Opinion ID: 1591257
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Procedural objections

Text: The Harts cited three grounds in favor of vacating or modifying the arbitration award pursuant to Ark.Code Ann. section 16-108-212 and -213. First, appellants contended that the arbitrators violated procedural rules by refusing to grant their motion for a continuance because they had not completed discovery. Second, appellants complained that they did not receive McChristian's trial exhibits in advance of the arbitration hearing. Third, appellants objected to the exclusion of their appointed arbitrator, Cheryl Hart, from a post-arbitration conference. The chancellor refused to vacate the award on any of these bases because he found that (1) the Harts were fully aware of McChristian's grounds for seeking their removal as general partners; (2) they had the opportunity in chancery court to engage in discovery and exchange evidence; (3) appellants waived any arguments by failing to attend a preliminary arbitration hearing, at which time they could have exchanged exhibits; (4) the Harts did not provide appellee with their exhibits prior to the hearing; (5) appellants failed to proffer any contradictory evidence nor to deny the validity of McChristian's exhibits; and (6) the evidence demonstrated that repeated, albeit unsuccessful, attempts were made to reach Cheryl Hart for the post-arbitration conference. We recognize that appellants bear the burden of overturning the award. Additionally, we acknowledge that the trial court's sole role was to determine whether the arbitrators acted within their jurisdiction and not to evaluate whether the dispute was correctly decided. In the instant case, none of the statutory grounds for vacating or modifying the award are present. Indeed, the ground claimed by appellants, that the arbitrators refused to hear material evidence, is not supported by the transcript of the arbitration hearing. Additionally, the arbitrators' failure to record a ruling does not amount to a statutory violation under Ark.Code Ann. sections 16-108-212 and -213, nor is it an act in excess of the arbitrators' jurisdiction. In light of the foregoing, we hold that the chancellor's decision refusing to vacate or modify the arbitrators' award was well-reasoned and supported by the evidence. We affirm the trial court's order confirming the arbitrators' award.