Opinion ID: 559879
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Death of Crocker

Text: 28 In August 1984, before further proceedings in the arbitration, Crocker died. In April 1985, NPC nominated Jack Berg as its new arbitrator to replace Crocker. In August 1985, it moved in the district court to compel Trade as well to nominate a new arbitrator; it contended that the two new arbitrators should, under the arbitration provision of the contract, appoint the third member of the new panel and proceed to rearbitrate the entire dispute from the beginning. 29 After a hearing, the district court, by order dated September 24, 1985 (September 1985 Order), denied NPC's motion insofar as it requested appointment of a new panel. Instead, relying on its powers under the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Sec. 1 et seq. (1982) (Arbitration Act or Act), the court appointed NPC's nominee, Berg, as the replacement for Crocker on the original panel. Pointing to the provision in 9 U.S.C. Sec. 5 for judicial filling [of] a vacancy, the court reasoned that [t]he statutory authority to fill a vacancy must necessarily be construed to refer to a pending arbitration. September 1985 Order at 2. The court remanded the case to the reconstituted panel to proceed with all convenient speed to determine all questions involved in the submission of the parties, including the effect, if any, to be given to the hearing heretofore had, and the Partial Final Award heretofore rendered by the Arbitrators, and whether hearings of the arbitrators shall be limited to the issue of damages. Id. at 2-3. 30