CHIEN v. FISHMAN (2022)

Orders (Jose A. Padilla, Jr., J.), entered January 14, 2020 and dated July 16, 2021, respectively, affirmed, with one bill of $10 costs. Appeal from order (Richard A. Tsai, J.), dated August 11, 2021, dismissed, without costs, as nonappealable.

Civil Court properly denied petitioner's application to vacate the arbitration award and granted the cross motion to confirm the award. Petitioner failed to satisfy his heavy burden of establishing by clear and convincing evidence (see Garrido v De Blasio, 203 AD3d 458 [2022]; Matter of Denaro v Cruz, 115 AD3d 742, 743 [2014]) that the fee dispute arbitration award (see Rules of Chief Admin of Cts [22 NYCRR] part 137) should be vacated pursuant to CPLR 7511(b)(1)(i) and (ii) (see Matter of Saldana v State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 39 AD3d 416, 417 [2007]). Petitioner's remote and speculative claims failed to demonstrate that the arbitrator was biased, and that he sustained prejudice attributable to any such bias (see Artists & Craftsmen Bldrs. v Schapiro, 232 AD2d 265, 266 [1996]). Nor did he demonstrate any fraud or misconduct (see Matter of Field v BDO USA, LLP, 129 AD3d 497 [2015]). Petitioner's claims of misconduct based upon the arbitrator's alleged failure to allow petitioner to record the proceedings are unavailing given that the arbitrator expressly offered petitioner an adjournment to obtain a court stenographer.

We take judicial notice that, subsequent to the confirmation of the arbitration award, petitioner's claim - at a Small Claims Court trial de novo against respondent (Chien v Fishman, Civ Ct, NY County, entered February 20, 2020, Kraus, J., Index No. 1915/2019) - was dismissed on the ground that it was precluded by the underlying order confirming the arbitration award. Petitioner's challenge to that determination is not properly before us on this appeal.

We have examined petitioner's remaining contentions and find them unavailing.

THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE COURT.

Per Curiam.

All concur