Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
IN RE: MERRITT ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS, P.C., Petitioner-Appellant, v. 55 LIBERTY OWNERS' CORP., Respondent-Respondent.
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Marcy Friedman, J.), entered on or about April 7, 2004, which dismissed the petition to stay arbitration and directed the parties to proceed to arbitration, unanimously affirmed, with costs.
As the Court of Appeals recently held in a related action, the instant construction project, involving extensive repair to the roof and facade of respondent's building, and the subject of the parties' Project Consultants Agreement, affected interstate commerce, thus invoking the Federal Arbitration Act (see 9 USC § 1 et seq.; and see Diamond Waterproofing Systems, Inc. v. 55 Liberty Owners Corp., 4 N.Y.3d 247, 251-52, 793 N.Y.S.2d 831, 826 N.E.2d 802 [2005]; see also Citizens Bank v. Alafabco, 539 U.S. 52, 123 S.Ct. 2037, 156 L.Ed.2d 46 [2003] ). Petitioner prepared a project manual and drawings in conjunction with the Illinois engineering firm of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates. Petitioner was required to attend meetings out of state, and a significant portion of the supplies and equipment came from outside New York (see id.).
The timeliness of respondent's claims is for determination by the arbitrators, not the court, given the parties' decision to submit to arbitration all claims and disputes arising out of or relating to the agreement, and that the choice-of-law clause therein does not expressly provide that the agreement and its enforcement would be governed by New York law (Diamond Waterproofing Systems, Inc., supra at 253, 793 N.Y.S.2d 831, 826 N.E.2d 802; Hamershlag, Kempner & Co., L.P. v. Oestrich, 234 A.D.2d 172, 651 N.Y.S.2d 489 [1996] ).
Thank you for your feedback!
As the largest network of trusted legal brands, we help firms build authority across the platforms consumers and AI systems rely on most. Our network helps attorneys strengthen visibility, credibility, and preference where legal decisions begin.
Decided: May 03, 2005
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, New York.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)