Opinion ID: 604167
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Delegation of the Arbitrator's Decision-making Authority

Text: 9 National argues that the arbitration award is invalid because the arbitrator delegated his decision-making authority to the ophthalmologist to decide whether Barnett's vision was satisfactory. The district court held, and we agree, that National has waived this argument because it failed to present it to the arbitrator. 10 Failure to present an issue before an arbitrator waives the issue in an enforcement proceeding. John Hofmeister, 950 F.2d at 1343-44; Automobile Mechanics Local 701 v. Joe Mitchell Buick, 930 F.2d 576, 578 (7th Cir.1991). Parties, such as National, cannot stand by during arbitration, withholding certain arguments, then, upon losing the arbitration, raise such arguments in federal court. We will not tolerate such sandbagging. John Hofmeister, 950 F.2d at 1344. Permitting parties to keep silent during arbitration and raise arguments in enforcement proceedings would 'undermine the purpose of arbitration'  which is to provide a fast and inexpensive method for the resolution of labor disputes. Id. at 1345 (citation omitted). See also Chicago Newspaper Guild v. Field Enterprises, Inc., 747 F.2d 1153, 1157 (7th Cir.1984) (The long-established federal policy of settling labor disputes by arbitration would be seriously undermined if parties kept available information from the arbitrator and then attempted to use the information as a defense to compliance with an adverse award.) 11 National had ample opportunity to object to the arbitrator's use of and reliance on Dr. Levine's opinion. The arbitrator's January 30, 1991 opinion indicated that Levine would submit a binding opinion which would finally determine whether Barnett's eyesight satisfied the DOT regulations. National participated willingly with the arbitrator's decision to rely on Levine. Further, National could have objected to the arbitrator's reliance on Levine at any time between January 30, 1991, when the arbitrator rendered his initial opinion, and July 1991, when the arbitrator issued his final opinion. It did not. National cannot now, after receiving an unfavorable ruling from the arbitrator, object to the arbitrator's decision to rely on Levine. National has waived its delegation argument. 12