PALMISTE GROUP, LLC v. PRAKASH

Filing 9

OPINION. Signed by Judge Brian R. Martinotti on 3/8/2017. (seb)

NOT FOR PUBLICATION

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY

____________________________________
:
:
:
Petitioner,
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v.
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:
PARIVESH PRAKASH,
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:
Respondent.
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____________________________________:
PALMISTE GROUP, LLC,

Civil Action No.: 3:16-cv-5763-BRM-TJB

OPINION

MARTINOTTI, DISTRICT JUDGE
Before this Court is Petitioner Palmiste Group, LLC’s (“Petitioner”) Motion to Vacate the
Arbitration Award. (ECF No. 5.) Pro se Respondent Parivesh Prakash (“Respondent”) opposes
the Motion. (ECF No. 4.) 1 The Court, having reviewed the parties’ submissions and having heard
oral argument pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedural 78 on March 6, 2017 (ECF No. 8), for
the reasons discussed below, Petitioner’s Motion is DENIED.
I.

BACKGROUND
On or around December 11, 2013, the parties entered into a Memorandum of

Understanding and User Agreement. (Mem. of Und. (ECF No. 5-1); User Agr. (ECF No. 5-2).)
Petitioner asserts the User Agreement required any dispute between the parties be resolved through
arbitration before the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). 2 (ECF No. 5 at 2.)

1

The Court construes Respondent’s Answer as an opposition to the Motion in light of its decision
to consider the Motion timely filed. See note 3, infra.
2
A review of the User Agreement shows a JAMS arbitrator was to be appointed. (ECF No. 5-2,
section 16.) This does not appear to be material to the Motion, however.
1

Following an alleged breach of the parties’ agreements, the dispute was referred to
arbitration, and on June 16, 2016, Arbitrator Richard J. DeWitt of AAA (the “Arbitrator”) was
appointed. (ECF No. 5 at 4-6.) The parties sent him over 2700 “exchanges” for his review. (Letter,
dated June 17, 2016 (ECF No. 5-3).) In response, the Arbitrator sent a letter to the parties
requesting more specific documents. (Id.) In particular, he noted: “[S]ince there are over 2700 such
exchanges which I obviously cannot review – [i]f there is any specific exchange the[ parties] would
like me to review they should . . . submit it with their other submissions.” (Id.; see Arbitration
Award (ECF No. 5-4) at ¶¶ 10-11.) Nevertheless, the parties did not submit any additional papers
to the Arbitrator because, as Petitioner notes, “the entire volume of documents submitted needed
to be reviewed in context, and in their entirety, as a thread of communications back and forth
between the parties.” (ECF No. 5 at 3; see ECF No. 5-4 at ¶¶ 10-11.)
On July 7, 2016, the Arbitrator rendered an award in favor of Respondent, denying the
refund sought by Petitioner. In the Arbitration Award, the Arbitrator explained Petitioner had the
burden of proof but failed to provide compelling documentation in support of its position and in
response to the Arbitrator’s request for more specific documentation. (ECF No. 5-4.) Copies of
the Arbitration Award were sent to the parties on or about July 8, 2016. (Letter, dated July 8, 2016
(ECF No. 5-5).)
On September 23, 2016, Petitioner filed the Petition to Vacate the Arbitration Award (ECF
No. 1) and on October 12, 2016, Respondent filed an Answer to the Petition (ECF No. 4).
Thereafter, the Court permitted Petitioner to file its Motion to Vacate the Arbitration Award, which
was filed on January 28, 2017. (ECF No. 5.) 3

3

During oral argument, the Court found Petitioner’s motion was timely filed and would, therefore,
be decided on the merits. To vacate an arbitration award, a “[n]otice of motion to vacate . . . an
award must be served upon the adverse party or his attorney within three months after the award
2

II.

LEGAL STANDARD
A district court’s review of an arbitration award is narrow, and a district court can only

vacate the award in limited circumstances. 9 U.S.C. §§ 9, 10; see Major League Umpires Ass’n v.
Am. League of Prof. Baseball Clubs, 357 F.3d 272, 279-80 (3d Cir. 2004). For example, this Court
may vacate an arbitration award is “where arbitrators were guilty of misconduct . . . in refusing to
hear evidence pertinent and material to the controversy.” 9 U.S.C. § 10(a)(3). “Misconduct,” as
required by Section 10(a)(3), “will not be found ‘unless the aggrieved party was denied a
fundamentally fair hearing.’” Vitarroz Corp. v. G. Willi Food Int’l Ltd., 637 F. Supp. 2d 238, 248
(D.N.J. 2009) (quoting Sherrock Bros. v. DaimlerChrysler Motors Co., LLC, 260 Fed. App’x 497,
501 (3d Cir. 2008) (quoting Newark Stereotypers’ Union No. 18 v. Newark Morning Ledger Co.,
397 F.2d 594, 599 (3d Cir. 1968))). Thus, where a petitioner alleges the arbitrator excluded relevant
evidence, he must also allege he was denied a fundamentally fair hearing as a result. Office &
Prof’l Employees Int’l Union, Local No. 471 v. Brownsville Gen. Hosp., 186 F.3d 326, 335 (3d
Cir. 1999) (citing Hoteles Condado Beach, La Concha & Convention Ctr. v. Union De Tronquistas
Local 901, 763 F.2d 34, 40 (1st Cir. 1985) (“Vacatur is appropriate only when the exclusion of
relevant evidence so affects the rights of a party that it may be said that he was deprived of a fair
hearing.”)).
Section 10(a)(3) does not mandate this Court find every failure by an arbitrator to receive
relevant evidence constitutes misconduct. Vitarroz Corp., 637 F. Supp. 2d at 248; Sherrock Bros.,
260 Fed. App’x at 501 (quoting Newark Stereotypers’ Union No. 18, 397 F.2d at 599). In fact,
Section 10(a)(3) does not require arbitrators to hear all evidence proffered to them; an arbitrator is

is filed or delivered.” 9 U.S.C. § 12. Here, the Petition satisfies the notice requirements of the
Motion, because the Petition was filed within three months of the Arbitration Award and
Respondent acknowledged the Petition by answering it.
3

only required to provide parties with “an adequate opportunity to present its evidence and
argument.” Vitarroz Corp., 637 F. Supp. 2d at 248 (quoting Tempo Shain Corp. v. Bertek, Inc.,
120 F.3d 16, 20 (2d Cir. 1997)).
III.

DECISION
Petitioner moves to vacate the arbitration award pursuant to 9 U.S.C. § 10 on the basis that

the Arbitrator ignored certain documents, including the agreements between the parties. Petitioner
asserts it provided compelling documentation to support its position on June 22, 2016, but the
Arbitrator refused to review it. Had the Arbitrator properly evaluated these submissions, Petitioner
argues, they would have compelled the Arbitrator to find in its favor. Petitioner contends this is a
simple case because 9 U.S.C. § 10 expressly requires vacation of the award.
Petitioner oversimplifies his burden on this Motion and fails to allege it was denied a
fundamentally fair hearing as a result of the Arbitrator’s alleged refusal to review evidence. Mere
assertions of misconduct are insufficient; Petitioner must allege the denial of a fundamentally fair
hearing. Sherrock Bros., 260 Fed. App’x at 501; Office & Prof’l Employees Int’l Union, Local No.
471, 186 F.3d at 335; Newark Stereotypers’ Union No. 18, 397 F.2d at 599; Vitarroz Corp., 637
F. Supp. 2d at 248; see also Hoteles Condado Beach, La Concha & Convention Ctr, 763 F.2d at
40.
Further, Petitioner was provided multiple opportunities to present evidence before the
Arbitrator. The Arbitrator, having received the parties’ evidence, requested the evidence be limited
to the most pertinent documents. Neither party took advantage of this opportunity, nor did the
Arbitrator engage in misconduct by failing to review the parties’ entire submissions. 4 See Vitarroz

4

It is unclear from the record the extent to which the Arbitrator reviewed the “exchanges.” Despite
his request for additional information, the Court cannot know which evidence was reviewed prior
to issuing the award. Nonetheless, the Arbitrator acted within his discretion to find the Petitioner
4

Corp., 637 F. Supp. 2d at 248. (citing Tempo Shain Corp., 120 F.3d at 20). Significantly, no
evidence was excluded and neither party was prohibited from proffering evidence. Id. (citing
Tempo Shain Corp., 120 F.3d at 20). Thus, Petitioner was not denied a fair hearing and vacatur of
the award is inappropriate. See id.; see also Sherrock Bros., 260 Fed. App’x at 501 (quoting
Newark Stereotypers’ Union No. 18, 397 F.2d at 599).
The Motion is DENIED. An appropriate Order will follow.

Date: March 8, 2017

/s/Brian R. Martinotti
HON. BRIAN R. MARTINOTTI
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

“provided no compelling documentation” to overcome his burden, and such a decision is beyond
this Court’s limited review. See Vitarroz Corp., 637 F. Supp. 2d at 243-44; see also Major League
Umpires Ass’n, 357 F.3d at 280 (“In reviewing an arbitration award, courts “do not sit to hear
claims of factual or legal error by an arbitrator as an appellate court does in reviewing decisions
of lower courts.” (quoting Tanoma Mining Co. v. Local Union No. 1269, United Mine Workers of
Am., 896 F.2d 745, 747 (3d Cir. 1990))).
5