Trial Court Lacked Authority to Appoint Umpire, Ala. High Court Rules

MOBILE, Ala. — A trial court erred in overriding a contractual umpire selection process by appointing an umpire to oversee an insurance arbitration because the insurer’s brief delay in submitting its umpire nominees did not constitute a lapse in the selection process, the Alabama Supreme Court has ruled.

The court further held in its Aug. 17 opinion that the insurer did not commit bad faith in nominating its umpire candidates, therefore judicial intervention was not warranted.

Southern Energy Homes Inc. designs and builds manufactured homes in Winston County, Ala. From Jan. 1, 2002, through Oct. 31, 2004, SEH purchased from …