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THE ARBITRATOR EXCEEDED HER POWERS BY AWARDING RELIEF WHICH WAS NOT REQUESTED BY ALL THE PARTIES OR AUTHORIZED BY LAW; PUNITIVE DAMAGES, SANCTIONS AND ATTORNEY’S FEES AWARDS VACATED (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department vacated the arbitrator’s award of punitive damages, sanctions and attorney’s fees because that relief was not requested by the parties, therefore the arbitrator exceeded her power:

Although the American Arbitration Association (AAA) preprinted form petitioner used allows a claimant to seek other relief, including attorneys’ fees, interest, arbitration costs and punitive/exemplary damages, the only boxes that petitioner checked off were for interest and arbitration costs. It did not check the punitive damages box or attorneys’ fees box, nor indicate anywhere on its demand that it was seeking such relief. Petitioner never amended its demand for arbitration. Nor did it include a prayer for such relief in its subsequently filed post-arbitration memorandum. By granting unrequested relief, the arbitrator exceeded the expressly enumerated limits on her authority by deciding matters that were not before her … .

Although AAA commercial rule 47(d) empowers an arbitrator to award attorneys’ fees, this is only “if all parties have requested such an award or it is authorized by law or their arbitration agreement.” Here, neither party requested such an award and it is not authorized by law.  Matter of 544 Bloomrest, LLC v Harding, 2022 NY Slip Op 00936, First Dept 2-10-22​

 

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