New York Law Watch

Arbitration: 2026 decisions

This collection follows agreements to arbitrate and review of arbitral awards, with Law Watch records on compulsion, waiver and vacatur.

For Arbitration, 2026 decisions, Law Watch lists 12 indexable decisions dated September 2, 2026 to November 10, 2026 across 6 decision weeks.

14 decision records: 12 meet the substance floor; 2 records are held from search listings.

Week ending November 14, 2026

Deshmukh v Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP2026 NY Slip Op 06550
November 10, 2026 · Contracts and Commercial
The appellate court affirmed the order compelling arbitration, determining that a subsequent amended and restated partnership agreement containing an arbitration clause superseded a prior agreement that lacked such a clause. The court held that the subsequent agreement’s explicit language terminating and superseding prior agreements applied to disputes predating the new agreement, even where the employment relationship involved distinct periods.

Matter of Peers Business Inc. v Navios S. Am. Logistics Inc.2026 NY Slip Op 06387
October 29, 2026 · Arbitration
The court reversed the lower court’s order continuing a temporary restraining order and dissolved the TRO because the petitioner participated in the arbitration proceedings, thereby waiving its right to seek a stay under CPLR 7503(b). The court held that the petitioner’s failure to seek judicial relief promptly, despite advice from a federal court, precluded it from avoiding arbitration.

Martinez v Equinox Holdings, Inc.2026 NY Slip Op 05779
October 7, 2026 · Arbitration
The court affirmed the order compelling arbitration because the arbitration clause was separable from the substantive provisions of the membership agreement. The plaintiff’s argument that the agreement was void due to Health Club Act violations did not render the arbitration clause itself unenforceable.
Champion v Merlex Auto Group2026 NY Slip Op 05763
October 7, 2026 · Arbitration
The court affirmed the lower court’s denial of the defendant’s motion to compel arbitration, finding that the defendant waived its right to arbitrate by engaging in extensive litigation activities and delaying its request for arbitration for approximately 18 months. The court determined that the defendant’s conduct was inconsistent with an intent to arbitrate, thereby precluding the use of the courtroom as a convenient vestibule to the arbitration hall.

Matter of ReductoNox Corp. (Siemens Energy, Inc.)2026 NY Slip Op 05613
October 1, 2026 · Arbitration
The Appellate Division affirmed the confirmation of an arbitration award, finding that the petitioner failed to demonstrate that the arbitral panel manifestly disregarded the law in its interpretation of contract terms and assessment of damages. The court held that the panel’s factual findings regarding the nature of the technology and the lack of proof for fraudulent inducement were binding.
Matter of Lorica Asset Mgt. LLC v Steele2026 NY Slip Op 05481
September 29, 2026 · Arbitration
The court affirmed the denial of the petition to compel arbitration before a specific AAA commercial panel arbitrator because the agreement did not specify that requirement. The court held that interpreting AAA rules and amendments is committed to the arbitrator, and the challenge was not ripe because AAA had not issued a final determination.

Corporate Woods 15, LLC v West Bradford Corp.2026 NY Slip Op 51642[U]
September 23, 2026 · Contracts and Commercial
The court denied the motion for a preliminary injunction in aid of arbitration because the petitioners failed to demonstrate a fair probability of success on the merits, specifically regarding the interpretation of the operating agreements and fiduciary duties. The court ordered the defendant to arbitrate the claims and stayed the declaratory judgment action during the pendency of the arbitration.
C.N. v Sigma Delta Tau Socy.2026 NY Slip Op 05405
September 23, 2026 · Arbitration
The Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (EFAA) prevents the enforcement of predispute arbitration agreements in negligence actions that have a logical nexus to a sexual assault dispute, even if the defendant did not commit the assault. The court held that the EFAA applies broadly to claims that ‘relate to’ the underlying sexual assault, rendering the arbitration clause unenforceable.
Matter of Nostrand Drugs Rx, Inc. v Church Mut. Ins. Co.2026 NY Slip Op 05400
September 23, 2026 · Arbitration
The Appellate Division affirmed the lower court’s denial of the petition to vacate the master arbitrator’s award, finding that the petitioner failed to demonstrate any statutory grounds for vacatur. The court emphasized that mere errors of law by the master arbitrator are insufficient to set aside the award.

Matter of 57th & 6th Ground LLC v Carnegie House Tenants Corp.2026 NY Slip Op 05230
September 3, 2026 · Arbitration
The Appellate Division reversed the lower court’s confirmation of an arbitration award, vacating it due to the neutral umpire’s partiality and the resulting prejudice to the tenants. The umpire’s undisclosed communications with opposing counsel regarding a separate paid arbitration role created an appearance of impropriety that tainted the subsequent procedural rulings and final award.
Matter of C & L Concrete Corp. v Shawmut Woodworking & Supply, Inc.2026 NY Slip Op 05181
September 2, 2026 · Arbitration
The court affirmed the permanent stay of arbitration because the contract between the parties did not affirmatively establish an express agreement to arbitrate their disputes. Furthermore, the contractual provision allowing one party to submit matters to arbitration in a jurisdiction of its choosing was deemed void under General Business Law § 757[1].
Breslin Brookhaven, LLC v Rose2026 NY Slip Op 05156
September 2, 2026 · Arbitration
The Appellate Division modified the lower court’s order to grant the defendants’ motion to compel arbitration, finding that the arbitration clause was broad enough to cover the dispute and that the nonsignatory defendant was entitled to enforce it as an assignee. The court further held that the defendants did not waive their right to arbitrate by litigating a separate action.