Ill. Court Lacks Jurisdiction Over Arbitrability Issue, Federal Judge Rules

CHICAGO — An Illinois federal judge has ruled that he does not have jurisdiction to decide whether claims asserted in a patent infringement action are arbitrable because the arbitration clause at issue requires arbitration of disputes in New York, therefore a New York court should decide the issue of arbitrability.

In a June 16 order, Judge James F. Holderman of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois further ruled that the party opposing arbitration is bound by the arbitration clause because it availed itself of the agreement containing the clause.

FarmedHere LLC filed a patent infringement action …