Arbitration Provision Governs Claims Brought Under Miller Act, Utah Federal Judge Rules

SALT LAKE CITY — The presumption in favor of arbitration applies to claims brought under the Miller Act where there is a valid arbitration agreement between the parties, a Utah federal judge has ruled in staying a case pending resolution of a related matter that is being arbitrated.

In a Jan. 13 order, Judge David Nuffer of the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah held that although the contractor defendants’ sureties are not parties to the arbitration agreement at issue, the action against the sureties should be stayed until the arbitration concludes.

The United States retained Balfour …