Opinion ID: 1591257
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The arbitrators exceeded their powers;

Text: (4) The arbitrators refused to postpone the hearing upon sufficient cause being shown therefore or refused to hear evidence material to the controversy or otherwise so conducted the hearing, contrary to the provisions of § 16-108-205, as to prejudice substantially the right of a party; or (5) There was no arbitration agreement and the issue was not adversely determined in proceedings under § 16-108-202 and the party did not participate in the arbitration hearing without raising the objection. Significantly, section 16-108-212(b) provides that the fact that the relief awarded could not or would not have been granted by a court is not grounds for vacating, or refusing to confirm, an award. Arkansas Code Annotated section 16-108-213(a) (1987) permits a trial court to modify or correct an arbitration award where there was an evident miscalculation of figures or an evident mistake in the description of any person, thing, or property referred to in the award. Subsection (a) also permits modification where the arbitrators have awarded upon a matter not before them and the award may be corrected without affecting the merits of the decision upon issues properly submitted. If the award is imperfect in a matter of form not affecting the merits, the trial court may also correct the award. Should the court modify or correct the award, it must do so as to effect the award's intent. Ark.Code Ann. § 16-108-213(a), (b) (1987). As an initial matter, we note the difficulty in reviewing appellants' arguments in light of the lack of authority advanced in support of their position. We have long held that we do not consider arguments without convincing argument or citation to authority in support, where it is not apparent without further research that these arguments are well-taken. See Perryman v. Hackler, 323 Ark. 500, 508, 916 S.W.2d 105, 109 (1996) (citing Thomson v. Littlefield, 319 Ark. 648, 893 S.W.2d 788 (1995)). Nevertheless, we find no merit in appellants' assignments of error. The party attempting to overturn an award bears the burden of proof. Anthony, 324 Ark. at 58, 918 S.W.2d at 177 (citations omitted). Significantly, the court's role is not to determine if the arbitrators decided the dispute correctly but only whether the arbitrators acted within their jurisdiction. Id. Indeed, our deference is so great that the failure of the arbitrators to follow the law as a court would have done provides no grounds for relief. Id.; see also Ark.Code Ann. § 16-108-212(b). Mistakes of law or fact are insufficient to set aside an award. Arkansas Dep't of Parks & Tourism v. Resort Mgrs., Inc., 294 Ark. 255, 743 S.W.2d 389 (1988). Our review is limited to vacating an award only upon the enumerated statutory grounds, unless the award is violative of a strong public policy. Anthony, 324 Ark. 52, 918 S.W.2d 174. We have held that the arbitrator's decision on all questions of law and fact is conclusive, unless grounds are established to support vacating or modifying the award. Dean Witter, 289 Ark. at 251, 711 S.W.2d at 772 (citing Wessell, 287 Ark. 415, 701 S.W.2d 99). Where there is no case law or compelling public policy on an issue, we refer to provisions of the Uniform Arbitration Act and with the law of other jurisdictions that have adopted the Act. Anthony, 324 Ark. at 58, 918 S.W.2d at 177 (citations omitted). We now turn to appellants' specific procedural objections to the arbitrators' award.