The Supreme Court has ruled against the practice of state-run companies unilaterally appointing arbitrators, impacting the arbitration process for public sector units (PSUs) and potentially shifting the focus towards mediation. This decision, made on Chief Justice D. Y. Chandrachud’s last day in office, is a result of the finance ministry’s push to reduce PSU arbitration costs and reflects the government’s growing preference for mediation as an alternative dispute resolution method.
A 37-year-old man has been arrested in Ahmedabad for running a fake tribunal and defrauding clients seeking land dispute resolution. Morris Samuel Christian, posing as a court-appointed arbitrator, established a fake courtroom in Gandhinagar, lured clients, and passed favorable orders in exchange for fees, cheating them out of valuable land.
A federal judge in Seattle has upheld an arbitration order requiring Alaska Airlines to rehire a mechanic fired for testing positive for cannabis in 2022. The case highlights the conflict between state marijuana legalization and federal drug policies, raising crucial questions about employee rights and workplace safety in the evolving landscape of cannabis use.
The Indian government is taking steps to revitalize the India International Arbitration Centre (IIAC) by incentivizing arbitration at the New Delhi institution. This move is aimed at increasing the IIAC’s caseload and establishing India as a global arbitration hub. Key initiatives include offering discounts for MSMEs and focusing on international maritime arbitration.
An arbitration board has sided with Nippon Steel in its bid to acquire US Steel for $14.9 billion, despite opposition from the United Steelworkers union and political figures. The deal faces scrutiny from the U.S. national security panel, but both companies remain optimistic about its future.
The Union Law Ministry in India has initiated a comprehensive review of the country’s arbitration system, seeking details on all arbitration proceedings involving the Centre over the past 24 years. This move comes as part of the government’s efforts to reduce the pendency of cases, lower legal costs, and improve the efficiency of dispute resolution in the country. The ministry aims to analyze the data and identify potential areas for amendments to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, which governs out-of-court dispute settlement.
Odyssey Marine Exploration’s stock experienced a dramatic surge on Wednesday after the company was awarded $37.1 million in an arbitration case against Mexico under NAFTA. The award, which came after the stock plummeted Tuesday, has seen shares rise over 160% in a single day.
India’s law ministry is reviewing the new criminal codes following concerns over the misuse of provisions related to domestic violence against women. The ministry is also pushing for alternative dispute resolution methods like arbitration to address the burgeoning backlog of cases in Indian courts.
Embraer’s stock price fell on Monday after the company announced the conclusion of its arbitration with Boeing. Boeing will pay Embraer $150 million to settle the dispute stemming from the termination of a $4.2 billion deal in 2020. Despite the settlement, Embraer continues to see positive developments with a recent contract to sell A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to Uruguay and an anticipated increase in deliveries in the latter half of 2024.
Walt Disney Co. has made a strategic shift in a wrongful death lawsuit filed in Florida, agreeing to a court trial instead of pursuing arbitration. This decision comes after the company initially insisted on arbitration based on the plaintiff’s Disney+ subscription. The lawsuit stems from the death of Jeffrey Piccolo’s wife who allegedly suffered a fatal allergic reaction after eating at a restaurant in Disney Springs.
