l s e n s u e d an d C l a im an t v a l u e d th e r e s u l t an t b e n e fi t s c o n fe rr e d u p o n h i m . H e a l s o o b j e c t s th a t h e s trik e th e p ro v i s i o n d e a l in g w i th i n d e mn i ty an d th at th e H e s t o n R e s p o n d e n t s d i d n o t s i g n h i s am e n d e d v e r s i o n . Th i s o b j e c t i o n i s m o o t g i v e n my fi n d in g th a t th e i n d e mn i ty cl au s e i s n o t a p p li c ab l e t o th i s l i t i g a t i o n , e v e n i f n o t s tri c k e n . 

### T h e p art i e s t o th e w r i ti n g , a c t e d a s i f th e A g r e e m e n t w a s v a l i d an d i n fo r c e , an d C l a i m an t c i t e d t o i t mu lt i p l e t i m e s b e fo r e d e ci d i n g t o c o n t e s t i t . T h e A gr e e m e n t w a s t e rm i n ab l e w i th o u t c au s e b y e i th e r p arty an d 

### C l a i m an t c h o s e t o a c c e p t i t s b e n e fi t s i n th e c o ur s e o f d e a l in g s an d n o t t o t e rm in a t e i t d e s p i t e h i s ( o n e ) o b j e c t i o n t o th e l an gu a g e . 

### T hu s , th e A g r e e m e n t w h i c h p r o vi d e s fo r AAA i ur i s d i c t i o n an d th e a p p li c ab ili ty o f i t s r

u l e s i s v a li d an d e n fo r c e ab l e . S e e D o c k e t E n try 1 8 1 at E x . 5 , 

## ,r A ( e mp h a s i s a d d e d ) . P l a i n t i ff h i m s e l f e v e n o ff e r e d c o n tr a d i c t o ry s t a t e m e n t s a s t o w h e th e r h e w a s c o n c e d i n g t o o r o b j e c t i n g t o th e Ar

b i tr a t o r ' s j uri s d i c t i o n d

uri n g th e e v i d e n t i ary h e arin g s : M R . M I L L I N G H A U S E N : T h a t' s w h y I w an t t o p ro c e e d . A t l e a s t i f y o u g i v e m e a fa i r h e ari n g [ s i c ] an d I e n d u p w i th a r e a s o n ab l e an d a p p ro p ri at e j u d g m e n t , th e n th e ar b i tr ab i li ty i s n o t an i s s u e . ARB I T RA T O R B E I T C H : W e ll , I th ink th a t p u t s y o u a s th e u l t i m at e d e t e rm i n e r i n th i s c a s e r a th e r th an m e a th e ru l e s an d 

### 1 52012-06050-0237 Opinion, Page 16

c u s t o m s w o u l d a

p p l y . An d I c an ' t p ro c e e d w i th ar b i tr at i o n w i th y o u h av in g a ri g h t t o p u ll a v e t o o u t o fy o ur p o c k e t. [ . . . ] ARB I T RA T O R B E I T C H : I am n o t p utt i n g y o u t o a c h o i c e o th e r th an w h e th e r y o u ar e c o n t i nu i n g t o p ur s u e y o ur o b j e c t i o n t o my j uri s d i c t i o n . M R . M I L L I N G HA U S EN : I' m n o t . ARB I T RA T O R B E I T C H : B u t y o u r e s e rv e th e ri g h t , I th o u g h t I h e ar d y o u s ay . M R . M I L L I N G H A U S E N : N o . N o . Wh at I' m s ay in g i s I n e v e r a gr e e d t o i t. T h e r e i s a d i ff e r e n c e . ARB I T RA T O R B E I T C H : Y e s , th e r e i s . M R . M I L L I N G HA U S E N : I' m n o t a gr e e in g t o i t b u t - I' m n o t a gr e e i n g y o u h av e auth o ri ty . I am a gr e e i n g t o b e h e r e an d p art i c i p at e an d y o u w i ll m ak e a ru l in g . A n d any o b j e c ti o n t o th a t r u li n g , any a

p p e a l f r o m th a t r

u l i n g wi ll b e b a s e d o n o th e r i s s u e s , n o t o n w h e th e r y o u h av e i ur i s d i c t i o n b e c au s e th e S u p e r i o r C o urt a l r e a dy d e ci d e d th a t . S e e D o c k e t E n try 2 1 9 at E x . 3 (N . T . H e arin g 10 / 2 / 1 7 , p p . 1 5 : 1 - 10 ; 1 7 : 4 - 2 1 ) ( e mp h a s i s a d d e d ) . A lth o u g h P l a in t i ff l at e r r e v o k e d h i s c o n s e n t t o j uri s d i c t i o n in th e s am e d ay o f h e ari n g s , th e p o in t r e m a in s th at th e Ar b i tr at o r a d dr e s s e d th e b a s i s fo r h i s fi n d i n g th at h e h a d j uri s d i c t i o n at mu l t i p l e p o in t s i n th e p ro c e e d i n g s an d i n h i s F i n a l A w ar d , a ft e r h av in g e n g a g e d w i th th e b ri e f s an d ar g um e n t s o f th e p art i e s . T hu s , P l a in t i f f s att e mp t t o c h e rry - p i c k th e Ar b i tr at o r ' s s t at e m e n t

" I c an ru l e , I b el i e v e , th at I h av e j uri s d i c t i o n o f a cl a i m b e fo r e i t ' s fi l e d " t o a ll e g e th e Ar b i tr at o r d e m o n s tr at e d " b a d fa i th , i g n o r an c e o f th e l aw an d i n d i ff e r e n c e t o th e j u s t i c e o f th e r e s u lt " i n i s s u e n in e i s un av a i l in g . A cl o s e r e a d i n g o f th e h e ari n g tr an s c ri p t s r e v e a l s th at th e Ar b i tr at o r ' s fu ll s t at e m e n t w a s a s fo ll o w s : " I c an ru l e , I b e li e v e , th at I h av e j uri s d i c t i o n o f a cl a im b e fo r e i t ' s fi l e d . I c an l o o k at th e l an gu a g e o f th e a gr e e m e n t t o ar b i tr at e an d s ay th at any p art i c u l ar cl a i m w h e th e r o r n o t fi l e d w i th AAA i s b e fo r e m e . " S e e D o c k e t E n try 2 1 9 at E x . 3 (N . T . H e ari n g 1/ 1 1/ 1 8 , p p . 5 1 : 2 2 - 5 2 : 3 ) ( e mp h a s i s a d d e d ) . T h e Ar b i tr at o r p ro c e e d e d t o e xp l a i n th at h i s au th o ri ty t o ru l e o n P l a i n t i f

f s cl a i m s d e ri v e s fr o m th e ar b i tr at i o n a gr e e m e n t , t o w h i c h P l a in t i ff a g a i n i n s i s t e d " th e r e i s n o a gr e e m e n t t o ar b i tr at e , th e r e i s n o c o n tr a c t " - an i s s u e a l r e a dy c o n cl u s i v el y

1 62012-06050-0237 Opinion, Page 17

ru l e d o n b y th e S u

p e ri o r C o urt . S

e e i d
. (N . T . H e arin g 1/ 1 1/ 1 8 , p p . 5 1 : 2 2 - 5 2 : 2 3 ) . Thu s , w h i l e th e c ru x o f P l a in t i f

f s o b j e c t i o n t o j uri s d i c t i o n i s th at th e Ar b i tr a t o r w ro n g l y fo un d th e r e w a s an e n fo r c e ab l e c o n tr a c t , s u c h an ar gum e n t i s unp e r s u a s i v e i n th e fa c e o f tw o S u p e ri o r C o urt d e c i s i o n s fi n d i n g a b i n d i n g ar b i tr at i o n a gr e e m e n t an d th e Ar b i tr a t o r ' s s o un d e xp l an a t i o n fo r fi n d in g an e n fo r c e ab l e c o n tr a c t a s d e t a i l e d in h i s F in a l A w ar d . C o n s e qu e n tl y , P l a i n t i f f s a ll e g at i o n th a t th e Ar

b i tr at o r d e m o n s tr at e d " b a d fa i th , i gn o r an c e o f th e l aw an d i n d i ff e r e n c e t o th e j u s t i c e o fth e r e s u lt " i n a s s e rt i n g h e h a d j uri s d i c t i o n i s w i th o u t m e ri t. N e x t , P l a in t i ff cl a im s in i s s u e el e v e n th a t th e C o urt i mp ro p e rl y fa i l e d t o c o n s i d e r " a ft e r a c qu ir e d e v i d e n c e " w h e n d e c i d in g th e qu e s t i o n o f th e Ar b i tr a t o r ' s j uri s d i c t i o n . P l a i n t i ff c o n t e n d s th a t t e s t i m o ny fr o m R o b e rt H e s t o n an d C h arl i e Ja c qu o , P r e s i d e n t an d D ir e c t o r o f N e tw o rk M an a g e m e n t o f L e g a l A c c e s s P l an s r e s p e c t i v e l y , e s t ab li s h e s th a t th e un d e rl y i n g 2 0 0 6 an d 2 0 0 8 d o c um e n t s w e r e n o t c o n tr a c t s . U n fo rtun a t e l y fo r P l a i n t i ff , th i s " a ft e r a c qu i r e d e v i d e n c e " i n n o w ay e s t ab l i s h e s th e ab s e n c e o f an e n fo r c e ab l e ar b i tr a t i o n a g r e e m e n t. F o r o n e , th e H e s t o n t e s t im o ny c i t e d b y P l a in t i ff in h i s b ri e f an d M o t i o n fo r R e c o n s i d e r a t i o n r e fe r s t o th e 2 0 0 8 d o c um e n t. H e r e , th e S u

p e ri o r C o urt fo un d th a t th e 2 0 0 6 d o c um e n t w a s an e n fo r c e ab l e ar b i tr a t i o n a gr e e m e n t , m aki n g s a i d t e s t i m o ny o f n o m o m e n t i n th e S u p e ri o r C o urt ' s fi n d i n g th a t an ar b i tr a t i o n a gr e e m e n t e x i s t e d . S e c o n d , P l a in t i ff c i t e s C h arl i e Ja c qu o ' s t e s t i m o ny th a t P l a i n t i ff w a s " n o t o f

fi c i a ll y " a n e tw o rk p ro v i d e r p ur s u an t t o th e 2 0 0 6 d o c um e n t a s p ro o f o f s a i d d o c um e n t n o t b e i n g a c o n tr a c t ---c o n v e n i e n tl y o m i tt i n g th a t s h e a l s o t e s t i fi e d th at L e g a l A c c e s s P l an s w o u l d n o t h av e c o n t inu e d g i v i n g P l a in t i ff cl i e n t r e fe rr a l s un l e s s a c o n tr a c t e x i s t e d :

Q . O k ay . Y o u d o n ' t d o b u s in e s s w i th p e o p l e y o u d o n ' t h av e c o n tr a c t w i th ; d o y o u ? A . N o . S e e D o c k e t E n try 2 1 9 at E x . 1 7 (N . T . H e arin g 5 / 1 4 / 1 8 , p p . 3 8 6 : 13 - 1 6 ) . 1 72012-06050-0237 Opinion, Page 18

P l a i n t i ff a l s o c i t e s t e s t i m o ny fr o m D e fe n d an t s ' e xp e rt t o ar gu e th e r e w a s n o c o n s i d e r at i o n b e tw e e n P l a in t i ff an d L e g a l A c c e s s P l an s an d b y e x t e n s i o n , n o e n fo r c e ab l e ar b i tr at i o n a gr e e m e n t. T e ll in g l y , P l a i n t i ff c h e rry - p i c k s th e d e fe n s e e xp e rt ' s s t at e m e n t th at L e g a l A c c e s s P l an s h a d n o o b l i g at i o n t o g i v e P l a i n t i ff b u s in e s s t o s u g g e s t a l a c k o f c o n s i d e r at i o n b ut i gn o r e s k e y p o rt i o n s o f th e t e s t i m o ny - i n cl u d in g th e d e fe n s e e xp e rt ' s n e x t w o r d s s p e c i fi c a ll y t e s t i fy i n g t o th e fa c t th at th e r e w a s c o n s i d e r at i o n :

Q . N o w , y o u s a i d in y o ur t e s t i m o ny th at L e g a l A c c e s s P l an s h a d n o o b l i g at i o n t o g i v e m e [ P l a i n t i f f] b u s in e s s . I s th at c o rr e c t ? A . Y e s . Q . Th e y h a d n o o b l i g at i o n ? A . N o o b l i g at i o n . Q . Th e y h a d n o t [ s i c ] o b l i g at i o n at a ll ? A . C o rr e c t. Q . O k ay . An d y o u ' v e s e e n th e d o c um e n t o ff e r e d a s a c o n tr a c t ? C o rr e c t ? A . I' v e s e e n th e c o n tr a c t. Q . O k ay . N o w w h a t i n th e a g r e e m e n t p r o v i d e s c o n s i d e r a t i o n t o m e ? W h a t i s th e b e n e fi t o f th e c o n tr a c t , th e a ll e g e d c o n tr a c t , th a t I r e c e i v e d ? A . A c c e s s . Q . A c c e s s ? A . A c c e s s t o p u t a t i v e c li e n t s . 

### S e e D o c k e t E n try 1 6 8 at E x . 2 5 (N . T . 1/ 1 2 / 1 8 , p p . 1 9 6 : 1 2 - 1 9 7 : 1 - 7 ) ( e mp h a s i s a d d e d ) . In th e a b s e n c e o f any n e w e v i d e n c e s u p p o rt in g e i th e r ab s e n c e o f a v a li d ar b i tr at i o n a gr e e m e n t o r th e c o n cl u s i o n th at th e S u p e ri o r C o urt w o u l d h av e ru l e d d i ff e r e n tl y h a d th e n e w t e s t im o ny b e e n b e fo r e i t , P l a in t i f f s a ll e g at i o n o f e rr o r in i s s u e e l e v e n fa i l s . T h e C o urt n o t e s th at th e s am e 2 0 0 6 an d 2 0 0 8 d o c um e n t s w e r e b e fo r e th e S u p e ri o r C o urt w h e n i t o r d e r e d ar b i tr at i o n an d th at th at th e n e w t e s t i m o ny c i t e d b y P l a in t i ff w a s b e fo r e th e Ar b i tr at o r w h e n h e i s s u e d h i s F i n a l A w ar d . Wh at P l a i n t i ff e s t ab l i s h e s n o w i s n o t th at th e S u p e ri o r C o urt w a s tri c k e d i n t o r el y in g o n th e p ri o r S u

p e ri o r C o urt O p i n i o n o f 

### M i lli ng h a u s e n v . L e

g a l A c c es s P la n s , LL C an d i n c o mp l e t e i n fo rm at i o n w h e n i t fo un d an e n fo r c e ab l e c o n tr a c t in th e i n s t an t m att e r , b ut r ath e r , 1 82012-06050-0237 Opinion, Page 19

th a t c o n t inu e d d i s c o v e ry an d ar b i tr at i o n h e arin g s furth e r c o n fi rm e d th e e x i s t e n c e o f an o ff e r , c o n s i d e r a t i o n , an d a c c e p t an c e . T hu s , P l a in t i f f s cl a i m th a t " a ft e r a c qu i r e d e v i d e n c e " e s t ab l i s h e s th e Ar b i tr a t o r ' s l a c k o f

j uri s d i c t i o n mu s t b e d i s m i s s e d . F i n a ll y , P l a in t i f

f s cl a i m th at th e C o urt a p p l i e d an i n c o rr e c t s t an d ar d w h e n c o n s i d e ri n g w h e th e r th e Ar

b i tr a t o r l a c k e d j uri s d i c t i o n l a c k s m e ri t. I n m ak i n g th i s ar gum e n t , P l a i n t i ff r e l i e s o n th e 

### Ci v a n c a s e , w h i c h i s i n a p p o s i t e t o th e m att e r b e fo r e th e C o urt . In 

### Ci v a n , th e S u p e ri o r C o urt fo un d th at " th e n arr o w s t an d ar d o f r e v i e w d e ri v e d fr o m s e c t i o n 7 3 4 1 i s n o t a p p l i c ab l e w h e n r e v i e w i n g a p e t i t i o n t o v a c a t e b a s e d u p o n a cl a i m th a t th e p art i e s d o n o t h av e a v a li d a gr e e m e n t t o ar

b i tr at e . " 

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i v a n v . W

i n d e m e r e F a r m s , I n c . , 1 8 0 A . 3 d 4 8 9 , 4 9 9 ( P a . S u p e r . C t . 2 0 1 8 ) . O f s i g n i fi c an c e , h o w e v e r , i s a k e y d i ff e r e n c e b e tw e e n th e fa c t s in 

### Ci v a n an d h e r e . In th e i n s t an t c a s e - un l ik e i n 

### C i v a n - t h e S u p e ri o r C o urt a lr e a dy m a d e a d e t e rm in a t i o n a s t o th e Ar b i tr a t o r ' s j uri s d i c t i o n t o ru l e an d D e fe n d an t s ' s t atu s a s th i r d - p arty b e n e fi c i ari e s , o r d e ri n g th e m a tt e r r e m an d e d t o ar

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### Ci v a n C o urt m a d e n o d e t e rm in at i o n a s t o w h e th e r th e r e w a s an e n fo r c e ab l e ar b i tr a t i o n a gr e e m e n t a s i t r e l a t e d t o a p art i c u l ar n o n - p arty , n e c e s s i ta t i n g th e n e e d fo r th e tri a l c o urt t o l o o k b e y o n d th e s t an d ar d o f 4 2 P a . C . S . A . § 7 3 4 1 an d d e t e rm i n e w h e th e r th e aw ar d s h o u l d b e v a c at e d fo r l a c k o f j uri s d i c t i o n a s t o th i s n o n - p arty : T h e r e fo r e , b e c au s e G amb o n e i s n o t a p arty t o th e A gr e e m e n t an d th e r e w a s 

### n o c o u rt o r d e r s p e ci fi c a ll y m a n d a t i n g G a m b o n e ' s s u b m i s s i o n t o a r b i t r a t i o n , th e ar b i tr a t i o n p an el e x c e e d e d i t s p o w e r b y d e t e rm i n in g th at th e p an e l h a d j uri s d i c t i o n o v e r G amb o n e . 

### Ci v a n , 1 8 0 A .3 d at 4 9 9 ( P a . S u p e r . C t. 2 0 1 8 ) ( e mp h a s i s a d d e d ) . 

### Ci v a n cl e arl y p ro v i d e s th a t th e ar b i tr a t i o n p an e l e x c e e d e d i t s p o w e r o n l y b e c au s e i t a s s um e d j uri s d i c t i o n d e s p i t e th e r e b e i n g " n o c o urt o r d e r s p e c i fi c a ll y m an d at i n g . . . s ub m i s s i o n t o ar b i tr a t i o n . " 

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C O N C L U S I O N F o r a ll o f th e a fo r e m e n t i o n e d r e a s o n s , th i s C o urt ' s d e c i s i o n an d o r d e r s h o u l d b e E v e n i f Ci v a n w e r e t o g o v e rn i n th i s c a s e an d th e C o urt c o n s i d e r s w h e th e r P l a in t i ff " w a s

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ge _ G ARRE T T D . P A G E , B Y T H E C O U R T :



### 2 0 Thi s Or d e r h a s b e e n E - fi l e d o n S e rv e d v i a e - fi l in g t o th e p art i e s o fr e c or d In t e ro f fi c e m a i l t o : C o urt A dmi n i s tr a t i o n , C i v i l D i v i s i o n I s l W a n d a L. B a rb e e

- - - - - - S e c r e t ary s tan d ar d a s r e qu e s t e d , P l a in t i ff h a s fa i l e d t o e s t ab l i s h h e i s e n t i tl e d t o r e l i e f . cl a i m s thr o u g h th e l e n s o f 4 2 P a . C . S . A . § 7 3 4 1 o r c o n s i d e ri n g j uri s d i c t i o n un d e r a s e p ar at e h e ar d o r a l ar gum e n t , th e C o urt fi n d s i n s u ffi c i e n t s u p p o rt t o d o s o . Wh e th e r an a l y z i n g P l a i n t i f f s Ar b i tr a t o r a ll fo un d o th e rw i s e . A ft e r c ar e fu l r e v i e w o f th e e x t e n s i v e r e c o r d b e fo r e i t an d h av i n g fi n d n o c o n tr a c t e x i s t s w h e r e a d i ff e r e n t tri a l c o urt Ju d g e , tw o S u p e ri o r c o urt p an el s , an d th e c o n s i d e r a t i o n w a s in th e fo rm o f a c c e s s t o cl i e n t s . E s s e n t i a ll y , P l a i n t i ff r e qu e s t s th at th i s C o urt l a c k o f c o n s i d e r at i o n , a fu ll r e a d in g o f th e d e fe n s e e xp e rt ' s t e s t im o ny p l a in l y p ro v i d e s th a t d e t e rm i n a t i o n a s t o h i s j uri s d i c t i o n an d r e n d e r e d h i s F in a l A w ar d . A s fo r P l a i n t i f f s a ll e g a t i o n o f t o ar b i tr at e . F urth e r , th e p ro ff e r e d n e w t e s t i m o ny w a s b e fo r e th e Ar b i tr at o r at th e t i m e h e m a d e a c o urt o r d e r m an d at i n g ar b i tr at i o n e x i s t e d , an d th e C o urt n e e d n o t h av e a p p l i e d a s t an d ar d o th e r

A F F I RM E D . P l a i n t i f f s " a ft e r a c qu i r e d e v i d e n c e " m e an in g fu ll y c h an g e s th e r e c o r d th at w a s b e fo r e th e C . S . A. § 7 3 4 1 , P l a i n t i f

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j uri s d i c t i o n s t i ll fa i l s . A s d i s c u s s e d s u p ra , n o n e o f C o urt i n th i s c a s e s p e c i fi c a ll y o r d e r e d th e m a tt e r b e s ub m i tt e d t o ar b i tr a t i o n . T h e Ar

b i tr at o r c ann o t b e s a i d t o h av e e x c e e d e d h i s p o w e r i n e x e r c i s i n g j uri s d i c t i o n o v e r P l a i n t i ff w h e r e s u c h a

th an 4 2 P a . C . S . A. 

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S u p e ri o r C o urt w h e n i t e x am i n e d th e s am e tw o d o c um e n t s an d fo un d an e n fo r c e ab l e a g r e e m e n t