Arbitrator Did Not Exceed Authority in Awarding Attorneys’ Fees, N.C. Federal Judge Rules

GREENSBORO, N.C. — An arbitrator did not exceed his authority in awarding attorneys’ fees to the prevailing party, a North Carolina federal judge has ruled, explaining that the parties agreed to apply the AAA International Center for Dispute Resolution Rules of Procedure, which allow arbitrators to “fix the costs of arbitration” in their award.

In a Dec. 16 order, Judge Thomas D. Schroeder of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina explained that the parties “bargained for the arbitrator’s construction of their agreement,” and the award, “even arguably construing or applying the contract must stand,” regardless …