Jones v. Coastal Concrete Southeast II LLC et al

Filing 17

ORDER Confirming Arbitration Award and Entering Judgment for Petitioner in the amount of $223,864.57 re 1 Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award filed by Stephen Jones. Signed by Honorable J Michelle Childs on 1/20/2016. (asni, )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
COLUMBIA DIVISION
Stephen Jones,
Petitioner,
v.
Coastal Concrete Southeast II, LLC and
Coastal Concrete Holding II, LLC,
Respondents.

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Civil Action No. 3:15-cv-03020-JMC

ORDER CONFIRMING ARBITRATION
AWARD AND ENTERING JUDGMENT
FOR PETITIONER

This matter is before the court pursuant to Petitioner Stephen Jones’s (“Petitioner”)
Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award. (ECF No. 1.)
Petitioner and Respondents Coastal Concrete Southeast II, LLC and Coastal Concrete
Holding II, LLC (together “Respondents”) entered into an Employment and Non-Competition
Agreement (“Agreement”), which document provided that any dispute arising out of or relating
to the Agreement be resolved by arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American
Arbitration Association (“AAA”). (ECF No. 1-1 at 8 ¶ 11.) Pursuant to the Agreement, the
parties participated in arbitration on December 15 and 16, 2014. (ECF No. 1-2 at 1.) On July 2,
2015, the arbitrator awarded Petitioner $223,864.57 on his claims against Respondents. (ECF
No. 1-3 at 2.)
Thereafter, Petitioner filed a Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award on July 31, 2015.
(ECF No. 1.) Respondents were served with Summons and Petition on November 30, 2015 and
December 9, 2015 (ECF No. 14), but did not file an answer or move to vacate, modify, or correct
the arbitration award. For the following reasons, the court will confirm the arbitration award.
The Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), 9 U.S.C. §§ 1–16, governs all arbitration matters.
The FAA expressly provides that “if the parties in their agreement have agreed that a judgment

of the court shall be entered upon the award made pursuant to the arbitration, . . . then . . . the
court must grant such an order unless the award is vacated, modified, or corrected . . . .” 9
U.S.C. § 9. The FAA expresses a presumption that arbitration awards will be confirmed. See
Apex Plumbing Supply, Inc. v. U.S. Supply Co., Inc., 142 F.3d 188, 193 (4th Cir. 1998).
Upon review, the court observes that the Agreement between the parties states that “the
award of the arbiter maybe [sic] entered and enforced as a judgment in any court of competent
jurisdiction.” (ECF No. 1-1 at 8 ¶ 11.) Moreover, service on Respondents was effectuated by a
United States Marshal in accordance with the requirements of 9 U.S.C. § 9. In consideration of
the foregoing, there are no reasons before the court that justify the vacation of the
aforementioned arbitration award. Therefore, the court GRANTS Petitioner Stephen Jones’s
Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award in the amount of $223,864.57. (ECF No. 1.)
Petitioner has also requested attorney’s fees and all costs and expenses incurred in filing
his petition. (ECF No. 1 at 2.) Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d) allows for a claim for
attorney’s fees to be made by motion. See id. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. R. 54(d)(2)(A), Petitioner
shall file any motion for attorney’s fees and costs with a supporting affidavit within fourteen (14)
days of the entry date of this Order.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

United States District Judge
January 20, 2016
Columbia, South Carolina

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