Reynolds v. M/I Homes of Cent. Ohio, L.L.C.

Citations

• 2025 Ohio 5818

Syllabus

Trial court did not err in denying appellant's motion to vacate an arbitration award, granting appellee's motion to confirm the arbitration award, and granting appellee's motion for summary judgment. As required by the purchase agreement between the parties for the construction of a new home, appellant initiated arbitration proceedings against the home builder, seeking redress for alleged unworkmanlike performance and alleged failure to correct its work. After the arbitrator returned an award of $0 for appellant, appellant filed a motion to vacate the arbitration award in the trial court. The trial court properly rejected appellant's argument that the arbitrator exceeded his powers or so imperfectly executed those powers that a mutual, final, and definite award was not made upon the submitted matter, and it properly found a rational nexus between the terms of the Purchase Agreement, which broadly defined the arbitrator's powers, and the arbitration award. Appellant identified no basis for concluding that the arbitrator failed to consider the evidence admitted during the arbitration proceedings. The trial court lacked authority to review the actual merits of the arbitration award and to substitute its judgment for the arbitrator's. Appellant further failed to cite legal authority or facts from the record in support of his remaining assignments of error, which are overruled for noncompliance with App.R. 16(A)(7).