Appellate Division, First Department · September 29, 2026 · 2026 NY Slip Op 05481
Matter of Lorica Asset Mgt. LLC v Steele
Read the official decision: 2026 NY Slip Op 05481
Holding 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.
The court’s words
the dispute resolution clause at issue here does not specify any requirement that disputes be arbitrated before a particular type of arbitrator or panel
2026 NY Slip Op 05481, at the official text
Interpretation of AAA rules, both as they existed at the time of contracting and as amended at the time of a party's arbitration demand, is a matter committed to AAA or the arbitrator, not the courts
2026 NY Slip Op 05481, at the official text
the issue is not ripe. The record does not show that AAA issued a final determination as to petitioner's arguments
2026 NY Slip Op 05481, at the official text
| Court | Appellate Division, First Department |
|---|---|
| Decided | September 29, 2026 |
| Citation | 2026 NY Slip Op 05481 |
| Area of law | Arbitration |
| Week | Week ending October 3, 2026 |
| Official text | Official decision: 2026 NY Slip Op 05481 |
| Publication status | Slip opinions are uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports. |
| Source feed | New York slip opinion page |
| Law Watch record id | 656 |
Recommended citation
ESQ HQ, New York Law Watch, Matter of Lorica Asset Mgt. LLC v Steele, 2026 NY Slip Op 05481 (Appellate Division, First Department, September 29, 2026), https://esqhq.com/decisions/2026-ny-slip-op-05481/
How this record was made
Holding drafted by Law Watch’s in-house model, graded by three reviewers; every quotation verified word for word against the official text.
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