AAA Immune From Claims Accusing it of Imposing Post-Award Fee, N.Y. Federal Judge Rules

NEW YORK — The American Arbitration Association is immune from claims that it improperly assessed parties to an arbitration a post-award fee assessment because they are associated with the adjudicative phase of the arbitration, a New York federal judge has ruled.

On Sept. 26, Judge Naomi R. Buchwald of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York rejected the plaintiffs’ argument that their claims challenged conduct occurring after the award was issued and therefore immunity does not apply.

In an arbitration administered by the AAA, plaintiffs Gregory Imbruce, Giddings Investments, LLC, Giddings Genpar LLC, Hunton Oil …