Court Overturns Arbitration Award for Lack of Valid Agreement

SANTA ANA, Calif. - A California appellate court has reversed a trial court order confirming an arbitration award, finding that the plaintiff homebuyers failed to prove there was a valid agreement to arbitrate a dispute with the sellers. Toal, et al. v. Tardif, et al., No. F040112 (Calif. Ct. App., 4th Dist.).

California's Fourth Appellate District said in its Oct. 30 ruling that the attorneys' signatures on the stipulation to arbitrate, without something more, was insufficient evidence of such an agreement.

Adam and Joy Toal purchased a home from Valere A. and Helen Tardif, but after discovering problems in the …