West Warwick Housing Authority v. RI Council 94, AFSCME, AFL-CIO

Syllabus

The plaintiff, West Warwick Housing Authority, appealed from a Superior Court judgment in favor of the defendant, Rhode Island Council 94, AFSCME, AFL-CIO, which denied the plaintiff's motion to vacate an arbitration award, granted the defendant's motion to confirm the award, and awarded attorneys' fees to the defendant as the prevailing party. On appeal, the plaintiff argued that the trial justice committed reversible error in denying its motion to vacate because, the plaintiff contended, the defendant failed to prove at arbitration that an enforceable agreement to arbitrate existed at the time of the termination that gave rise to the grievance at issue in this case. Conversely, the defendant maintained that, because the trial justice correctly denied the plaintiff's motion to vacate, this Court should deny the plaintiff's appeal and remand the matter to the Superior Court for a determination of attorneys' fees and costs relating to the appeal. <br><br>The Supreme Court perceived no error in the trial justice's decision denying West Warwick Housing Authority's motion to vacate the arbitration award. The Court then declined to reach the merits of Rhode Island Council 94's request to remand for determination of attorneys' fees and costs.<br><br>Accordingly, the Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the Superior Court.<br>