Oregon Uniform Arbitration Act
Arbitration is a private dispute resolution process
the legitimacy of which is premised on the fact that awards of private
arbitrators can be enforced in the courts. The enforceability of arbitration
agreements in contracts 'involving interstate commerce,' and the enforceability
of awards in arbitrations of disputes arising from transactions 'involving
interstate commerce,' are governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (which
applies in both state and federal courts). Disputes arising from transactions
not involving interstate commerce can be enforced under the Oregon Uniform
Arbitration Act ("the Oregon Act"). The Oregon Act is much more detailed
than the FAA, so where the FAA is silent and so long as the Oregon Act is
not in conflict with the principles of the FAA - and they are usually consistent
- the Oregon Act will govern in Oregon state courts (and possibly federal
court where Oregon substantive law would apply).
The Oregon Act provides the rules governing the
interrelationship of the courts to the private arbitration process -
not court annexed arbitration. Most of the provisions of the Oregon
Act will not be relevant to the non-lawyer attempting to participate in
a private arbitration. The Oregon Act is provided as a convenience.
Users are referred to their own skills in legal research.
OREGON UNIFORM ARBITRATION ACT (2007)
36.600 Definitions.
As used in ORS 36.600 to 36.740:
(1) “Arbitration organization” means an association,
agency, board, commission or other entity that is neutral and initiates,
sponsors or administers an arbitration proceeding or is involved in
the appointment of an arbitrator.
(2) “Arbitrator” means an individual appointed
to render an award, alone or with others, in a controversy that is subject
to an agreement to arbitrate.
(3) “Court” means a circuit court.
(4) “Knowledge” means actual knowledge.
(5) “Person” means an individual, corporation,
business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company,
association, joint venture, government, governmental subdivision, agency
or instrumentality, public corporation or any other legal or commercial
entity.
(6) “Record” means information that is inscribed
on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium
and is retrievable in perceivable form.
36.605 Notice.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in ORS 36.600
to 36.740, a person gives notice to another person by taking action that
is reasonably necessary to inform the other person in ordinary course,
whether or not the other person acquires knowledge of the notice.
(2) A person has notice if the person has knowledge
of the notice or has received notice.
(3) A person receives notice when it comes to
the person’s attention or the notice is delivered at the person’s place
of residence or place of business, or at another location held out by the
person as a place of delivery of such communications.
36.610 Effect of agreement to arbitrate; nonwaivable provisions.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section,
a party to an agreement to arbitrate or to an arbitration proceeding may
waive, or the parties may vary the effect of, the requirements of ORS 36.600
to 36.740 to the extent permitted by law.
(2) Before a controversy arises that is subject
to an agreement to arbitrate, a party to the agreement may not:
(a) Waive or agree to vary
the effect of the requirements of this section or ORS 36.615 (1), 36.620
(1), 36.630, 36.675 (1) or (2), 36.720 or 36.730;
(b) Agree to unreasonably restrict
the right under ORS 36.635 to notice of the initiation of an arbitration
proceeding;
(c) Agree to unreasonably restrict
the right under ORS 36.650 to disclosure of any facts by a neutral arbitrator;
or
(d) Waive the right under
ORS 36.670 of a party to an agreement to arbitrate to be represented
by a lawyer at any proceeding or hearing under ORS 36.600 to 36.740, but
an employer and a labor organization may waive the right to representation
by a lawyer in a labor arbitration.
(3) A party to an agreement to arbitrate or arbitration
proceeding may not waive, or the parties may not vary the effect of,
the requirements of this section or ORS 36.625, 36.660, 36.680, 36.690
(4) or (5), 36.700, 36.705, 36.710, 36.715 (1) or (2), 36.735 or 36.740
or section 3 (1) or (3) or 31, chapter 598, Oregon Laws 2003.
(4) Subsections (2) and (3) of this section do
not apply to agreements to arbitrate entered into by two or more insurers,
as defined by ORS 731.106, or self-insured persons for the purpose of
arbitration of disputes arising out of the provision of insurance.
36.615 Application for judicial relief; fees.
(1) (a) Except as otherwise
provided in ORS 36.730, an application for judicial relief under ORS
36.600 to 36.740 must be made by petition to the court. Except as otherwise
provided in this subsection, a person filing the first petition relating
to an agreement to arbitrate or relating to an arbitration proceeding
must pay the filing fee provided by ORS 21.110 (1) for plaintiffs,
and persons responding to the petition must pay the filing fee provided
by ORS 21.110 (1) for defendants. If subsequent petitions are filed relating
to the same agreement to arbitrate or arbitration proceeding, no additional
filing fees shall be required of the parties.
(b) If the first petition relating
to an arbitration proceeding is a petition to seek confirmation, vacation,
modification or correction of an award under ORS 36.700, 36.705 or 36.710,
the person filing the petition must pay a fee of $39, and a person filing
an appearance in opposition to the petition must pay a filing fee of
$39.
(c) If a civil action is pending
relating to the same dispute that is the subject of the arbitration,
and filing fees were paid for that action under ORS 21.110, filing fees
may not be charged under this subsection for the filing of any petition
under ORS 36.600 to 36.740.
(2) Unless a civil action involving the agreement
to arbitrate is pending, notice of a first petition to the court under
ORS 36.600 to 36.740, must be served in the manner provided by ORCP 7 D.
Otherwise, notice of the petition must be given in the manner provided by
ORCP 9.
36.620 Validity of agreement to arbitrate.
(1) An agreement contained in a record to submit
to arbitration any existing or subsequent controversy arising between
the parties to the agreement is valid, enforceable and irrevocable except
upon a ground that exists at law or in equity for the revocation of a contract.
(2) Subject to ORS 36.625 (8), the court shall
decide whether an agreement to arbitrate exists or a controversy is subject
to an agreement to arbitrate.
(3) An arbitrator shall decide whether a condition
precedent to arbitrability has been fulfilled.
(4) If a party to a judicial proceeding challenges
the existence of, or claims that a controversy is not subject to, an agreement
to arbitrate, the arbitration proceeding may continue pending final resolution
of the issue by the court, unless the court otherwise orders.
(5) A written arbitration agreement entered into
between an employer and employee and otherwise valid under subsection
(1) of this section is voidable and may not be enforced by a court unless:
(a) The employer informs the
employee in a written employment offer received by the employee at
least two weeks before the first day of the employee’s employment that
an arbitration agreement is required as a condition of employment; or
(b) The arbitration agreement
is entered into upon a subsequent bona fide advancement of the employee
by the employer.
36.625 Petition to compel or stay arbitration.
(1) On petition of a person showing an agreement
to arbitrate and alleging another person’s refusal to arbitrate pursuant
to the agreement:
(a) If the refusing party does
not appear or does not oppose the petition, the court shall order the
parties to arbitrate; and
(b) If the refusing party opposes
the petition, the court shall proceed summarily to decide the issue as
provided in subsection (8) of this section and order the parties to arbitrate
unless it finds that there is no enforceable agreement to arbitrate.
(2) On petition of a person alleging that an arbitration
proceeding has been initiated or threatened but that there is no agreement
to arbitrate, the court shall proceed summarily to decide the issue as
provided in subsection (8) of this section. If the court finds that there
is an enforceable agreement to arbitrate, it shall order the parties to
arbitrate.
(3) If the court finds that there is no enforceable
agreement to arbitrate, it may not order the parties to arbitrate pursuant
to subsection (1) or (2) of this section.
(4) The court may not refuse to order arbitration
because the claim subject to arbitration lacks merit or grounds for the
claim have not been established.
(5) If a proceeding involving a claim referable
to arbitration under an alleged agreement to arbitrate is pending in court,
a petition under this section must be made in that court. Otherwise, a
petition under this section may be made in any court as provided in ORS
36.725.
(6) If a party makes a petition to the court to
order arbitration, the court on just terms shall stay any judicial proceeding
that involves a claim alleged to be subject to the arbitration until the
court renders a final decision under this section.
(7) If the court orders arbitration, the court
on just terms shall stay any judicial proceeding that involves a claim
subject to the arbitration. If a claim subject to the arbitration is severable,
the court may limit the stay to that claim.
(8) A judge shall decide all issues raised under
a petition filed under ORS 36.600 to 36.740 unless there is a constitutional
right to jury trial on the issue. If there is a constitutional right to
jury trial on an issue, the issue shall be tried to a jury upon the request
of any party to the proceeding.
36.630 Provisional remedies.
(1) Before an arbitrator is appointed and is
authorized and able to act, the court, upon petition of a party to an
arbitration proceeding and for good cause shown, may enter an order for
provisional remedies to protect the effectiveness of the arbitration
proceeding to the same extent and under the same conditions as if the
controversy were the subject of a civil action.
(2) After an arbitrator is appointed and is authorized
and able to act:
(a) The arbitrator may issue
such orders for provisional remedies, including interim awards, as the
arbitrator finds necessary to protect the effectiveness of the arbitration
proceeding and to promote the fair and expeditious resolution of the
controversy, to the same extent and under the same conditions as if the
controversy were the subject of a civil action; and
(b) A party to an arbitration
proceeding may move the court for a provisional remedy only if the matter
is urgent and the arbitrator is not able to act timely or the arbitrator
cannot provide an adequate remedy.
(3) A party does not waive a right of arbitration
by making a petition under subsection (1) or (2) of this section.
36.635 Initiation of arbitration.
(1) A person initiates an arbitration proceeding
by giving notice in a record to the other parties to the agreement to
arbitrate in the agreed manner between the parties or, in the absence of
agreement, by certified mail, return receipt requested and obtained, or
by service as authorized for summons under ORCP 7 D. The notice must describe
the nature of the controversy and the remedy sought.
(2) Unless a person objects for lack or insufficiency
of notice under ORS 36.665 (3) not later than the beginning of the arbitration
hearing, the person by appearing at the hearing waives any objection
to lack or insufficiency of notice.
36.640 Consolidation of separate arbitration proceedings.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection
(3) of this section, upon petition of a party to an agreement to arbitrate
or to an arbitration proceeding, the court may order consolidation of
separate arbitration proceedings as to all or some of the claims if:
(a) There are separate agreements
to arbitrate or separate arbitration proceedings between the same persons
or one of them is a party to a separate agreement to arbitrate or a separate
arbitration proceeding with a third person;
(b) The claims subject to the
agreements to arbitrate arise in substantial part from the same transaction
or series of related transactions;
(c) The existence of a common
issue of law or fact creates the possibility of conflicting decisions
in the separate arbitration proceedings; and
(d) Prejudice resulting from
a failure to consolidate is not outweighed by the risk of undue delay
or prejudice to the rights of or hardship to parties opposing consolidation.
(2) The court may order consolidation of separate
arbitration proceedings as to some claims and allow other claims to be
resolved in separate arbitration proceedings.
(3) The court may not order consolidation of the
claims of a party to an agreement to arbitrate if the agreement prohibits
consolidation.
36.645 Appointment of arbitrator; service as neutral arbitrator.
(1) If the parties to an agreement to arbitrate
agree on a method for appointing an arbitrator, that method must be followed,
unless the method fails. If the parties have not agreed on a method, the
agreed method fails, or an arbitrator designated or appointed fails or
is unable to act and a successor has not been appointed, the court, on
petition of a party to the arbitration proceeding, shall appoint the arbitrator.
An arbitrator so appointed has all the powers of an arbitrator designated
in the agreement to arbitrate or appointed pursuant to the agreed method.
(2) An individual who has a known, direct and
material interest in the outcome of the arbitration proceeding or a known,
existing and substantial relationship with a party may not serve as an
arbitrator required by an agreement to be neutral.
36.650 Disclosure by arbitrator.
(1) Before accepting appointment, an individual
who is requested to serve as an arbitrator, after making a reasonable
inquiry, shall disclose to all parties to the agreement to arbitrate
and arbitration proceeding and to any other arbitrators in the arbitration
proceeding any known facts that a reasonable person would consider likely
to affect the impartiality of the arbitrator in the arbitration proceeding,
including:
(a) A financial or personal
interest in the outcome of the arbitration proceeding; and
(b) An existing or past relationship
with any of the parties to the agreement to arbitrate or the arbitration
proceeding, their counsel or representatives, a witness or another arbitrator
in the proceeding.
(2) An arbitrator has a continuing obligation
to disclose to all parties to the agreement to arbitrate and arbitration
proceeding and to any other arbitrators in the proceeding any facts that
the arbitrator learns after accepting appointment that a reasonable person
would consider likely to affect the impartiality of the arbitrator.
(3) If an arbitrator discloses a fact required
by subsection (1) or (2) of this section to be disclosed and a party timely
objects to the appointment or continued service of the arbitrator based
upon the fact disclosed, the objection may be a ground under ORS 36.705 (1)(b)
for vacating an award made by the arbitrator.
(4) If the arbitrator did not disclose a fact
as required by subsection (1) or (2) of this section, upon timely objection
by a party, the court under ORS 36.705 (1)(b) may vacate an award.
(5) An arbitrator appointed as a neutral arbitrator
who does not disclose a known, direct and material interest in the outcome
of the arbitration proceeding or a known, existing and substantial relationship
with a party, the party’s counsel or representatives, a witness or another
arbitrator in the proceeding is presumed to act with evident partiality
under ORS 36.705 (1)(b).
(6) If the parties to an arbitration proceeding
agree to the procedures of an arbitration organization or any other procedures
for challenges to arbitrators before an award is made, substantial compliance
with those procedures is a condition precedent to a petition to vacate
an award on that ground under ORS 36.705 (1)(b).
36.655 Action by majority.
If there is more than one arbitrator, the powers
of an arbitrator must be exercised by a majority of the arbitrators,
but all of them shall conduct the hearing under ORS 36.665 (3).
36.660 Immunity of arbitrator; competency to testify; attorney
fees and costs.
(1) An arbitrator or an arbitration organization
acting in that capacity is immune from civil liability to the same extent
as a judge of a court of this state acting in a judicial capacity.
(2) The immunity afforded by this section supplements
any immunity under other law.
(3) The failure of an arbitrator to make a disclosure
required by ORS 36.650 does not cause any loss of immunity under this
section.
(4) In a judicial, administrative or similar
proceeding, an arbitrator or representative of an arbitration organization
is not competent to testify, and may not be required to produce records
as to any statement, conduct, decision or ruling occurring during the
arbitration proceeding, to the same extent as a judge of a court of this
state acting in a judicial capacity. This subsection does not apply:
(a) To the extent necessary
to determine the claim of an arbitrator, arbitration organization or representative
of the arbitration organization against a party to the arbitration proceeding;
or
(b) To a hearing on a petition
to vacate an award under ORS 36.705 (1)(a) or (b) if the petitioner establishes
prima facie that a ground for vacating the award exists.
(5) If a person commences a civil action against
an arbitrator, arbitration organization or representative of an arbitration
organization arising from the services of the arbitrator, organization
or representative, or if a person seeks to compel an arbitrator or a
representative of an arbitration organization to testify or produce records
in violation of subsection (4) of this section, and the court decides
that the arbitrator, arbitration organization or representative of an
arbitration organization is immune from civil liability or that the arbitrator
or representative of the organization is not competent to testify, the
court shall award to the arbitrator, organization or representative reasonable
attorney fees.
36.665 Arbitration process.
(1) An arbitrator may conduct an arbitration
in such manner as the arbitrator considers appropriate for a fair and
expeditious disposition of the proceeding. The authority conferred upon
the arbitrator includes the power to hold conferences with the parties
to the arbitration proceeding before the hearing and, among other matters,
determine the admissibility, relevance, materiality and weight of any
evidence.
(2) An arbitrator may decide a request for summary
disposition of a claim or particular issue:
(a) If all interested parties
agree; or
(b) Upon request of one party
to the arbitration proceeding, if that party gives notice to all other
parties to the proceeding and the other parties have a reasonable opportunity
to respond.
(3) If an arbitrator orders a hearing, the arbitrator
shall set a time and place and give notice of the hearing not less than
five days before the hearing begins. Unless a party to the arbitration
proceeding makes an objection to lack or insufficiency of notice not later
than the beginning of the hearing, the party’s appearance at the hearing
waives any objection based on lack or insufficiency of notice. Upon request
of a party to the arbitration proceeding and for good cause shown, or upon
the arbitrator’s own initiative, the arbitrator may adjourn the hearing
from time to time as necessary but may not postpone the hearing to a time
later than that fixed by the agreement to arbitrate for making the award
unless the parties to the arbitration proceeding consent to a later date.
The arbitrator may hear and decide the controversy upon the evidence produced
although a party who was duly notified of the arbitration proceeding did
not appear. The court, on request, may direct the arbitrator to conduct
the hearing promptly and render a timely decision.
(4) At a hearing under subsection (3) of this
section, a party to the arbitration proceeding has a right to be heard,
to present evidence material to the controversy and to cross-examine
witnesses appearing at the hearing.
(5) If an arbitrator ceases or is unable to act
during the arbitration proceeding, a replacement arbitrator must be appointed
in accordance with ORS 36.645 to continue the proceeding and to resolve
the controversy.
36.670 Representation by a lawyer; representation of legal
or commercial entities.
A party to an arbitration proceeding may be represented
by a lawyer admitted to practice in this state or any other state. A
corporation, business trust, partnership, limited liability company,
association, joint venture or other legal or commercial entity may be
represented by a lawyer admitted to practice in this state or any other
state, by an officer of the entity, or by an employee or other agent authorized
by the entity to represent the entity in the proceeding.
36.675 Witnesses; subpoenas; depositions; discovery.
(1) An arbitrator may administer oaths. An arbitrator
or an attorney for any party to the arbitration proceeding may issue
a subpoena for the attendance of a witness and for the production of records
and other evidence at any hearing. A subpoena must be served in the manner
for service of subpoenas under ORCP 55 D and, upon petition to the court
by a party to the arbitration proceeding or the arbitrator, enforced in
the manner provided by ORCP 55 G.
(2) In order to make the proceedings fair, expeditious
and cost-effective, upon request of a party to or a witness in an arbitration
proceeding, an arbitrator may permit a deposition of any witness to be
taken for use as evidence at the hearing, including a witness who cannot
be subpoenaed for or is unable to attend a hearing. The arbitrator shall
determine the conditions under which the deposition is taken.
(3) An arbitrator may permit such discovery as
the arbitrator decides is appropriate in the circumstances, taking into
account the needs of the parties to the arbitration proceeding and other
affected persons and the desirability of making the proceeding fair, expeditious
and cost-effective.
(4) If an arbitrator permits discovery under subsection
(3) of this section, the arbitrator may order a party to the arbitration
proceeding to comply with the arbitrator’s discovery-related orders, issue
subpoenas for the attendance of a witness and for the production of records
and other evidence at a discovery proceeding, and take action against a
noncomplying party to the extent a court could if the controversy were
the subject of a civil action in this state.
(5) An arbitrator may issue a protective order
to prevent the disclosure of privileged information, confidential information,
trade secrets and other information protected from disclosure to the
extent a court could if the controversy were the subject of a civil action
in this state.
(6) All laws compelling a person under subpoena
to testify and all fees for attending a judicial proceeding, a deposition
or a discovery proceeding as a witness apply to an arbitration proceeding
as if the controversy were the subject of a civil action in this state.
(7) The court may enforce a subpoena or discovery-related
order for the attendance of a witness within this state, and for the
production of records and other evidence issued by an arbitrator or by
an attorney for any party to the proceeding in connection with an arbitration
proceeding in another state, upon conditions determined by the court
so as to make the arbitration proceeding fair, expeditious and cost-effective.
A subpoena or discovery-related order issued by an arbitrator or by an
attorney for any party to the proceeding in another state must be served
in the manner provided by ORCP 55 D for service of subpoenas in a civil
action in this state and, upon petition to the court by a party to the arbitration
proceeding or the arbitrator, enforced in the manner provided by ORCP 55
G for enforcement of subpoenas in a civil action in this state.
36.680 Judicial enforcement of preaward ruling by arbitrator.
If an arbitrator makes a preaward ruling in favor
of a party to the arbitration proceeding, the party may request the
arbitrator to incorporate the ruling into an award under ORS 36.685.
A prevailing party may make a petition to the court for an expedited
order to confirm the award under ORS 36.700, in which case the court
shall summarily decide the petition. The court shall issue an order to
confirm the award unless the court vacates, modifies, or corrects the
award under ORS 36.705 or 36.710.
36.685 Award.
(1) An arbitrator shall make a record of an award.
The record must be signed or otherwise authenticated by any arbitrator
who concurs with the award. If the award requires the payment of money,
including but not limited to payment of costs or attorney fees, the award
must be accompanied by a separate statement that contains the information
required by ORS 18.042 for judgments that include money awards. The arbitrator
or the arbitration organization shall give notice of the award, including
a copy of the award, to each party to the arbitration proceeding.
(2) An award must be made within the time specified
by the agreement to arbitrate or, if not specified therein, within the
time ordered by the court. The court may extend or the parties to the
arbitration proceeding may agree in a record to extend the time. The court
or the parties may extend the time within or after the time specified or
ordered. A party waives any objection that an award was not timely made
unless the party gives notice of the objection to the arbitrator before receiving
notice of the award.
36.690 Change of award by arbitrator.
(1) Upon request by a party to an arbitration
proceeding, an arbitrator may modify or correct an award:
(a) Upon a ground stated in
ORS 36.710 (1)(a) or (c);
(b) Because the arbitrator
has not made a final and definite award upon a claim submitted by the
parties to the arbitration proceeding; or
(c) To clarify the award.
(2) A request under subsection (1) of this section
must be made and notice given to all parties within 20 days after the
requesting party receives notice of the award.
(3) A party to the arbitration proceeding must
give notice of any objection to the request within 10 days after receipt
of the notice under subsection (2) of this section.
(4) If a petition to the court is pending under
ORS 36.700, 36.705 or 36.710, the court may submit the claim to the
arbitrator to consider whether to modify or correct the award:
(a) Upon a ground stated in
ORS 36.710 (1)(a) or (c);
(b) Because the arbitrator
has not made a final and definite award upon a claim submitted by the
parties to the arbitration proceeding; or
(c) To clarify the award.
(5) An award modified or corrected pursuant to
this section is subject to ORS 36.685 (1), 36.700, 36.705 and 36.710.
36.695 Remedies; fees and expenses of arbitration proceeding.
(1) An arbitrator may award punitive damages
or other exemplary relief if such an award is authorized by law in a
civil action involving the same claim and the evidence produced at the
hearing justifies the award under the legal standards otherwise applicable
to the claim.
(2) An arbitrator may award reasonable attorney
fees and other reasonable expenses of arbitration as may be specified
in the arbitration agreement if such an award is authorized by law in
a civil action involving the same claim or by the agreement of the parties
to the arbitration proceeding.
(3) As to all remedies other than those authorized
by subsections (1) and (2) of this section, an arbitrator may order such
remedies as the arbitrator considers just and appropriate under the circumstances
of the arbitration proceeding. The fact that such a remedy could not
or would not be granted by the court is not a ground for refusing to confirm
an award under ORS 36.700 or for vacating an award under ORS 36.705.
(4) An arbitrator’s expenses and fees, together
with other expenses, must be paid as provided in the award.
(5) If an arbitrator awards punitive damages or
other exemplary relief under subsection (1) of this section, the arbitrator
shall specify in the award the basis in fact justifying and the basis
in law authorizing the award and state separately the amount of the punitive
damages or other exemplary relief.
36.700 Confirmation of award.
(1) After a party to an arbitration proceeding
receives notice of an award, the party may make a petition to the court
for an order confirming the award. The party filing the petition must
serve a copy of the petition on all other parties to the proceedings. The
court shall issue a confirming order unless within 20 days after the petition
is served on the other parties:
(a) A party requests that the
arbitrator modify or correct the award under ORS 36.690; or
(b) A party petitions the court
to vacate, modify or correct the award under ORS 36.705 or 36.710.
(2) If a party requests that the arbitrator modify
or correct the award under ORS 36.690, or petitions the court to vacate,
modify or correct the award under ORS 36.705 or 36.710, the court may stay
entry of an order on a petition filed under this section until a final
decision is made on the request or petition.
36.705 Vacating award.
(1) Upon petition to the court by a party to
an arbitration proceeding, the court shall vacate an award made in the
arbitration proceeding if:
(a) The award was procured
by corruption, fraud or other undue means;
(b) There was:
(A) Evident
partiality by an arbitrator appointed as a neutral arbitrator;
(B) Corruption
by an arbitrator; or
(C) Misconduct
by an arbitrator prejudicing the rights of a party to the arbitration
proceeding;
(c) An arbitrator refused
to postpone the hearing upon showing of sufficient cause for postponement,
refused to consider evidence material to the controversy or otherwise conducted
the hearing contrary to ORS 36.665 so as to prejudice substantially the
rights of a party to the arbitration proceeding;
(d) An arbitrator exceeded
the arbitrator’s powers;
(e) There was no agreement
to arbitrate, unless the person participated in the arbitration proceeding
without raising an objection under ORS 36.665 (3) not later than the beginning
of the arbitration hearing; or
(f) The arbitration was conducted
without proper notice of the initiation of an arbitration as required
in ORS 36.635 so as to prejudice substantially the rights of a party to
the arbitration proceeding.
(2) A petition under this section must be filed
within 20 days after the petitioner is served with a petition for confirmation
of an award under ORS 36.700, unless the petitioner alleges that the award
was procured by corruption, fraud or other undue means. If the petitioner
alleges that the award was procured by corruption, fraud or other undue
means, a petition under this section must be filed within 90 days after
the grounds for challenging the award are known or, by the exercise of reasonable
care, would have been known by the petitioner. A party filing a petition
under this section must serve a copy of the petition on all other parties
to the proceedings.
(3) If the court vacates an award on a ground
other than that set forth in subsection (1)(e) of this section, it may
order a rehearing. If the award is vacated on a ground stated in subsection
(1)(a) or (b) of this section, the rehearing must be before a new arbitrator.
If the award is vacated on a ground stated in subsection (1)(c), (d)
or (f) of this section, the rehearing may be before the arbitrator who
made the award or before any successor appointed for that arbitrator.
The arbitrator must render the decision in the rehearing within the same
time as that provided for an award in ORS 36.685 (2).
(4) If the court denies a petition to vacate
an award, it shall confirm the award unless a petition to modify or correct
the award is pending.
36.710 Modification or correction of award.
(1) Upon petition filed within 20 days after
the petitioner is served with a petition for confirmation of an award
under ORS 36.700, the court shall modify or correct the award if:
(a) There was an evident mathematical
miscalculation or an evident mistake in the description of a person,
thing or property referred to in the award;
(b) The arbitrator has made
an award on a claim not submitted to the arbitrator and the award may
be corrected without affecting the merits of the decision upon the claims
submitted; or
(c) The award is imperfect
in a matter of form not affecting the merits of the decision on the claims
submitted.
(2) If a petition made under subsection (1) of
this section is granted, the court shall modify or correct and confirm
the award as modified or corrected. Otherwise, unless a petition to vacate
is pending, the court shall confirm the award.
(3) A petition to modify or correct an award
pursuant to this section may be joined with a petition to vacate the
award.
(4) A party filing a petition under this section
must serve a copy of the petition on all other parties to the proceedings.
36.715 Judgment on award; attorney fees and litigation expenses.
(1) Upon granting an order confirming, vacating
without directing a rehearing, modifying or correcting an award, the court
shall enter a judgment in conformity with the order. The judgment may
be entered in the register and enforced as any other judgment in a civil
action.
(2) A court may allow reasonable costs of the
petition and subsequent judicial proceedings.
(3) On application of a prevailing party to a
contested judicial proceeding under ORS 36.700, 36.705 or 36.710, the
court may add reasonable attorney fees incurred in a judicial proceeding
after the award is made to a judgment confirming, vacating without directing
a rehearing, modifying or correcting an award.
36.720 Jurisdiction.
(1) A court having jurisdiction over the controversy
and the parties may enforce an agreement to arbitrate.
(2) An agreement to arbitrate providing for arbitration
in this state confers exclusive jurisdiction on the court to enter judgment
on an award under ORS 36.600 to 36.740.
36.725 Venue.
A petition pursuant to ORS 36.615 must be made in
the court for the county in which the agreement to arbitrate specifies
the arbitration hearing is to be held or, if the hearing has been held,
in the court for the county in which it was held. Otherwise, the petition
may be made in the court for any county in which an adverse party resides
or has a place of business or, if no adverse party has a residence or
place of business in this state, in the court of any county in this state.
All subsequent petitions must be made in the court hearing the initial
petition unless the court otherwise directs.
36.730 Appeals.
(1) An appeal may be taken from:
(a) An order denying a petition
to compel arbitration.
(b) An order granting a petition
to stay arbitration.
(c) A judgment entered pursuant
to ORS 36.600 to 36.740, including but not limited to a judgment:
(A) Confirming
or denying confirmation of an award.
(B) Modifying
or correcting an award.
(C) Vacating
an award without directing a rehearing.
(2) An appeal under this section must be taken
as provided in ORS chapter 19.
36.735 Uniformity of application and construction.
In applying and construing ORS 36.600 to 36.740,
consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the
law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.
36.740 Relationship to electronic signatures in Global and National
Commerce Act.
The provisions of ORS 36.600 to 36.740 governing the
legal effect, validity and enforceability of electronic records or electronic
signatures, and of contracts performed with the use of such records
or signatures, conform to the requirements of Section 102 of the Electronic
Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. 7001 and 7002,
as in effect on January 1, 2004.