Summary
holding that "[t]he arbitration clause in the parties' agreement evinces a clear and unmistakable agreement to arbitrate arbitrability," where the agreement provided that the arbitration would be conducted under JAMS rules that submitted the issue of arbitrability to the arbitrator
Summary of this case from Murray v. UBS Sec., LLCOpinion
2012-01-10
Scott C. GIBSON, Plaintiff–Appellant, v. SEABURY TRANSPORTATION ADVISOR LLC, et al., Defendants–Respondents.
Schwartz & Ponterio PLLC, New York (Matthew F. Schwartz of counsel), for appellant. Satterlee Stephens Burke & Burke LLP, New York (Michael H. Gibson of counsel), for respondents.
Schwartz & Ponterio PLLC, New York (Matthew F. Schwartz of counsel), for appellant. Satterlee Stephens Burke & Burke LLP, New York (Michael H. Gibson of counsel), for respondents.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Richard B. Lowe III, J.), entered November 26, 2010, which granted defendants' motion to compel arbitration as to the issue of arbitrability, and denied plaintiff's cross motion to sever and stay his claims against defendant Seabury Aviation & Aerospace LLC pending disposition of his claims against defendant Seabury Transportation Advisor LLC, unanimously affirmed, with costs.
The arbitration clause in the parties' agreement “evince[s] a ‘clear and unmistakable’ agreement to arbitrate arbitrability” ( see Matter of Smith Barney Shearson v. Sacharow, 91 N.Y.2d 39, 46, 666 N.Y.S.2d 990, 689 N.E.2d 884 [1997]; Life Receivables Trust v. Goshawk Syndicate 102 at Lloyd's, 66 A.D.3d 495, 496, 888 N.Y.S.2d 458 [2009], affd. 14 N.Y.3d 850, 901 N.Y.S.2d 133, 927 N.E.2d 553 [2010], cert. denied ––– U.S. ––––, 131 S.Ct. 463, 178 L.Ed.2d 288 [2010] ). It provides that any “dispute, difference, controversy or claim arising in connection with or related or incidental to, or questions occurring under, the provisions of this Agreement ... [not resolved by mediation] ... shall be submitted to JAMS/Endispute for binding arbitration before a sole arbitrator.” The clause provides further that the arbitration shall be conducted under JAMS/Endispute's commercial rules. Rule 11(c) of JAMS Comprehensive Arbitration Rules and Procedure provides that “[j]urisdictional and arbitrability disputes, including disputes over the ... interpretation or scope of the agreement under which Arbitration is sought ... shall be submitted to and ruled on by the Arbitrator. The Arbitrator has the authority to determine jurisdiction and arbitrability issues as a preliminary matter.”
Since it has yet to be determined whether plaintiff's claims against Seabury Transportation are arbitrable, it would be premature to sever and stay the claims against Seabury Aviation.