Opinion ID: 2977311
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Class Arbitrations Maintainable.

Text: An arbitration may be maintained as a class arbitration if the prerequisites of subdivision (a) are satisfied, and in addition, the arbitrator finds that the questions of law or fact common to the members of the class predominate over any questions affecting only individual members, and that a class arbitration is superior to other available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy . . . . Supplementary Rules, Rule 4(a)-(b) (emphasis added). Given the significant hurdles posed by Rule 4, it remains far from certain that the arbitration panel will certify Dealers’ claims for class arbitration. If the panel denies class certification, the individual defendants comprising Dealers’ putative class will be forced to separately arbitrate their claims against DCS. Therefore, the harm feared by DCS in defending against a class arbitration may never “come to pass.” Letter Carriers, 330 F.3d at 751. Because DCS’s motion to vacate is “anchored in future events that may not occur as anticipated, or at all,” the likelihood of harm factor strongly weighs against finding the Clause Construction Award ripe for review. See City Commc’ns, Inc. v. City of Detroit, 888 F.2d 1081, 1089 (6th Cir. 1989).