Gibson v. Seabury Transportation Advisor LLC

91 A.D.3d 465, 936 N.Y.2d 539

• Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
• Decided: January 10, 2012
• Status: Published

Opinion

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 NY2d 39, 46 [1997]; Life Receivables Trust v Goshawk Syndicate 102 at Lloyd’s, 66 AD3d 495, 496 [2009], affd 14 NY3d 850 [2010], cert denied 562 US —, 131 S Ct 463 [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 “ [jurisdictional 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 plaintiffs claims against Seabury Transportation are arbitrable, it would be premature to sever and stay the claims against Seabury Aviation. Concur — Friedman, J.P, Sweeny, Acosta, Ren wick and Abdus-Salaam, JJ.