Opinion ID: 196507
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Relationship of this Appeal

Text: to Parallel Arbitration Proceedings It now seems to be Giroux's position that the arbitrator's determination that the Fund's demand was timely under 1399(b)(1) is before this court for review, or, that this issue, never raised before the district court, is open for our consideration. Although it might conserve resources in this instance to concur, we disagree. Rather, Giroux's only recourse is to pursue judicial review of the arbitration award: Upon completion of the arbitration proceedings in favor of one of the parties,any party thereto may bring an action, no later than 30 days after the issuance of an arbitrator's award, in an appropriate United States district court in accordance with section 1451 of this title to enforce, vacate, or modify the arbitrator's award. 29 U.S.C. 1401(b)(2). This simultaneously pending action, -10- brought separately to assert a claim under a non-arbitrable provision of the MPPAA, does not qualify as a proper appeal of the arbitrator's ruling. We see no reason to undertake review of the arbitrator's analysis when it is beyond serious dispute that issues arising under 1399 cannot normally be litigated in federal court independent of arbitration, and the process for appealing an arbitration award is clear. We are well aware that enforcing the statutorily mandated procedure in this case could land it again before us in substantially the same posture after additional expense on both sides, and that the legislative aim in enacting the MPPAA included lessening the costs and delay of withdrawal liability dispute resolution. See, e.g., I.A.M. Nat. Pension Fund v. Clinton Engines Corp., 825 F.2d 415 at 426 and n. 20 (D.C. Cir. 1987) (citing legislative history). Yet, to hold otherwise would create a loophole for employers to bypass the statutory scheme by disguising arbitrable disputes for presentation directly in federal court, as Giroux did here, then invoking legislative purpose in order to get prompt appellate consideration. Because this is not a proper appeal of the arbitrator's award, and we decline to independently reach Giroux's arbitrable claims, we do not review whether the Fund's demand was made as soon as practicable, or any other arbitrable issues.