Rhone Mediterranee Compagnia Francese Di Assicurazioni E Riassicurazioni v. Achille Lauro (1983)

We deemed the attachment contrary to the Convention in reliance on the Third Circuit’s decision that article 11(3) of the Convention completely ousts a district court of jurisdiction, other than the power to “refer the parties to arbitration.” See McCreary Tire & Rubber Co. v. CEAT S.p.A., 501 F.2d 1032, 1038 (3d Cir.1974); but see Rhone, 712 F.2d at 55 (subsequent Third Circuit decision recognizing court’s authority to stay action pending arbitration under Convention).

The policy of the Convention is best served by an approach which leads to upholding agreements to arbitrate." Id. at 54 (emphasis added).

The policy of the Convention is best served by an approach which leads to upholding agreements to arbitrate.” Id. at 54 (emphasis added).

To the contrary, in cases such as this, judicial interim relief may be necessary to preserve the meaningfulness of the arbitral process.” (internal citation omitted)); Rhone Mediterranee Compagnia Francese Di Assicurazioni E Riassicurazoni v. Lauro, 712 F.2d 50, 55 (3d Cir. 1983) (allowing district court to maintain jurisdiction pending arbitration). 7 Case: 16-30984 Document: 00514141369 Page: 8 Date Filed: 09/01/2017 No. 16-30984 provisional remedies . . . such as an attac…

We have commented that "[t]he policy of the Convention is best served by an approach which leads to upholding agreements to arbitrate." Rhone Mediterranee Compagnia Francese di Assicurazioni E Riassicurazoni v. Lauro , 712 F.2d 50, 54 (3d Cir. 1983).

Cf. Mitsubishi, supra; Scherk, supra; Rhone, 712 F.2d at 53 (whether the arbitration agreement is “null and void” under Article 11(3) turns on whether the agreement is “subject to an internationally recognized defense such as duress, mistake, fraud, or waiver”) (emphasis added); Tennessee Imports, Inc. v. Filippi, 745 F.Supp. 1314, 1322 (M.D.Tenn.1990) (same); Oriental Commercial and Shipping v. Rosseel, 609 F.Supp. 75, 77-78 (S.D.N.Y.1985) (same).

Whether the Convention Requires the Court to Enforce the Arbitration Clause “The Convention requires a district court to order arbitration if an international arbitration clause falls within the Convention’s coverage.”36 “Indeed, the Convention ‘contemplates a very limited inquiry by courts when considering a motion to compel arbitration.’”37 The Convention requires American courts to enforce arbitration clauses if: 31 Id. (quoting Scherk v. Alberto-Culver Co., 417 U.S. 506 …

Co., 687 F.3d 163, 169-70 (3d Cir. 2012) (quoting Rhone Mediterranee Compagnia Francese di Assicurazioni E Riassicurazoni v. Lauro, 712 F.2d 50, 53 (3d Cir. 1983) (internal quotation marks omitted); see also Bautista, 396 F.3d at 1302 (“The Convention’s null and void clause . . . limits the bases upon which an international arbitration agreement may be challenged to standard breach- of-contract defenses.” (quoting DiMercurio, 202 F.3d at 79 ) (internal quotation marks omitte…

In Rhone Mediterranee Compagnia Francese Di Assicurazioni E Riassicurazoni v. Lauro, 712 F.2d 50, 53 (3d Cir.1983), the Third Circuit found “that an agreement to arbitrate is ‘null and void’ only (1) when it is subject to an internationally recognized defense such as duress, mistake, fraud, or waiver ... or (2) when it contravenes fundamental policies of the forum state” and so domestic law.

Rhone, 712 F.2d at 53.

In this case, the agreement reads, “[a]ny Arbitration hearing shall take place in Nashville, 29 Rhone Mediterranee Compagnia Francese Di Assicurazioni E Riassicurazoni v. Lauro, 712 F.2d 50, 53 (3d Cir. 1983). 30 Simon, No. G-13-0444, 2014 WL 12617820 , at *2 (collecting cases). 31 Id. (quoting Francisco, 293 F.3d at 273 ). 32 Freudensprung v. Offshore Tech.

The null- and-void clause, moreover, “must be read narrowly, for the signatory nations have jointly declared a general policy of enforceability of agreements to arbitrate.” Id. (quoting Rhone Mediterranee Compagnia Francese Di Assicurazioni E Riassicurazoni v. Lauro, 712 F.2d 50, 53 (3d Cir.1983) (internal quotation marks omitted)).

“The ‘null and void’ language must be read narrowly, for the signatory nations have jointly declared a general policy of enforceability of agreements to arbitrate.” Rhone Mediterranee Compagnia Francese di Assicurazioni E Riassicurazoni v. Lauro, 712 F.2d 50, 53 (3d Cir.1983); accord Riley v. Kingsley Underwriting Agencies, Ltd., 969 F.2d 953, 960 (10th Cir.1992).

Corp., 220 F.3d 99, 102 (3d Cir. 2000) (“This matter arises under Chapter Two of the FAA, which implements the CREFAA.”) See also Rhone Mediterranee Compagnia Francese Di Assicurazioni E Riassicurazoni v. Lauro, 712 F.2d 50, 52 (3d Cir. 1983) (“The Federal Arbitration Act... implements the United States’ accession on September 1,1970 to the Convention...”).

E.g., Rhone Mediterranee Compagnia Francese Di Assicurazioni E Riassicurazoni v. Lauro, 712 F.2d 50, 54 (3d Cir.1983).

Instead, the court should limit application of the “null and void” clause to cases in which the arbitration agreement itself is “subject to an internationally recognized defense such as duress, mistake, fraud or waiver, or ... when [the agreement] contravenes fundamental policies of the forum state.” Rhone Mediterranee Compagnia Francese di Assicurazioni e Riassicurazoni v. Lauro, 712 F.2d 50, 53 (3d Cir.1983) (citations omitted); see also Ledee, 684 F.2d at 184 ; Podar Bros…

Rhone Mediterranee Compagnia v. Achille Lauro, 712 F.2d 50, 53-54 (3d Cir.1983).

The New York Convention "recognizes the central role of the parties in fashioning the arbitration procedure, and provides sanctions for failure to adhere to the agreed procedures." Born at 44; see also Rhone Mediterranee Compagnia Francese di Assicurazioni E Riassicurazoni v. Lauro, 712 F.2d 50, 54 (3d Cir. 1983).

Compare Rhone Mediteranee Compagnia v. Lauro, 712 F.2d 50 , 51 (3d Cir.1983) (grant of stay pending arbitration appealable) with Jacobson v. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, 797 F.2d 1197 , 1199 n. 1 (3d Cir.1986) (citing Rhone for proposition that orders compelling arbitration are appealable), vacated on other grounds, — U.S. —, 107 S.Ct. 3204 , 96 L.Ed.2d 691 (1987).

See Rhone Mediterranee Compagnia v. Lauro, 712 F.2d 50 , 51-52 (3d Cir.1983) (because a suit for breach of a time charter agreement may be brought in admiralty or at law, an order granting a stay pending arbitration may be immediately appealed).

See Rhone Mediterranee Compagnia, 712 F.2d at 52-54 (affirming district court order staying action pending arbitration in Italy even though Italian law stated that “in Italy an arbitration clause calling for an even number of arbitrators is null and void” and the arbitration clause at issue called for an even number of arbitrators), abrogated on other grounds by Zosky v. Boyer, 856 F.2d 554 (3d Cir.1988); Acosta v. Norwegian Cruise Line, Ltd., 303 F.Supp.2d 1327, 1332 (S.D.F…

PLC, 202 F.3d 71, 80 (1st Cir.2000)); see also Riley v. Kingsley Underwriting Agencies, Ltd., 969 F.2d 953, 960 (10th Cir.1992) (“[W]e agree with the Third Circuit and its reasoning to the ef *229 feet that the ‘null and void’ exception in the Convention is to be narrowly construed.”) (citing See Rhone Mediterranee Compagnia Francese di Assicurazioni E Riassicurazoni v. Lauro, 712 F.2d 50, 53 (3d Cir.1983)); Meadows Indem.

See Rhone Meditenanee Compagnia Francese Di Assicurazioni E Riassicurazoni v. Lauro, 555 F.Supp. 481, 486 (D.Vi.1Z982), aff’d, 712 F.2d 50 (3d Cir.1983).

See Rhone Mediterranee Compagnia Francese Di Assicurazioni E Riassicurazoni v. Achille Lauro, 712 F.2d 50 (3d Cir.1983) (resolving the ambiguity in Article II, section 3 of the Convention regarding which law applies to the inquiry of whether an agreement to arbitrate is "null and void” as calling for the application of the law of the forum or other internationally recognized principles). 17 .

Id. at 6 (emphasis added); accord Rhone Mediterranee Compagnia Francese Di Assicurazioni E Riassicurazoni v. Lauro, 712 F.2d 50, 54 (3d Cir.1983) (concluding that granting a stay pending arbitration is permissible in Convention cases); Filanto, S.p.A. v. Chilewich Intern.

Because plaintiffs claims against Marshalls and WSI involve common issues of fact and law, and because plaintiffs claims against Marshalls are based upon claimed rights which are to be determined in plaintiffs pending arbitration with WSI, the action should be stayed as to both WSI and Marshalls, Lawson Fabrics, 355 F.Supp. at 1151 ; see, e.g., Rhone Mediterranee Compagnia Francese v. Lauro, 555 F.Supp. 481, 486 (D.V.I.1982), aff'd, 712 F.2d 50 (3d Cir.1983); Dale Metals Cor…