ABC Building Corporation d/b/a Advanced Building Concepts v. Ropolo Family, LLC

Citations

• 179 A.3d 701

Syllabus

The defendant, Ropolo Family, LLC, appealed from an order of the Superior Court that confirmed an arbitration award in favor of the plaintiff, ABC Building Corp., and from a corresponding judgment of the Superior Court in favor of ABC and against Ropolo in the amount of $72,415, plus statutory interest in the amount of $7,086.24 through the date of the arbitration award, and post-award interest thereafter. Ropolo contended on appeal that the arbitrator exceeded his authority by (1) manifestly disregarding clear and unambiguous contractual language that should have precluded any award in favor of ABC, and (2) manifestly disregarding well-settled law by awarding ABC recovery in quasi-contract when a valid and enforceable contract was in existence. The Supreme Court held that the arbitrator neither manifestly disregarded a contractual provision nor manifestly disregarded the law. Indeed, the arbitrator's award drew its essence from the parties' agreement and was sufficiently grounded in the contract to be within the scope of his authority. In light of the standard of review governing the Court's review of arbitration awards, the Supreme Court affirmed the order and the judgment of the Superior Court.