United States Seventh Circuit

In a challenge to an arbitrator's decision in favor of an insurance company in a dispute over the insurer's alteration of the policy, district court order affirming the arbitration award is reversed and remanded where: 1) a choice of law provision in an arbitration clause can designate the governing substantive norms for the arbitration; and 2) the arbitrator's omission of any discussion about a Wisconsin misrepresentation statute violated the arbitration clause's directive that he "strictly" apply Wisconsin law.

Appellate Information

• Argued 01/11/2008
• Decided 02/11/2008
• Published 02/11/2008

Judges

• POSNER, Circuit Judge., Before BAUER, POSNER, and EVANS, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Seventh Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• John E. Murray (argued), Simandl & Murray, Waukesha, WI, for Plaintiff-Appellant., Charlotte Gibson, Office of the Attorney General, Wisconsin Dept. of Justice, Madison, WI, for Amicus Curiae State of Wisconsin., Noreen J. Parrett, Parrett & O'Connell, Madison, WI, for Amicus Curiae, National Association of Insurance Commissioners.


• For Appellees:
  
• Anne W. Reed (argued), Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren, Milwaukee, WI, for Defendant-Appellee.