Signal 88 v. Lyconic , 310 Neb. 824 ( 2022 )

Nebraska Supreme Court Online Library
www.nebraska.gov/apps-courts-epub/
04/28/2022 08:08 AM CDT
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Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
310 Nebraska Reports
SIGNAL 88 v. LYCONIC
Cite as 310 Neb. 824Signal 88, LLC, appellant, v.
Lyconic, L.L.C., appellee.
___ N.W.2d ___
Filed February 4, 2022. No. S-19-1069.
1. Arbitration and Award: Appeal and Error. In reviewing a decision
to vacate, modify, or confirm an arbitration award, an appellate court is
obligated to reach a conclusion independent of the trial court’s ruling as
to questions of law. However, the trial court’s factual findings will not
be set aside on appeal unless clearly erroneous.
2. Courts: Appeal and Error. Upon reversing a decision of the Nebraska
Court of Appeals, the Nebraska Supreme Court may consider, as it
deems appropriate, some or all of the assignments of error that the Court
of Appeals did not reach.
3. Arbitration and Award: Appeal and Error. Judicial review of an arbi-
tration award is severely limited.
4. Arbitration and Award. When a court modifies or corrects an arbitra-
tion award, it shall do so to effectuate the intent of the arbitrator.
5. Arbitration and Award: Appeal and Error. When possible, courts
should avoid remanding on the basis of ambiguity because of the inter-
est in prompt and final arbitration.
6. Records: Appeal and Error. Where an ambiguity can be resolved by
the record, the district court need not remand for clarification; but where
the ambiguity is not resolved by the record, the court must remand for
clarification.
7. Arbitration and Award: Presumptions: Intent: Appeal and Error.
When an arbitration award is reviewed by a court, every reasonable
presumption and intendment will be made in favor of the award and of
the arbitrator’s acts and proceedings.
8. Arbitration and Award. An award does not become so vague and
indefinite as to be unenforceable simply because a party can argue that
a portion of it may be unclear or ambiguous.
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Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
310 Nebraska Reports
SIGNAL 88 v. LYCONIC
Cite as 310 Neb. 824Petition for further review from the Court of Appeals,
Bishop, Arterburn, and Welch, Judges, on appeal thereto
from the District Court for Douglas County, Marlon A. Polk,
Judge. Judgment of Court of Appeals reversed and remanded
with directions.
Michael T. Eversden and Brian McKernan, of McGrath,
North, Mullin & Kratz, P.C., L.L.O., for appellant.
Michael S. Degan, of Kutak Rock, L.L.P., for appellee.
Heavican, C.J., Cassel, Stacy, Funke, Papik, and
Freudenberg, JJ., and Thompson, District Judge.
Funke, J.
INTRODUCTION
Signal 88, LLC, filed a contract action against Lyconic,
L.L.C., in the district court for Douglas County. The district
court ordered the dispute to be submitted to arbitration. After
the arbitrator rendered a decision, pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat.
§ 25-2612 (Reissue 2016), Lyconic moved the district court to
confirm the arbitrator’s award. Eventually, the court entered
judgment on the award.
On appeal, the Nebraska Court of Appeals found the award
to be ambiguous, vacated the judgment, and remanded the mat-
ter to the district court with directions to remand the matter to
the arbitrator for clarification. 1 Lyconic petitioned for further
review. For reasons we explain, we find merit to the petition
for further review. The Court of Appeals’ decision is reversed,
and the matter is remanded with directions.
BACKGROUND
Contract
Signal 88 is a franchisor that operates a security services
franchise system in Nebraska. Lyconic develops software
1
Signal 88 v. Lyconic, 29 Neb. App. 533, 956 N.W.2d 308 (2021).
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SIGNAL 88 v. LYCONIC
Cite as 310 Neb. 824programs for use in the security services industry. In 2011,
Lyconic contracted with Signal 88 to provide software and
services to assist Signal 88 in operating its business. The
initial contract was for a 3-year term, with Signal 88 reserv-
ing rights of renewal. Signal 88 would pay Lyconic $25,000
per month for the first 12 months and $30,000 per month for
the remaining 24 months. In the event the contract was ter-
minated, Lyconic would provide Signal 88 up to 180 days of
post­termination services (termination assistance), in order to
“achieve a smooth transition of all records[,] data[,] and serv­
ices without disruption to [Signal 88’s] [b]usiness.” Signal 88
would pay for termination assistance at “Lyconic’s then current
hourly rate.”
The parties executed two addendums. “Addendum #1”
decreased the service fee from $30,000 to $25,000 per month.
“Addendum #2” set a month-to-month term at the renewal rate
of $25,000 per month, required 30 days’ notice prior to termi-
nation, and reduced Lyconic’s termination assistance obligation
to up to 30 days following termination. Addendum #2 granted
Signal 88 the right to extend termination assistance longer than
30 days, provided Signal 88 gave an equivalent amount of
notice before termination.
In February 2016, Signal 88 notified Lyconic of its intent
to terminate the contract, setting the termination date for June
30. Lyconic then advised it would not renew the agreement
beyond the current monthly term, expiring March 6, and would
provide termination assistance until April 6. In a March 1 cor-
respondence to Lyconic, Signal 88 disputed Lyconic’s notice to
terminate and stated it would terminate the agreement July 1,
and it requested that termination assistance be extended for 122
days after the termination date.
Arbitration
Signal 88 filed its contract action against Lyconic seeking
declaratory and injunctive relief. Pursuant to the terms of the
contract, the district court ordered arbitration. On April 25,
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Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
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SIGNAL 88 v. LYCONIC
Cite as 310 Neb. 8242016, the arbitrator issued a written opinion finding Signal 88’s
March 1 letter effectively terminated the agreement as of July
1. Specifically, the arbitrator stated:
In providing this notice Signal 88 provided 122 days
advance notice and therefore can request an equal amount
of days of termination assistance. Accordingly, Lyconic’s
obligation to provide termination assistance extends 122
days from the termination date, expiring November 11,
2016. Signal 88 is obligated to pay for Lyconic’s services
at the renewal rate of $25,000 per month.
Thereafter, Signal 88 notified Lyconic that it would not
require termination assistance after June 2, 2016.
District Court Proceedings
On May 5, 2016, Lyconic applied “for an [o]rder confirm-
ing the arbitration award and entry of judgment thereon.”
In its application, Lyconic alleged that the arbitrator deter-
mined that “Signal 88 is obligated to pay Lyconic $25,000
per month through November 11, 2016.” While that applica-
tion was pending, Lyconic also filed an answer to the original
lawsuit, acknowledging the arbitration award, but including a
counterclaim, which it alleged was not resolved by arbitration.
Lyconic subsequently amended its counterclaim to add addi-
tional allegations that following the arbitrator’s decision, but
prior to the termination date, Signal 88 hacked into Lyconic’s
computers, downloaded information, and wrongfully disclosed
confidential information.
On May 31, 2016, the court informed the parties in an email
that it would grant Lyconic’s application to confirm the arbitra-
tion award and directed Lyconic to prepare and submit a pro-
posed order. However, no such order was entered.
On August 23, 2019, both parties filed motions labeled as
a motion for partial summary judgment. Lyconic’s motion
asserted that “[t]he arbitrator further determined that Signal 88
was obligated to pay Lyconic for 122 days of Termination
Assistance at the rate of $25,000 per month.” (Emphasis
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Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
310 Nebraska Reports
SIGNAL 88 v. LYCONIC
Cite as 310 Neb. 824supplied.) Signal 88’s motion sought judgment regarding
Lyconic’s amended counterclaims.
At a hearing on the motions, the court discussed the lan-
guage of the arbitration award and stated that although the
court agreed with the arbitrator’s findings that Signal 88’s
March 1, 2016, letter terminated the agreement as of July 1
and that Signal 88 was obligated to pay Lyconic during the
termination assistance period, the court disagreed with the
arbitrator’s determination regarding Signal 88’s liability. The
court explained that under its own interpretation of the par-
ties’ agreement,
termination assistance is not the same as services [and the
agreement] does specifically say that Lyconic would be
entitled to the then currently hourly rate for the provision
of its termination assistance.
So the Court believes that Signal 88 should pay the 122
days of termination assistance at Lyconic’s then current
hourly rate as provided for in [the agreement].
At the conclusion of the hearing, the district court announced
it would grant Lyconic’s motion to confirm the award, but
would also move forward with a bench trial over Lyconic’s
counterclaims. Following trial, the court issued an “Order
Granting Application for Confirmation of Arbitration Award
& Entry of Judgment.” The court’s order stated: “Lyconic
moved for confirmation of the arbitrator’s award within the
applicable time frame and given that the record does not show
that a party moved for vacation, modification or correction of
the arbitrator’s award, this Court must confirm the award.”
The court quoted the text of § 25-2612 in full: “Within sixty
days of the application of a party, the court shall confirm
an award, unless within the time limits hereinafter imposed
grounds are urged for vacating or modifying or correcting
the award, in which case the court shall proceed as provided
in sections 25-2613 and 25-2614.” In confirming the arbi-
trator’s decision, the court’s order stated, “[T]he Arbitrator
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SIGNAL 88 v. LYCONIC
Cite as 310 Neb. 824found that Signal 88 is obligated to pay Lyconic for 122 days
of Termination Assistance at the renewal rate of $25,000 per
month.” (Emphasis supplied.) The court then proceeded to
enter judgment in favor of Lyconic and against Signal 88 in the
amount of $109,166.67 with interest accruing at the rate of 1.5
percent per month as of November 26, 2016.
Signal 88 moved for a new trial or to alter or amend the judg-
ment, arguing the court should have simply “confirm[ed] the
arbitration decision.” At the hearing on the motion, Signal 88
argued the court should grant a “new trial and then remand
the issue of termination assistance to the arbitrator to clarify.”
Signal 88 argued the court “has the power to remand under
[Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2610 (Reissue 2016)].” The court issued
an order denying the motion. Signal 88 appealed.
Court of Appeals
On appeal, Signal 88 assigned and argued that the “trial court
erred in modifying rather than simply confirming the arbitra-
tion award.” Signal 88 argued that by entering a $109,166.67
judgment against it, the trial court had “dramatically exceeded
its authority in modifying the arbitration award, and its deci-
sion should therefore be reversed.” 2 Signal 88 argued that
because there was no motion to vacate, modify, or correct the
award, “the trial court had no discretion and was required to
confirm the award.” 3
Signal 88 also assigned and argued that if Lyconic’s posi-
tion prevailed, then the “trial court erred in not remanding the
question of termination assistance to the arbitrator.” 4 Signal 88
argued that if the court found the award to be ambiguous, a
remand to the arbitrator would still be appropriate.
The Court of Appeals recognized that the district court
adopted Lyconic’s interpretation of the arbitration decision
2
Brief for appellant at 20.
3
Id. at 22.
4
Id. at 37.
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SIGNAL 88 v. LYCONIC
Cite as 310 Neb. 824and that the language in the district court’s order did not track
with the language used by the arbitrator. The court cited our
decision in Cinatl v. Prososki, 5 in which we held that without
a pending application to modify, vacate, or correct an arbitra-
tion award, a district court shall confirm the award. The appel-
late court acknowledged there was no application to modify,
vacate, or correct the award, but found the proper issue for
resolution in this case was “clarification,” 6 alluding to Neb.
Rev. Stat. § 25-2610 (Reissue 2016).
The court determined that the arbitrator’s award was ambig-
uous and, based upon Domino Group v. Charlie Parker Mem.
Foundation, 7 concluded that the best course was to vacate the
judgment and have the district court remand the matter to the
arbitrator for clarification.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
Lyconic petitions for further review. Lyconic assigns, sum-
marized, that the Court of Appeals erred in reversing, vacating,
and remanding the judgment with instructions to refer the mat-
ter to the arbitrator and erred in finding ambiguity.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
[1] In reviewing a decision to vacate, modify, or confirm
an arbitration award, an appellate court is obligated to reach
a conclusion independent of the trial court’s ruling as to ques-
tions of law. 8 However, the trial court’s factual findings will
not be set aside on appeal unless clearly erroneous. 9
[2] Upon reversing a decision of the Nebraska Court of
Appeals, the Nebraska Supreme Court may consider, as it
5
Cinatl v. Prososki, 307 Neb. 477, 949 N.W.2d 505 (2020).
6
Signal 88, supra note 1, 29 Neb. App. at 546, 956 N.W.2d at 317.
7
Domino Group v. Charlie Parker Mem. Foundation, 985 F.2d 417 (8th Cir.
1993).
8
Signal 88, supra note 1.
9
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Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
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SIGNAL 88 v. LYCONIC
Cite as 310 Neb. 824deems appropriate, some or all of the assignments of error that
the Court of Appeals did not reach. 10
ANALYSIS
[3] Before considering the arbitration issues before us, we
note that the parties generally argue that this matter is gov-
erned by Nebraska’s Uniform Arbitration Act (UAA). 11 As
such, we limit our discussion to the UAA. In Nebraska, judicial
review of an arbitration award is severely limited. 12 Section
25-2612 provides that “[w]ithin sixty days of the application
of a party, the court shall confirm an award, unless within the
time limits hereinafter imposed grounds are urged for vacating
or modifying or correcting the award, in which case the court
shall proceed as provided in sections 25-2613 and 25-2614.”
Confirmation of an arbitration award finalizes the award and
makes the award a judgment of the court. 13 Upon the granting
of an order confirming, modifying, or correcting an award, a
judgment or decree shall be entered in conformity therewith
and be enforced as any other judgment or decree. 14
In the instant matter, everyone agrees that § 25-2612 gov-
erns Lyconic’s motion to confirm and that there was no request
to vacate, modify, or correct the award. Both the trial court
and the Court of Appeals recognized this in their analyses.
Despite this recognition, neither court followed the legislative
commands of § 25-2612 and each court erred, respectively, in
10
McEwen v. Nebraska State College Sys., 303 Neb. 552, 931 N.W.2d 120(2019).
11
Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 25-2601 to 25-2622 (Reissue 2016).
12
See State v. Henderson, 277 Neb. 240, 762 N.W.2d 1 (2009), disapproved
on other grounds, Seldin v. Estate of Silverman, 305 Neb. 185, 939
N.W.2d 768 (2020).
13
86 Am. Jur. Trials 111, § 263 (2002 & Supp. 2021), citing Bacardi Intern.
Ltd. v. V. Suarez & Co., Inc., 719 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2013); R & Q Reinsurance
Co. v. Utica Mut. Ins. Co., 18 F. Supp. 3d 389 (S.D.N.Y. 2014).
14
§ 25-2615.
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SIGNAL 88 v. LYCONIC
Cite as 310 Neb. 824failing to do so. We conclude that the district court erred in
modifying rather than confirming the award and that the Court
of Appeals, though correct in vacating the judgment, erred in
finding the arbitrator’s award to be ambiguous and erred in
instructing that the matter be remanded to the arbitrator.
Courts must give extreme deference to the arbitrator’s con-
clusions; the standard of judicial review of arbitral awards is
among the narrowest known to law. 15 A court may not overrule
an arbitrator’s decision simply because the court believes that
its own interpretation of the contract, or the facts, would be the
better one. 16
The role of the court in the arbitration process is spe-
cifically addressed and limited by the UAA. 17 To allow full
judicial scrutiny of an arbitration award would frustrate the
purpose of having arbitration at all—the quick resolution of
disputes and the avoidance of the expense and delay associ-
ated with litigation. 18 Strong deference is due to an arbitra-
tive tribunal, because when parties agree to arbitration, they
agree to accept whatever reasonable uncertainties might arise
from the process. 19 Where arbitration is contemplated, the
courts are not equipped to provide the same judicial review
given to structured judgments defined by procedural rules
and legal principles. Parties should be aware that they get
15
Mid Atlantic Capital Corp. v. Bien, 956 F.3d 1182 (10th Cir. 2020). See
Health Plan of Nevada v. Rainbow Med., LLC, 120 Nev. 689, 100 P.3d 172(2004) (citing cases).
16
Oxford Health Plans LLC v. Sutter, 569 U.S. 564, 133 S. Ct. 2064, 186 L.
Ed. 2d 113 (2013); W. R. Grace & Co. v. Rubber Workers, 461 U.S. 757,
103 S. Ct. 2177, 76 L. Ed. 2d 298 (1983); Steelworkers v. Enterprise Corp.,
363 U.S. 593, 80 S. Ct. 1358, 4 L. Ed. 2d 1424 (1960); Intern. Broth. of
Elec. Workers v. O.K. Elec. Co., 793 F.2d 214 (8th Cir. 1986).
17
Hartman v. City of Grand Island, 265 Neb. 433, 657 N.W.2d 641 (2003).
18
Id., citing Jones v. Summit Ltd. Partnership Five, 262 Neb. 793, 635
N.W.2d 267 (2001).
19
Id.- 833 -
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SIGNAL 88 v. LYCONIC
Cite as 310 Neb. 824what they bargain for and that arbitration is far different from
adjudication. 20
In Cinatl, 21 this court addressed a court’s obligation with
respect to confirming an award when there is no pending
motion to modify or correct an award. There, the district court
denied a timely application to vacate an arbitration award.
Several months later, the court granted an amended motion to
confirm the arbitrator’s award, noting there was no pending
motion to modify or correct the award. On appeal, we affirmed
and explained that when an arbitration has already occurred
and a party seeks to vacate, modify, or confirm an award, an
extraordinary level of deference is given to the underlying
award itself. 22 We noted that the UAA does not allow for the
exercise of discretion by the court when a request for confirma-
tion is made and there is no pending application for vacation,
modification, or correction. 23
In Garlock v. 3DS Properties, 24 this court held that the trial
court erred in granting one party’s request to vacate an arbitra-
tion award over another party’s request to confirm the award,
because no party sought to modify the award and the mov-
ant offered no evidence in support of the request for vacatur.
Under § 25-2612, “the court shall confirm an award, unless
within the time limits hereinafter imposed grounds are urged
for vacating or modifying or correcting the award.” (Emphasis
supplied.) As a general rule, the word “shall” in a statute is
considered mandatory and is inconsistent with the idea of
discretion. 25
20
Id.
21
Cinatl, supra note 5.
22
Id.23
Id., citing Garlock v. 3DS Properties, 303 Neb. 521, 930 N.W.2d 503(2019).
24
Garlock, supra note 23.
25
Cinatl, supra note 5.
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SIGNAL 88 v. LYCONIC
Cite as 310 Neb. 824The present case is reminiscent of this court’s decision in
Ronald J. Palagi, P.C. v. Prospect Funding Holdings, 26 which
concerned a motion to confirm an arbitration award under the
Federal Arbitration Act. After an arbitration was completed, a
personal injury claimant brought an interpleader action regard-
ing settlement proceeds, but did not move to vacate, modify, or
correct the award of arbitration. The district court confirmed
the award, and the claimant argued on appeal that the arbitra-
tion agreement was invalid and unenforceable. We rejected the
claimant’s arguments, finding they had “ignore[d] that these
issues have already been resolved against them in binding arbi-
tration, and they did not thereafter seek to vacate, modify, or
correct the arbitration award within the time period permitted
under the [Federal Arbitration Act].” 27 We found the claimant’s
arguments lacked merit, because they were “premised on a
fundamental misunderstanding of the limited role of the court
once an arbitration award is entered, a motion to confirm is
filed, and there has been no timely motion to vacate, modify,
or correct the award.” 28
Here, pursuant to § 25-2612, Lyconic requested confirma-
tion of the award on May 5, 2016. The court held a hearing
on May 18. In an email, on May 31, the court stated it would
grant the application but did not enter an order doing so. Not
until September 6, 2019, did the court confirm the award and
reduce it to a judgment. When the court did confirm the award,
it adopted Lyconic’s interpretation of the award, which was
inaccurate and was a modification rather than confirmation of
the award.
Recall that the arbitrator’s award stated, in relevant part,
“Lyconic’s obligation to provide termination assistance extends
122 days from the termination date, expiring November 11,
26
Ronald J. Palagi, P.C. v. Prospect Funding Holdings, 302 Neb. 769, 925
N.W.2d 344 (2019).
27
Id. at 783, 925 N.W.2d at 354.
28
Id.
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Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets
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SIGNAL 88 v. LYCONIC
Cite as 310 Neb. 8242016. Signal 88 is obligated to pay for Lyconic’s services
at the renewal rate of $25,000 per month.” (Emphasis sup-
plied.) However, the district court’s order stated, in relevant
part, “[T]he Arbitrator found that Signal 88 is obligated to pay
Lyconic for 122 days of Termination Assistance at the renewal
rate of $25,000 per month.” (Emphasis suppled.)
Lyconic misconstrued the arbitrator’s findings regarding ter-
mination assistance, which resulted in the court’s entering a
monetary judgment against Signal 88. Though, as mentioned,
there was no formal motion to modify the award, we agree
with Signal 88’s argument that by adopting Lyconic’s position,
the district court modified rather than confirmed the award. We
conclude the district court erred in doing so and exceeded the
appropriate role of the court under the UAA. The purpose of
arbitration is to resolve disputes, not to create new ones. 29
[4] When a court modifies or corrects an arbitration award,
it shall do so to effectuate the intent of the arbitrator. 30 Courts
are not to modify or correct matters affecting the merits which
reflect the intent of the arbitrator. 31
Lyconic’s misconstruction of the award implied that an
ambiguity existed in the court’s language that needed to
be resolved. The Court of Appeals to an extent accepted
Lyconic’s framing of the issues when it said that the parties
had “simply assert[ed] different interpretations and mean-
ings to the words used by the arbitrator in its award.” 32 But
a more accurate description of the dispute would be that
Lyconic asserted its interpretation, and Signal 88 asserted that
29
Bell Aerospace Co. Div. of Textron v. Local 516, Int. U., Etc., 500 F.2d 921(2d Cir. 1974).
30
See Gen. Acc. Ins. Co. v. MSL Enterprises, 143 N.C. App. 453, 547 S.E.2d
97 (2001).
31
Id. See, Gas Aggregation Services v. Howard Avista, 319 F.3d 1060 (8th
Cir. 2003); Office & Prof. Employees v. Brownsville Gen. Hosp., 186 F.3d
326 (3d Cir. 1999).
32
Signal 88, supra note 1, 29 Neb. App. at 543, 956 N.W.2d at 316.
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Cite as 310 Neb. 824Lyconic’s interpretation should be disregarded and the award
should be confirmed as intended by the arbitrator. As the Court
of Appeals correctly pointed out, “[a]lthough Signal 88 assigns
[10] assignments of error, they can generally be restated as
claiming that the district court erred by modifying the arbitra-
tor’s award, rather than simply confirming it.” 33 The appellate
court then found the award ambiguous and determined that
the district court’s confirmation of the award needed to be
vacated and the matter resubmitted to the arbitrator to resolve
the ambiguity.
Despite there being no explicit provision in the UAA for a
remand for an ambiguous award, the Court of Appeals prop-
erly noted that § 25-2610 authorizes an arbitrator to clarify an
award upon submission by the court. Additionally, case law in
other jurisdictions has uniformly established that a remand to
the arbitrator is appropriate in cases where the award is ambig-
uous. 34 An award may be recommitted for clarification where
it is ambiguous to such an extent that it is impossible to deter-
mine its meaning and intent. 35 “An ambiguous award should be
remanded to the arbitrators so that the court will know exactly
what it is being asked to enforce.” 36
[5,6] However, remand for clarification is not the preferred
course. 37 When possible, courts should avoid remanding on
33
Id. at 541, 956 N.W.2d at 314.
34
M & C Corp. v. Erwin Behr GmbH & Co., 326 F.3d 772 (6th Cir. 2003);
Hyle v. Doctor’s Associates, Inc., 198 F.3d 368 (2d Cir. 1999); Colonial
Penn Ins. Co. v. Omaha Indem. Co., 943 F.2d 327 (3d Cir. 1991); LLT
Intern., Inc. v. MCI Telecommunications Corp., 69 F. Supp. 2d 510(S.D.N.Y. 1999).
35
6 C.J.S. Arbitration § 231 (2016).
36
Americas Ins. Co. v. Seagull Compania Naviera, 774 F.2d 64, 67 (2d Cir.
1985).
37
See, Flender Corp. v. Techna-Quip Co., 953 F.2d 273, 280 (7th Cir. 1992)
(“remand for clarification is a disfavored procedure”); Colonial Penn Ins.
Co., supra note 34; Ethyl Corp. v. United Steelworkers of America, 768
F.2d 180 (7th Cir. 1985); Gen. Acc. Ins. Co., supra note 30.
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Cite as 310 Neb. 824the basis of ambiguity because of the interest in prompt and
final arbitration. 38 Where an ambiguity can be resolved by the
record, the district court need not remand for clarification; but
where the ambiguity is not resolved by the record, the court
must remand for clarification. 39
The record indicates that the parties’ agreement obligated
Lyconic to provide software services to Signal 88 at the rate
of $25,000 per month. Additionally, upon termination of the
agreement, Lyconic would provide termination assistance at
its then-hourly rate. Nothing in the parties’ agreement, the
addendums thereto, or the arbitrator’s award would support
Lyconic’s contention that Signal 88 was obligated to pay
$25,000 per month for termination assistance. When viewed in
context, the record establishes the arbitrator intended its award
to merely determine the effective termination date to be July
1, 2016, and that Lyconic was obligated to provide termination
assistance until November 11.
[7,8] When an arbitration award is reviewed by a court,
every reasonable presumption and intendment will be made
in favor of the award and of the arbitrator’s acts and proceed-
ings. 40 An award does not become so vague and indefinite as
to be unenforceable simply because a party can argue that a
portion of it may be unclear or ambiguous. 41
38
Teamsters Local No. 579 v. B & M Transit, Inc., 882 F.2d 274 (7th Cir.
1989).
39
See, id.; Fischer v. CGA Computer Associates, Inc., 612 F. Supp. 1038(S.D.N.Y. 1985); Foster v. City of Fairbanks, 929 P.2d 658 (Alaska 1996);
SCSJ Enters. v. Hansen & Hansen Enters., 319 Ga. App. 210, 734 S.E.2d
214 (2012); Osborn v. Packard, 117 P.3d 77 (Colo. App. 2004); 2 Martin
Domke et al., Domke on Commercial Arbitration §§ 40:10 and 40:11 (3d
ed. 2021).
40
Kellogg v. Middlesex Mut. Assurance Co., 326 Conn. 638, 165 A.3d 1228(2017). See Foster, supra note 39.
41
Broth. Ry. Carmen v. Belt Ry. Co. of Chicago, 658 F. Supp. 136 (N.D. Ill.
1987).
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SIGNAL 88 v. LYCONIC
Cite as 310 Neb. 824We conclude that the arbitrator’s intent was clear, that the
award is unambiguous, and that clarification is unnecessary.
As such, the Court of Appeals erred in finding the award
ambiguous and in ordering a remand to the arbitrator for
clarification.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the Court of Appeals’
decision and remand the matter with directions to vacate the
district court’s order and instruct the district court to confirm
the arbitrator’s award as written.
Reversed and remanded with directions.
Papik, J., not participating in the decision.
Miller-Lerman, J., not participating.