On 05/17/2019 MARK ROBERT FASANO filed an Other - Arbitration lawsuit against UBS FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. This case was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Courts, Spring Street Courthouse located in Los Angeles, California. The Judge overseeing this case is WENDY CHANG. The case status is Disposed - Other Disposed.
*******1975
05/17/2019
Disposed - Other Disposed
Los Angeles County Superior Courts
Spring Street Courthouse
Los Angeles, California
WENDY CHANG
FASANO MARK ROBERT
UBS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC
HANDY KATHERINE
1/21/2020: Judgment - Judgment [Proposed] Judgment Confirming Award
1/14/2020: Minute Order - Minute Order (Hearing on Petition Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award)
11/12/2019: Minute Order - Minute Order (Hearing on Petition Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award)
11/12/2019: Declaration (name extension) - Declaration of Katherine L. Handy in Support of First Amended Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award
11/12/2019: Notice (name extension) - Notice Notice of Continuance of Hearing on Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award
9/5/2019: Notice Re: Continuance of Hearing and Order - Notice Re: Continuance of Hearing and Order
9/11/2019: Notice (name extension) - Notice of Continuance of Hearing
6/27/2019: Notice and Acknowledgment of Receipt - Notice and Acknowledgment of Receipt
6/3/2019: Amended Complaint - Amended Complaint
5/22/2019: Notice (name extension) - Notice of Withdrawal and Withdrawal of Petition to Confirm, Correct or Vacate Attorney-Client Fee Arbitration Award
5/17/2019: First Amended Standing Order - First Amended Standing Order
5/17/2019: Petition (name extension) - Petition Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award
5/17/2019: Civil Case Cover Sheet - Civil Case Cover Sheet
5/17/2019: Civil Case Cover Sheet - Civil Case Cover Sheet
5/17/2019: Notice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case - Notice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case
5/17/2019: Notice of Hearing on Petition - Notice of Hearing on Petition
DocketCase reassigned to Spring Street Courthouse in Department 26 - Hon. Serena R. Murillo; Reason: Transfer for Reassignment
DocketJudgment [Proposed] Judgment Confirming Award; Signed and Filed by: Mark Robert Fasano (Petitioner); As to: Mark Robert Fasano (Petitioner)
DocketCourt orders judgment entered for Petitioner Mark Robert Fasano against Respondent UBS Financial Services Inc on the Amended Complaint (1st) filed by Mark Robert Fasano on 06/03/2019 for a total of $0.00.
DocketMinute Order (Hearing on Petition Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award)
DocketHearing on Petition Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award scheduled for 01/14/2020 at 10:30 AM in Stanley Mosk Courthouse at Department 94 updated: Result Date to 01/14/2020; Result Type to Held - Motion Granted
DocketUpdated -- Petition Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award: Filed By: Mark Robert Fasano (Petitioner); Result: Granted; Result Date: 01/14/2020
DocketOn the Court's own motion, Hearing on Petition Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award scheduled for 11/12/2019 at 10:30 AM in Stanley Mosk Courthouse at Department 94 Not Held - Continued - Court's Motion was rescheduled to 01/14/2020 10:30 AM
DocketDeclaration of Katherine L. Handy in Support of First Amended Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award; Filed by: Mark Robert Fasano (Petitioner)
DocketNotice Notice of Continuance of Hearing on Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award; Filed by: Mark Robert Fasano (Petitioner); As to: Mark Robert Fasano (Petitioner)
DocketMinute Order (Hearing on Petition Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award)
Docketamended petition; Filed by: Mark Robert Fasano (Petitioner); As to: UBS Financial Services Inc (Respondent)
DocketNotice of Withdrawal and Withdrawal of Petition to Confirm, Correct or Vacate Attorney-Client Fee Arbitration Award; Filed by: Mark Robert Fasano (Petitioner); As to: UBS Financial Services, Inc (Respondent)
DocketHearing on Petition Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award scheduled for 09/20/2019 at 08:30 AM in Stanley Mosk Courthouse at Department 94
DocketCase assigned to Hon. Wendy Chang in Department 94 Stanley Mosk Courthouse
DocketPetition Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award; Filed by: Mark Robert Fasano (Petitioner); As to: UBS Financial Services, Inc (Respondent)
DocketCivil Case Cover Sheet; Filed by: Mark Robert Fasano (Petitioner); As to: UBS Financial Services, Inc (Respondent)
DocketCivil Case Cover Sheet; Filed by: Mark Robert Fasano (Petitioner); As to: UBS Financial Services, Inc (Respondent)
DocketNotice of Hearing on Petition; Filed by: Clerk
DocketNotice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case; Filed by: Clerk
DocketFirst Amended Standing Order; Filed by: Clerk
Case Number: 19STCP01975 Hearing Date: January 14, 2020 Dept: 94
PETITION TO CONFIRM ARBITRATION AWARD
(CCP § 1285)
TENTATIVE RULING:
Petitioner Mark Robert Fasano’s Petition is CONTINUED to MARCH 11, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. in Department 94. Petitioner is ordered to remedy all the defects identified herein.
ANALYSIS:
I. Background
Petitioner Mark Robert Fasano (“Petitioner”) asserted a claim against Respondent UBS Financial Services, Inc. (“Respondent”) seeking the expungement of a customer complaint, from his Central Registration Depository (“CRD”) records. The CRD is a database maintained by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) for firms and individuals involved in the U.S. securities industry. On July 18, 2018, Petitioner signed a FINRA Arbitration Submission Agreement (the “Arbitration Agreement”). Respondent signed an Arbitration Agreement on August 2, 2018.
On March 21, 2019, A FINRA arbitrator awarded Petitioner expungement of all references to the customer complaint from registration records maintained by the CRD. (Pet., Attach. 8(c), p. 3.) In addition, the arbitration award specifically stated that “[u]nless waived in writing by FINRA, parties seeking judicial confirmation of an arbitration award containing expungement relief must name FINRA as an additional party and serve FINRA with all appropriate documents. (Id.) The Court notes that Petitioner did not name FINRA as an additional party.
On May 17, 2019, Petitioner filed a Petition to Confirm Attorney-Client Fee Arbitration Award. On June 3, 2019, Petitioner filed the instant Fist Amended Petition to Confirm Contractual Arbitration Award (the “Petition”).
To date, no opposition or reply briefs have been filed.
II. Legal Standard
“Regardless of the particular relief granted, any arbitrator’s award is enforceable only when confirmed as a judgment of the superior court.” (O’Hare v. Municipal Resource Consultants (2003) 107 Cal.App.4th 267, 278.) “Once a petition to confirm an award is filed, the superior court must select one of only four courses of action: it may confirm the award, correct and confirm it, vacate it, or dismiss the petition.” (EHM Productions, Inc. v. Starline Tours of Hollywood, Inc. (2018) 21 Cal.App.5th 1058, 1063.) “It is well settled that the scope of judicial review of arbitration awards is extremely narrow.” (California Faculty Assn. v. Superior Court (1998) 63 Cal.App.4th 935, 943.) “Neither the trial court, nor the appellate court, may ‘review the merits of the dispute, the sufficiency of the evidence, or the arbitrator’s reasoning, nor may we correct or review an award because of an arbitrator’s legal or factual error, even if it appears on the award’s face.” (EHM Productions at p. 1063-64.)
CCP § 1285.4 states: “A petition under this chapter shall:
Set forth the substance of or have attached a copy of the agreement to arbitrate unless the petitioner denies the existence of such an agreement.
Set forth the names of the arbitrators.
(c) Set forth or have attached a copy of the award and the written opinion of the arbitrators, if any.”
Petitioner has submitted a copy of the arbitration award (Pet., Attach. 8(c)), the identity of the arbitrator (Ibid), and a copy of the Arbitration Agreement (Id., Attach. 4(b)). Accordingly, Petitioner has satisfied subsections (a) through (c) of Section 1285.4.
Code of Civil Procedure, section 1283.6 provides that “[t]he neutral arbitrator shall serve a signed copy of the award on each party to the arbitration personally or by registered or certified mail or as provided in the agreement.” (Italics added.)
Code of Civil Procedure, section 1290.4 states, in pertinent part:
“(a) A copy of the petition and a written notice of the time and place of the hearing thereof and any other papers upon which the petition is based shall be served in the manner provided in the arbitration agreement for the service of such petition and notice.
(b) If the arbitration agreement does not provide the manner in which such service shall be made and the person upon whom service is to be made has not previously appeared in the proceeding and has not previously been served in accordance with this subdivision: ¶ (1) Service within this State shall be made in the manner provided by law for the service of summons in an action.
Here, the Arbitration Agreement does not provide a manner by which to serve the petition, notice, and any other supporting papers. Thus, service of this petition must be made in the same manner as service of summons. Petitioner has not filed any proof of service in connection with this petition. Thus, Petitioner has not satisfied Code of Civil Procedure, section 1290.4.
In addition, Petitioner has not provided proof to show that FINRA served the arbitration award on Petitioner and Respondent as required by Code of Civil Procedure, section 1283.6. Thus, Petitioner has failed to satisfy section 1283.6.
A party may seek a court judgment confirming an arbitration award by filing and serving a petition at least 10 days, but no more than four years after the award is served on Respondents and Petitioners. (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 1288, 1288.4.) (Italics added.)
Because there is no proof to show when the arbitrator served the arbitration award of Respondent and Petitioner, the Court cannot determine if the Petition is timely under Code of Civil Procedure sections 1288 and 1288.4.
Based on the foregoing, Petitioner Mark Robert Fasano’s Petition is CONTINUED to MARCH 11, 2020 at 19:30 a.m. in Department 94. Petitioner is ordered to remedy all the defects identified herein.
Moving party is ordered to give notice.
Parties who intend to submit on this tentative must send an email to the Court at SMCdept94@lacourt.org as directed by the instructions provided on the court website at www.lacourt.org. If the department does not receive an email and there are no appearances at the hearing, the motion will be placed off calendar.
Case Number: 19STCP01975 Hearing Date: November 12, 2019 Dept: 94
PETITION TO CONFIRM ARBITRATION
(CCP § 1285)
TENTATIVE RULING:
The Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award is DENIED without prejudice. Petitioner is ordered to provide proof of written waiver by FINRA or proof of service of all appropriate documents in support of his Petition on FINRA in order to confirm this Arbitration Award.
ANALYSIS
: On February 11, 2019, the arbitrator, Milton N. Gross, (“Arbitrator”) issued an arbitration award (“Arbitration Award”) in favor of Petitioner Mark Robert Fasano (“Petitioner”) and against Respondent UBS Financial Services, Inc. (“Respondent”), which states in pertinent part:
“The Arbitrator recommends the expungement of all references to occurrence
number 1388583 from registration records maintained by the CRD, for Claimant
Mark Robert Fasano (CRD# 1617990), with the understanding that, pursuant to
Notice to Members 04-16, Claimant Mark Robert Fasano must obtain confirmation
from a court of competent jurisdiction before the CRD will execute the expungement
directive.
Unless specifically waived in writing by FINRA, parties seeking judicial confirmation
of an arbitration award containing expungement relief must name FINRA as an
additional party and serve FINRA with all appropriate documents.”
(Attachment 8(c), p. 3.)
After the award was issued and served on the parties, Petitioner filed a Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award (“Initial Petition”) on May 17, 2019. On May 22, 2019, Petitioner filed a notice of withdrawal of the Initial Petition. On June 3, 2019, Petitioner filed an amended petition (“Petition”) including a FINRA Arbitration Submission Agreement signed by the parties.
II. Legal Standard
“Regardless of the particular relief granted, any arbitrator’s award is enforceable only when confirmed as a judgment of the superior court.” (O’Hare v. Municipal Resource Consultants (2003) 107 Cal.App.4th 267, 278.) “Once a petition to confirm an award is filed, the superior court must select one of only four courses of action: it may confirm the award, correct and confirm it, vacate it, or dismiss the petition.” (EHM Productions, Inc. v. Starline Tours of Hollywood, Inc. (2018) 21 Cal.App.5th 1058, 1063.) “It is well settled that the scope of judicial review of arbitration awards is extremely narrow.” (California Faculty Assn. v. Superior Court (1998) 63 Cal.App.4th 935, 943.) “Neither the trial court, nor the appellate court, may ‘review the merits of the dispute, the sufficiency of the evidence, or the arbitrator’s reasoning, nor may we correct or review an award because of an arbitrator’s legal or factual error, even if it appears on the award’s face.” (Ibid.)
CCP § 1285.4 states: “A petition under this chapter shall:
Set forth the substance of or have attached a copy of the agreement to arbitrate unless the petitioner denies the existence of such an agreement.
Set forth the names of the arbitrators.
Set forth or have attached a copy of the award and the written opinion of the arbitrators, if
any.”
Petitioner has submitted a copy of the arbitration agreement (Attachment 4(b)), name of the arbitrator (Attachment 8(c), p. 5), and a copy of the Arbitration Award (Attachment 8(c)). Accordingly, Petitioner has satisfied the filing requirements of CCP § 1285.4.
CCP § 1283.6 provides that: “The neutral arbitrator shall serve a signed copy of the award on each party to the arbitration personally or by registered or certified mail or as provided in the agreement.” (Italics added.)
CCP § 1290.4 states in pertinent part:
“(a) A copy of the petition and a written notice of the time and place of the hearing thereof and any other papers upon which the petition is based shall be served in the manner provided in the arbitration agreement for the service of such petition and notice.
(b) If the arbitration agreement does not provide the manner in which such service shall be made and the person upon whom service is to be made has not previously appeared in the proceeding and has not previously been served in accordance with this subdivision: ¶ (1) Service within this State shall be made in the manner provided by law for the service of summons in an action.”
Petitioner has submitted proof that the arbitrators served the Arbitration Award on Respondent (Attachment 8(c), p. 5) and that the Notice of Petition and Petition were served by mail with acknowledgement of receipt requested on Respondent. (Notice of Acknowledgement of Receipt filed 6/27/19). The Notice of Acknowledgement of Receipt reflects that Respondent’s Counsel completed the acknowledgement of receipt of the Petition and notice of hearing on June 25, 2019. Thus, CCP §§ 1283.6 and 1290.4 have been satisfied.
However, the Arbitration Award provides: “Unless specifically waived in writing by FINRA, parties seeking judicial confirmation of an arbitration award containing expungement relief must name FINRA as an additional party and serve FINRA with all appropriate documents.” (Attachment 8(c), p. 3.)
Petitioner does not provide a written waiver by FINRA. It also does not appear that Petitioner named FINRA as an additional party or served FINRA with notice of this hearing, the Petition, or documents supporting his Petition.
A party may seek a court judgment confirming an arbitration award by filing and serving a petition at least 10 days, but no more than four years after the award is served. (CCP §§ 1288, 1288.4.)
Because the Petition was filed and served about three months after the Arbitration Award was served, it is timely under CCP §§ 1288, 1288.4.
For the foregoing reasons, the Petition is DENIED without prejudice. Petitioner is ordered to provide proof of a written waiver by FINRA or proof of service reflecting service of all documents filed in support of his Petition on FINRA in order to confirm this Arbitration Award.
Moving party is ordered to give notice.