Arbitrator’s Rulings Largely Unreviewable

An arbitrator’s interpretation of a collective bargaining agreement was vacated by the trial court.  The Fourth Department reversed and confirmed the arbitration award.  The decision includes a substantive discussion of the criteria that must be met before an arbitration award can be disturbed by a court.   “[A]n arbitrator’s rulings, unlike a trial court’s, are largely unreviewable…”.  An arbitrator’s interpretation of a contract may be set aside “only if the [arbitrator] gave a completely irrational construction to the provisions in dispute and, in effect, made a new contract for the parties…”.  Matter of the Arbitration between Professional, Clerical, Technical, Employees Association and Board of Education for Buffalo City School District, 1317, CA 12-01143 Fourth Dept. 2-1-13