Opinion ID: 865177
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether the circuit court erred by failing to

Text: ENTER A FULL OPINION ¶15. It is well-settled Mississippi law that an arbitrator does not have to make written findings of fact and conclusions of law, absent a provision in the contract or applicable statute to the contrary. Herrin v. Milton M. Stewart, Inc., 558 So. 2d 863, 864 (Miss. 1990); Craig, 524 So. 2d at 976-77. Likewise, the Mississippi construction arbitration statutes do not require a written 8 record. The standard of review for determining whether the trial court judge should have entered a full record is abuse of discretion. Tricon Metals & Servs., Inc. v. Topp, 516 So. 2d 236, 239 (Miss. 1987). ¶16. Johnson asks this Court to hold that the trial court which confirms the arbitration decision must make findings of fact and conclusions of law with respect to its decision to confirm. Johnson’s argument in support of this request relies primarily upon Americrete, Inc. v. West Alabama Lime Co., 758 So. 2d 415, 419 (Miss. 2000), in which this Court vacated a trial court order affirming an arbitration award and remanded for entry of findings of fact and conclusions of law. Johnson’s reliance, however, is misplaced. Although at first glance Americrete might appear to be on point, there are key factual differences between it and the present case. In Americrete, the parties not only expressly agreed that the arbitrator’s decision would be reviewed by the chancery court, but also agreed for only a limited hearing of their dispute by arbitration. Americrete, 758 So. 2d at 417. The agreement in the present case was for full arbitration of Johnson’s and Frazier’s dispute by an arbitrator whose decision would be binding, and the circuit court would only “retain jurisdiction to enter judgment on the award by the arbitrators.”2 In addition, none of the listed grounds for vacating, modifying or correcting were raised by Johnson in the present case. Further, this Court made clear its holding in Americrete was limited to the specific facts in that case. Id. at 419. And finally, the present case did not involve any issues of complexity as Johnson argues pursuant to Americrete. Id. at 418. Rather it is merely a decision to confirm or vacate the award based on very limited grounds. 2 The parties clearly could have agreed to have the circuit court review the arbitrator’s decision and have final decision-making authority under Americrete by so stating in their arbitration agreement. 9 ¶17. Johnson and Frazier were obviously concerned about avoiding the time and expense of litigation because they agreed that time was of the essence and that arbitration would be binding. Therefore, requiring a written record would frustrate the parties’ initial contract. Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure 52 and 53(g),3 and our Uniform Rules of Circuit and County Court Practice 5.054 do not change this result. The circuit court is confirming an arbitration award here, not trying an action upon the facts. ¶18. We agree with the analysis and ruling of the Supreme Court of Washington, in Thorgaard Plumbing & Heating Co. v. County of King, 71 Wash. 2d 126, 132, 426 P.2d 828 (1967), that arbitration is a substitute for, rather than a mere prelude to, litigation. The object is to avoid what some feel to be the formalities, the delay, the expense and vexation of ordinary litigation. Id. “ [T]he confirmation of an award . . . is not a trial. Findings of fact would have been superfluous.” Id. at 136. This reasoning supports the long-standing public policy, set forth in Scottish Union & National Ins. Co. v. Skaggs, 114 Miss. 618, 619, 75 So. 437, 438 (1917), to “permit parties to arbitrate their differences and to give effect to a valid submission and award.” Id. Further, the Skaggs Court articulated the public policy that the arbitration and award statute 3 M.R.C.P. 53(g)(1) states in relevant part that a hearing officer shall prepare a report upon the matters submitted to him and that “[h]e shall file the report with the clerk of the court and, unless otherwise directed by order of reference, shall file with it a transcript of proceeding and of the evidence in the original exhibits.” 4 U.R.C.C.C. 5.05 states in relevant part; “[i]n appeals in which the appeal is solely on the record, the record from the lower court or lower authority must be filed with the court clerk within thirty (30) days of filing of the notice of appeal.” It says further that “[f]ailure to file the record with the court clerk or to request the assistance of the court in compelling the same within thirty (30) days of the filing of the written notice of appeal may be deemed an abandonment of the appeal and the court may dismiss the appeal with costs to the appealing party or parties.” 10 “shall be liberally construed for the encouragement of the settlement of disputes and the prevention of litigation.” Id. ¶19. The court shall confirm the award, not review its substance. We find no error by the trial court.