Opinion ID: 1387535
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: did the arbitrators act in excess of their powers?

Text: Arbitration is favored by public policy and this court. T & M Properties v. ZVFK Architects and Planners, Wyo., 661 P.2d 1040 (1983); Northern Supply Company v. Town of Greybull, Wyo., 560 P.2d 1172 (1977); Riverton Valley Electric Association v. Pacific Power and Light Company, Wyo., 391 P.2d 489 (1964). We have long recognized the value of voluntary arbitration as a mode of settlement of disputes in an inexpensive and expeditious manner, without resort to a tribunal, and conducted without the rigid formality of strict rules of law. T & M Properties v. ZVFK Architects and Planners, supra, 661 P.2d at 1043. No party, however, is required to submit to arbitration unless it has agreed to arbitration of that dispute. American National Bank of Denver v. Cheyenne Housing Authority, Wyo., 562 P.2d 1017 (1977). Where the parties have chosen to submit their dispute to arbitration, we are reluctant to disturb the arbitrators' just solution to controversies. Northern Supply Company v. Town of Greybull, supra ; Oil, Chemical & Atomic Workers Union, Local 2-230 v. Great Lakes Carbon Corporation, Wyo., 376 P.2d 640 (1962). Against this background, the School District argues that the arbitrators' award in this case should be set aside because the arbitrators ignored the provisions of its contract with Strube requiring that, prior to the performance of any additional work or providing materials not called for in the original agreement, Strube had to obtain a written change order signed by the architect/engineer and the School District. In the absence of a proper change order, the School District insists that there is no legal basis for the award, and the arbitrators committed a plain and manifest mistake of law. In making this argument, the School District asks that this court substitute its interpretation of the parties' agreement for that of the arbitration panel. This we cannot do. A court may not overturn the arbitrators' decision simply because the court believes its own interpretation of the contract would be the better one. W.R. Grace and Company v. Local Union No. 759, International Union of United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum and Plastic Workers of America, 461 U.S. 757, 103 S.Ct. 2177, 76 L.Ed.2d 298 (1983). No written findings and conclusions of law were made by the arbitrators in the present case. We do not know if the arbitrators intended their decision to be based on a legal rule, had mistaken the rule, or were merely attempting to balance the equities involved in order to arrive at a fair result. We have held that where the parties have bargained for a fair result in submitting their dispute to arbitration, we will not inquire into the legal basis for the arbitrators' decision. Oil, Chemical & Atomic Workers Union, Local 2-230 v. Great Lakes Carbon Corporation, supra, 376 P.2d at 642-643. We have already decided that the parties agreed to submit their dispute to arbitration. In order to upset the district court's decision upholding the arbitrators' award, the School District was required to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the award    was obtained by fraud, corruption, behavior beyond the bounds of natural justice, excess of authority, or a manifest mistake of fact or law appearing upon the face of the award   . Riverton Valley Electric Association v. Pacific Power and Light Company, supra, 391 P.2d at 500, citing Waisner v. Waisner, 15 Wyo. 420, 89 P. 580 (1907), and Oil, Chemical & Atomic Workers Union, Local 2-230 v. Great Lakes Carbon Corporation, supra . This burden was not met. The evidence before the arbitrators was such that it would support the view that Strube provided the additional materials in question at the request of and with the knowledge of the School District or its representatives. There was no evidence, and the School District does not argue, that the arbitrators' award was tainted by fraud or misconduct. While this court may not have decided the matter as the arbitrators did, that is not a proper basis to overturn their award.