Opinion ID: 1770249
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: State and Federal Law Consistent Regarding Enforcement of Arbitration Rights.

Text: Having disposed of these preliminary matters, we now reach the merits of the most significant issues presented to us in this case: (1) whether the question of litigation-conduct waiver of arbitration rights must be decided by courts or by arbitrators; (2) whether the Court of Appeals erred in finding litigation-conduct waiver; and, if so, (3) whether any further proceedings in circuit court are necessary. In considering these issues, we note that the arbitration agreement at hand contains a provision stating that the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) applies rather than state law: [t]he Federal Arbitration Act, not state arbitration laws or procedures, applies to and governs the Arbitration Provisions. Whether state or federal law governs makes little practical difference, however, because the Kentucky Uniform Arbitration Act (KUAA) contained in Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) Chapter 417 is similar to and has been construed consistently with the FAA. [13] Furthermore, both the FAA and KUAA state that arbitration agreements must be enforced unless valid grounds for revoking any contract are established. [14]