Guest Summary: 'Fourth Circuit Holds That Arbitrator Exceeded Powers'

[Editor's note: Rachel J. Schwartz of Carlton Fields in New York represents property and casualty insurance industry clients in litigation, and counsels them on varied coverage matters, including coverage disputes arising under Commercial General Liability and Directors & Officer policies.]

Williamson Farm challenged the district court’s decision to vacate an arbitration award that Williamson won against Diversified Crop Insurance, a private insurance company that sold a federal crop insurance policy to Williamson.

Federal crop insurance policies are sold pursuant to the Federal Crop Insurance Act (FCIA). The FCIA established the FCIC, a government corporation that administers the federal …