Party May Not Seek Vacatur of Partial Final Awards, Judge Rules

HARTFORD, Conn. - A cruise line's petition to vacate a partial final award and clarification is not justiciable because the awards are interim, non-final awards, a Connecticut federal judge has ruled. Pearl Seas Cruises LLC v. Irving Shipbuilding Inc., No. 11-201 (D. Conn.).

On Aug. 9, Judge Janet Bond Arterton explained that there are other means by which a party can object to an arbitration panel's delay in issuing a final award without running afoul of the Second Circuit's clear finality requirement.

Pearl Seas Cruises LLC contracted with Irving Shipbuilding Inc. for the construction of a cruise ship. A dispute …