Opinion ID: 2576374
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Arbitrator's Decision as to the Matter Actually Submitted Can Be Salvaged Through Modification of the Award

Text: ¶ 27 Although the arbitrator based his award on a matter not submitted by purporting to fix Allstate's liability rather than designating the extent of Wong's damages, vacation of that award will not be necessary if the arbitrator's resolution of the issue actually submitted to arbitration can be salvaged by modifying the award. The court of appeals concluded that modification of the award was appropriate in this case because a decision on the matter actually submitted to arbitration was salvageable. We agree. ¶ 28 It is a relatively simple matter to modify the arbitrator's award in such a fashion as to confine its scope to a resolution of the matter submitted to arbitration. Specifically, modification of the arbitrator's award to accurately reflect a determination of the matter actually submitted results in total damages to Wong of $321,616.85. [3] However, as noted above, the parties to this dispute engaged in no conduct that would operate to invalidate or otherwise change the policy limits contained in the parties' insurance contract. We therefore affirm the court of appeals' ruling that the arbitration award be conformed to the policy limits and hereby order Allstate to pay Wong $100,000.