Opinion ID: 2672444
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Relegation to Arbitration

Text: Chesapeake argues that BP’s request for attorneys’ fees could only be adjudicated in arbitration pursuant to the PSA. 13-6185 Aplt. Br. 13. Assuming the dispute over attorneys’ fees is subject to the PSA’s arbitration provisions, Chesapeake’s consistent protestations against the authority of the arbitration panel to hear any matters after issuing the December 30, 2009 award have waived its right to arbitrate, as we have already discussed supra. See Hill, 603 F.3d at 77273; 13-6185 Aplt. App. 887 (Chesapeake’s submission to arbitration panel: “Chesapeake’s position is that the Panel no longer has the jurisdiction to modify or change its Award. For that reason, each party should bear its own respective attorney fees and expenses incident to this arbitration.”). Moreover, the record does not support Chesapeake’s argument that the arbitration is complete and “[t]he title arbitrators declined to award BP attorneys [sic] fees.” 13-6185 Aplt. Br. 13. The panel found the determination of “prevailing party” status for purposes of fees should be determined by the district court. 13-6185 Aplt. App. 963. As the court found, the attorneys’ fees issue was not settled in arbitration. See id. at 636. As such, the district court properly adjudicated attorneys’ fees.