Vernon Vu Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109 (9th Cir. 2004). · Go Syfert
Vernon Vu Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109 (9th Cir. 2004). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
“he . . . ninth recognize a non-statutory escape valve from an arbitral award where the arbitrator has manifestly disregarded the law.”
82 citation events (82 in the last 25 years) across 11 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Tesla Motors, Inc. v. Cristina Balan (ca9, 2025-04-14)
Treatment trajectory · 2003 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
2003 2014 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 41 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Tesla Motors, Inc. v. Cristina Balan
9th Cir. · 2025 · signal: see also · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
10 create federal question jurisdiction even when the underlying arbitration involves a federal question.
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Hawaii Medical Services Association v. Nitta, M.D. (3×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
D. Haw. · 2019 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
he . . . ninth recognize a non-statutory escape valve from an arbitral award where the arbitrator has manifestly disregarded the law.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Citizens Bank, N.A. v. Magleby
D. Nev. · 2025 · confidence medium
It must be clear from the record that the arbitrators recognized the applicable law and 13 then ignored it.” Luong v. Cir. City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109, 1112 (9th Cir. 2004) 14 (simplified). 15 Magleby fails to satisfy this high burden.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Nikola Corporation v. Milton
D. Ariz. · 2024 · confidence medium
Manifest disregard of the law “means something more than just an error in the 3 law or a failure on the part of the arbitrators to understand or apply the law.” Luong v. 4 Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109, 1112 (9th Cir. 2004).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Keolis Transit America, Inc. v. Teamsters Union, Local 533
D. Nev. · 2023 · confidence medium
However, "manifest disregard for 11 the law means something more than just an error in the law[.]" Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 12 368 F.3d 1109, 1112 (9th Cir. 2004).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Paynter v. UBS Financial Services Incorporated
D. Ariz. · 2023 · confidence medium
Manifest disregard of the law “means something more than just 3 an error in the law or a failure on the part of the arbitrators to understand or apply the law.” 4 Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109, 1112 (9th Cir. 2004).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Fowler v. T-Mobile USA Incorporated
D. Ariz. · 2023 · confidence medium
Manifest disregard of the law means that “the 15 arbitrators recognized the applicable law and then ignored it.” Luong v. Circuit City Stores, 16 Inc., 368 F.3d 1109, 1112 (9th Cir. 2004).
cited Cited as authority (rule) de Jesus v. UnitedHealth Group
D. Ariz. · 2023 · confidence medium
Manifest disregard of the law means that “the arbitrators recognized the applicable 28 law and then ignored it.” Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109, 1112 (9th Cir. 1 2004).
examined Cited as authority (rule) (PS) Sanai v. Cobrae (4×) also: Cited "see"
E.D. Cal. · 2022 · confidence medium
Although Congress, in the 27 exercise of its commerce power, has provided for some governmental regulation of private arbitration agreements, we do not find in private arbitration proceedings the state action requisite 28 for a constitutional due process claim.”). 1 Citing Luong v. Cir. City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109, 1111 (9th Cir. 2004), plaintiff also 2 argues federal question jurisdiction exists because the arbitration award was rendered in manifest 3 disregard of federal law.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Caremark LLC v. AIDS Healthcare Foundation
D. Ariz. · 2022 · confidence medium
Manifest disregard of the law means that 15 “the arbitrators recognized the applicable law and then ignored it.” Luong v. Circuit City 16 Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109, 1112 (9th Cir. 2004).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Pfeil v. Discover Bank
D. Ariz. · 2021 · confidence medium
Accordingly, the Court does not have diversity jurisdiction. 16 The Court also does not have federal question jurisdiction over this case. 28 U.S.C. 17 § 1331 invests in district courts “original jurisdiction of all civil actions arising under the 18 Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.” A petition to vacate an arbitration 19 award does not “arise under” federal law merely because “the underlying arbitration 20 involves a federal question[;]” instead, the federal question “must be presented in a well- 21 pleaded petition.” Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 3…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) First Student, Inc. v. Teamsters, Local 959
D. Alaska · 2019 · confidence medium
Standard for Vacating Arbitration Award The Court’s scope of “review of an arbitration award is greatly limited” as “arbitration is an encouraged method of dispute resolution.”52 “[C]ourts reviewing labor arbitration awards afford a ‘nearly unparalleled degree of deference’ to the arbitrator's decision.”53 “This deference applies both to the arbitrator’s interpretation of the parties’ agreement and to [her] findings of fact.”54 The United States Supreme Court has held that “a court should not reject an award on the ground that the arbitrator misread the contract.”…
cited Cited as authority (rule) Russ v. United Services Automobile Association
D. Ariz. · 2019 · confidence medium
It held that Section 10 does not 22 “create federal question jurisdiction even when the underlying arbitration involves a 23 federal question.” Id. at 1111 (emphasis added).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Carmax Auto Superstores California LLC v. Hernandez
C.D. Cal. · 2015 · confidence medium
Stated differently, “federal courts must have an independent basis for federal jurisdiction to hear claims under the FAA.” Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109, 1111 (9th Cir.2004) (citing Moses H.
cited Cited as authority (rule) The Sunrise Trust v. Morgan Stanley & Co.
9th Cir. · 2014 · confidence medium
Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109, 1111-12 (9th Cir.2004) (emphasis added) (internal quotation marks omitted); see also Lippitt v. Raymond James Fin.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Fox v. Faust
3rd Cir. · 2007 · confidence medium
See Cmty. State Bank v. Strong, 485 F.3d 597, 624-25 (11th Cir.2007) (Marcus, J., concurring); Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109, 1111 (9th Cir.2004); Green-berg v. Bear, Stearns & Co., 220 F.3d 22, 26 (2d Cir.2000); Kasap v. Folger Nolan Fleming & Douglas, Inc., 166 F.3d 1243, 1247 (D.C.Cir.1999); Minor v. Prudential Sec., Inc., 94 F.3d 1103, 1105-07 (7th Cir.1996).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Cole v. Long John Silver's Restaurants, Inc.
D.S.C. · 2005 · confidence medium
Poe Syndicate, 358 F.3d 1286, 1290-94 (11th Cir.2004) (same); City of Detroit Pension Fund v. Prudential Sec., Inc., 91 F.3d 26, 29 (6th Cir.1996) (same); Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109, 1110-11, n. 3 (9th Cir.2004) (stating that § 10 does not in and of itself establish federal jurisdiction); Greenberg v. Bear, Stearns & Co., 220 F.3d 22, 26 (2d Cir.2000) (same); Kasap v. Folger, Nolan, Fleming, & Douglas, Inc., 166 F.3d 1243, 1247 (D.C.Cir.1999) (same); Baltin v. Alaron Trading Corp., 128 F.3d 1466, 1472 (11th Cir.1997) (same); Minor v. Prudential Sec., Inc., 94 F.3d 1103,…
cited Cited as authority (rule) Campbell v. Redding Medical Center
9th Cir. · 2005 · confidence medium
Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109, 1111 (9th Cir.2004).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Cambell v. United States
9th Cir. · 2005 · confidence medium
Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109, 1111 (9th Cir. 2004).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Campbell v. Redding Medical Center
9th Cir. · 2005 · confidence medium
Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109, 1111 (9th Cir.2004).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) John P. Biscanin v. Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
8th Cir. · 2005 · confidence medium
He cites two cases in support of the proposition that a claim of manifest disregard of federal law triggers federal-question jurisdiction, Greenberg v. Bear, Stearns & Co., 220 F.3d 22, 27 (2d Cir. 2000), and Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109, 1112 (9th Cir.2004).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) John P. Biscanin v. Merrill Lynch & Co.
8th Cir. · 2005 · confidence medium
He cites two cases in support of the proposition that a claim of manifest disregard of federal law triggers federal-question jurisdiction, Greenberg v. Bear, Stearns & Co., 220 F.3d 22, 27 (2d Cir.2000), and Luong v. Circuit City Stores, *907 Inc., 368 F.3d 1109, 1112 (9th Cir.2004).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Theis Research, Inc. v. Brown & Bain
9th Cir. · 2005 · confidence medium
Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109, 1112 (9th Cir.2004) ( Luong II ).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Theis Research, Inc. v. Brown & Bain
9th Cir. · 2005 · confidence medium
Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109, 1112 (9th Cir.2004) (Luong II).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Theis Research, Inc. v. Brown & Bain
9th Cir. · 2004 · confidence medium
Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109, 1112 (9th Cir. 2004) (Luong IF)- In the Luong II opinion, the panel did not address the question whether the amount in controversy in a proceeding to vacate an arbitration award should be determined by the amount of the award or by the amount at issue in the underlying dispute.
examined Cited as authority (rule) Donald Carter Kathryn S. Carter v. Health Net of California, Inc. (4×) also: Cited "see"
9th Cir. · 2004 · confidence medium
In Luong v. Circuit City Stores, we followed four other circuits in holding that § 10 of the FAA, which lists the grounds for vacatur of an arbitration award, does not create federal question jurisdiction “even when the underlying arbitration involves a federal question.” 368 F.3d 1109, 1111 (9th Cir.2004) (citing Greenberg v. Bear, Stearns & Co., 220 F.3d 22, 25-27 (2d Cir.2000), cert. denied, 531 U.S. 1075 , 121 S.Ct. 770 , 148 L.Ed.2d 669 (2001); Kasap v. Folger Nolan Fleming & Douglas, Inc., 166 F.3d 1243, 1247 (D.C.Cir.1999); Minor v. Prudential Secs., Inc., 94 F.3d 1103, 1107 (7th C…
discussed Cited "see" United States v. Park Place Association
9th Cir. · 2009 · signal: see · confidence high
See Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc. 368 F.3d 1109, 1111 (9th Cir. 2004).7 [2] Section 1345 of Title 28 furnishes an independent basis for federal subject matter jurisdiction for “all civil actions, suits or proceedings commenced by the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 1345 ; see United States v. Yakima Tribal Court, 806 F.2d 853, 858 (9th Cir. 1986).
discussed Cited "see" United States v. Park Place Associates, Ltd.
9th Cir. · 2009 · signal: see · confidence high
See Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc. 368 F.3d 1109, 1111 (9th Cir.2004). 7 Section 1345 of Title 28 furnishes an independent basis for federal subject matter jurisdiction for “all civil actions, suits or proceedings commenced by the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 1345 ; see United States v. Yakima Tribal Court, 806 F.2d 853, 858 (9th Cir.1986).
cited Cited "see" Viray v. Mora
9th Cir. · 2007 · signal: see · confidence high
See Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109 , 1111 n. 2 (9th Cir.2004).
cited Cited "see" Amerco v. NLRB
9th Cir. · 2006 · signal: see · confidence high
See Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109 , 1111 n.2 (9th Cir. 2004).
cited Cited "see" Amerco v. National Labor Relations Board
9th Cir. · 2006 · signal: see · confidence high
See Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109 , 1111 n. 2 (9th Cir. 2004).
cited Cited "see" AMERCO v. National Labor Relations Board
9th Cir. · 2006 · signal: see · confidence high
See Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109 , 1111 n. 2 (9th Cir.2004).
cited Cited "see" Dubin v. Real
9th Cir. · 2006 · signal: see · confidence high
See Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109 , 1111 n. 2 (9th Cir.2004).
discussed Cited "see" Sroka Family, LLC v. Prudential Securities, Inc. (2×)
9th Cir. · 2006 · signal: see · confidence high
See Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109, 1111 (9th Cir.2004).
discussed Cited "see" Sroka Family, LLC v. Prudential Securities, Inc. (2×)
9th Cir. · 2006 · signal: see · confidence high
See Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109, 1111 (9th Cir.2004).
cited Cited "see" Chris Lusby Taylor Nancy A. Pepple-Gonsalves v. Steve Westly, in His Capacity as Controller of the State of California
9th Cir. · 2005 · signal: see · confidence high
See Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109 , 1111 n. 2 (9th Cir.2004). 15 .
cited Cited "see" Center for Biological Diversity v. Veneman
9th Cir. · 2005 · signal: see · confidence high
See Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109 , 1111 n. 2 (9th Cir.2004); City of San Diego v. Whitman, 242 F.3d 1097, 1101 (9th Cir.2001).
cited Cited "see" Center for Biological Diversity
9th Cir. · 2005 · signal: see · confidence high
See Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109 , 1111 n.2 (9th Cir. 2004); City of San Diego v. Whitman, 242 F.3d 1097, 1101 (9th Cir. 2001).
cited Cited "see" ANA International Inc. v. Way
9th Cir. · 2004 · signal: see · confidence high
See Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109 , 1111 n. 2 (9th Cir. 2004).
cited Cited "see" Ana International Inc. v. Way
9th Cir. · 2004 · signal: see · confidence high
See Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109 , 1111 n. 2 (9th Cir.2004).
cited Cited "see" Center for Biological Diversity v. Veneman
9th Cir. · 2003 · signal: see · confidence high
See Luong v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 368 F.3d 1109 , 1111 n. 2 (9th Cir.2004); City of San Diego v. Whitman, 242 F.3d 1097, 1101 (9th Cir. 2001).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Vernon Vu LUONG, Petitioner-Appellant,
v.
CIRCUIT CITY STORES, INC., Respondent-Appellee
Mai D. Wells, Infinity Law Group, Anaheim, CA, for the petitioner-appellant., Rex Darrell Berry, Livingston & Matte-sich, Sacramento, CA, for the respondent-appellee.
Fernandez, Kozinski, Rymer.
Cited by 58 opinions  |  Published
RYMER, Circuit Judge.

Vernon Vu Luong appeals dismissal of his petition to vacate an arbitration award in favor of Circuit City Stores, Inc. for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. His petition claims that the arbitrator manifestly disregarded Toyota Motor Mfg., Inc. v. Williams, 534 U.S. 184, 122 S.Ct. 681, 151 L.Ed.2d 615 (2002), in ruling that Circuit City did not violate his rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101-12213(ADA). He argues that the allegation of manifest disregard of federal law raises a federal question. We agree that it does, and that the district court had subject matter jurisdiction over Luong’s petition. However, the petition fails because the arbitrator did not manifestly disregard Toyota. Accordingly, we affirm.

I

On August 24, 2000, Luong brought an action for discrimination in violation of the ADA against Circuit City in federal district court. Circuit City moved to compel arbitration based on an arbitration agreement. The district court granted the petition to compel and dismissed the action.

The dispute was arbitrated. The arbitrator found that Luong was neither disabled nor regarded as disabled under Toyota, thus Circuit City did not violate the ADA.

Luong then filed a petition to vacate the arbitration award pursuant to Section 10 of the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § lO(FAA). [1] This petition prem[*1111] ised federal jurisdiction only on the FAA, which we have held does not confer subject matter jurisdiction. Garrett v. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., 7 F.3d 882, 883-84 (9th Cir.1993). Luong amended his petition to allege diversity of citizenship with more than $75,000 in controversy, 28 U.S.C. § 1332, and a federal question arising out of the arbitrator’s manifest disregard of federal law, 28 U.S.C. § 1331. The petition asserts that the arbitrator “ignored federal law as well as refused to correctly apply federal law,” and attaches a copy of the arbitrator’s decision as an exhibit.

Circuit City moved to dismiss Luong’s petition for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, which the district court granted. This timely appeal followed, and we have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. [2]

II

It is well settled that federal courts must have an independent basis for federal jurisdiction to hear claims under the FAA, see, e.g., Moses H. Cone Mem’l Hosp. v. Mercury Constr. Corp., 460 U.S. 1, 25 n. 32, 103 S.Ct. 927, 74 L.Ed.2d 765 (1983); Southland Corp. v. Keating, 465 U.S. 1, 15 n. 9, 104 S.Ct. 852, 79 L.Ed.2d 1 (1984), and that 9 U.S.C. § 10 does not provide it, see Garrett, 7 F.3d at 884. [3] Other circuits hold the same view. See, e.g., Kasap, 166 F.3d at 1247; Baltin v. Alaron Trading Corp., 128 F.3d 1466, 1469 (11th Cir.1997); Minor, 94 F.3d at 1105; Ford v. Hamilton Invs., Inc., 29 F.3d 255, 257-58 (6th Cir.1994); Harry Hoffman Printing, Inc. v. Graphic Communications, Local 261, 912 F.2d 608, 611 (2d Cir.1990). Nor does § 10 create federal question jurisdiction even when the underlying arbitration involves a federal question. See, e.g., Greenberg v. Bear, Stearns & Co., 220 F.3d 22, 27 (2d Cir.2000), cert. denied, 531 U.S. 1075, 121 S.Ct. 770, 148 L.Ed.2d 669 (2001); Kasap, 166 F.3d at 1247; Minor, 94 F.3d at 1106; Ford, 29 F.3d at 257-58. In sum, a federal question for purposes of subject matter jurisdiction must be presented in a well-pleaded petition.

Luong argues that federal question jurisdiction exists over his petition to vacate because it alleges that the arbitrator’s award was rendered in manifest disregard of federal law — Toyota Motor Mfg., Inc. v. Williams, 534 U.S. 184, 122 S.Ct. 681, 151 L.Ed.2d 615 (2002). He invites us to follow Greenberg, where the Second Circuit held that when a petition to vacate “complains principally and in good faith that the award was rendered in manifest disregard of federal law, a substantial federal question is presented and the federal courts[*1112] have jurisdiction to entertain the petition.” 220 F.3d at 27.

Greenberg makes a forceful case for why the ground asserted in the petition to vacate makes a difference for purposes of federal question jurisdiction. Section 10 allows an award to be vacated on the grounds of fraud, corruption, undue means, evident partiality, procedural misconduct, and exceeding powers. However, both the Second Circuit and the Ninth recognize a non-statutory escape valve from an arbitral award where the arbitrator has manifestly disregarded the law. See DiRussa v. Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., 121 F.3d 818, 821 (2d Cir.1997); Todd Shipyards Corp. v. Cunard Line, Ltd., 943 F.2d 1056, 1059-60 (9th Cir.1991) (suggesting that this ground really defines § 10(d)); Sheet Metal Workers Int’l Ass’n Local Union # 420 v. Kinney Air Conditioning Co., 756 F.2d 742, 746 (9th Cir.1985). Given this additional ground for vacatur, the court in Greenberg reasoned that

[i]n contrast to grounds of review that concern the arbitration process itself— such as corruption or abuse of power— review for manifest disregard of federal law necessarily requires the reviewing court to do two things: first, determine what the federal law is, and second, determine whether the arbitrator’s decision manifestly disregarded that law. This process so immerses the federal court in questions of federal law and their proper application that federal question subject matter jurisdiction is present.

Greenberg, 220 F.3d at 27. We agree and therefore conclude that we have federal question jurisdiction over the case.

However, “manifest disregard of the law” has a well-defined meaning that Luong’s petition cannot possibly meet. “Manifest disregard of the law means something more than just an error in the law or a failure on the part of the arbitrators to understand or apply the law.” Mich. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Unigard Sec. Ins. Co., 44 F.3d 826, 832 (9th Cir.1995) (internal quotation marks omitted). “It must be clear from the record that the arbitrators recognized the applicable law and then ignored it.” Id.

Luong’s complaint is that the arbitrator extended the ruling of Toyota, and thus disregarded it. However, without expressing a view one way or the other on whether the arbitrator got Toyota right, it is clear that the arbitrator did not ignore it. His written decision is part of the petition. Virtually every line of the opinion and award discusses Toyota and how it plays out on the facts in Luong’s case. That cannot amount to “manifest disregard of federal law.”

Ill

Circuit City’s request for attorneys’ fees and costs pursuant to Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure 38 and 39, and Ninth Circuit Local Rule 30-2, is denied. Luong’s appeal is not frivolous. [4]

AFFIRMED.

1

. Section 10 provides that a federal court may vacate an arbitration award:

(1) where the award was procured by corruption, fraud, or undue means;
[*1111] (2) where there was evident partiality or corruption in the arbitrators, or either of them;
(3) where the arbitrators were guilty of misconduct in refusing to postpone the hearing, upon sufficient cause shown, or in refusing to hear evidence pertinent and material to the controversy; or of any other misbehavior by which the rights of any party have been prejudiced; or
(4) where the arbitrators exceeded their powers, or so imperfectly executed them that a mutual, final, and definite award upon the subject matter submitted was not made.

9 U.S.C. § 10(a)(l)-(4).

2

. We review de novo the district court’s dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Crum v. Circus Circus Enters., 231 F.3d 1129, 1130 (9th Cir.2000).

3

. This is quite an odd construct, as we and others have observed. See, e.g., Garrett, 7 F.3d at 883 (observing that § 10 of the FAA on its face appears to confer subject matter jurisdiction, but precedent is to the contrary); Kasap v. Folger Nolan Fleming & Douglas, Inc., 166 F.3d 1243, 1246 (D.C.Cir.1999); Minor v. Prudential Secs., Inc., 94 F.3d 1103, 1105 (7th Cir.1996) (noting that the FAA is “something of an anomaly in the field of federal-court jurisdiction”). Nevertheless, the need for an independent basis for federal jurisdiction is clear.

4

. Given this disposition, we need not reach Circuit City's alternative argument for affir-manee based on the statute of limitations.