Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 5928 (2026)

Proceedings to compel or stay arbitration

✓ current as of May 2026

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1. Application. On application of a party showing an agreement described in section 5927 and the opposing party's refusal to arbitrate, the court shall order the parties to proceed with arbitration, but if the opposing party denies the existence of the agreement to arbitrate, the court shall proceed summarily to the determination of the issue so raised and shall order arbitration if found for the moving party, otherwise, the application shall be denied.

[PL 1967, c. 430 (NEW).]

2. Stay of proceedings. On application, the court may stay an arbitration proceeding commenced or threatened on a showing that there is no agreement to arbitrate. Such an issue, when in substantial and bona fide dispute, shall be forthwith and summarily tried and the stay ordered if found for the moving party. If found for the opposing party, the court shall order the parties to proceed to arbitration.

[PL 1967, c. 430 (NEW).]

3. Arbitration where action pending. If an issue referable to arbitration under the alleged agreement is involved in an action or proceeding pending in a court having jurisdiction to hear applications under subsection 1, the application must be made therein. Otherwise and subject to section 5944, the application may be made in the Superior Court or the District Court.

[PL 2011, c. 80, §4 (AMD).]

4. Stay of action where arbitration ordered. Any action or proceeding involving an issue subject to arbitration shall be stayed, if an order for arbitration or an application therefor has been made under this section or, if the issue is severable, the stay may be with respect thereto only. When the application is made in such action or proceeding, the order for arbitration shall include such stay.

[PL 1967, c. 430 (NEW).]

5. Order for arbitration not to be refused. An order for arbitration shall not be refused on the ground that the claim in issue lacks merit or bona fides or because any fault or grounds for the claim sought to be arbitrated have not been shown.

[PL 1967, c. 430 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1967, c. 430 (NEW). PL 2011, c. 80, §4 (AMD).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 42 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1980–2022 · leading case: MacOmber v. MacQuinn-Tweedie, 2003 ME 121 (Me. 2003).

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MacOmber v. MacQuinn-Tweedie, 2003 ME 121 (Me. 2003). · cites it 4× “Thus, 14 M.R.S.A. § 5928 provides, in pertinent part: 1.”

Barrett v. McDonald Investments, Inc., 2005 ME 43 (Me. 2005). · cites it 2× “See 14 M.R.S.A. § 5928 (2003). They attached the affidavit of McDonald's branch manager, who referred to and attached a copy of the Agreement containing the arbitration clause.”

Stenzel v. Dell, Inc., 2005 ME 37 (Me. 2005). · cites it 2× “§ 4 (1999); 14 M.R.S.A. § 5928(1) (2003); see also 9 U.”

Anderson v. Banks, 37 A.3d 915 (Me. 2012). · cites it 3× “§ 5943 (2010), 4 the sisters nevertheless voluntarily participated in the arbitration because they agreed to arbitrate disputes and they failed to seek relief or stay the proceedings pursuant to 14 M.R.S. § 5928 (2010). 5 The court also concluded that the Probate Court has…”

Saga Commc'ns of New England, Inc. v. Voornas, 2000 ME 156 (Me. 2000). · cites it 2× “Saga demanded that Voornas voluntarily submit their dispute to arbitration pursuant to her employment agreement.”

Susan R. Snow v. Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson, P.A., 2017 ME 239 (Me. 2017). “Shortly after, Snow filed a motion to stay threatened arbitration pursuant to 14 M.R.S. § 5928(2) (2016). In response, relying on the arbitration provision in the engagement letter, Bernstein filed a motion to compel arbitration.”

Hl 1, LLC v. Riverwalk, LLC, 2011 ME 29 (Me. 2011). “14 M.R.S. § 5928(1) (2010) (emphasis added).”

Granger N., Inc. v. Cianchette, 572 A.2d 136 (Me. 1990). “1979) (construing 14 M.R.S.A. §§ 5928, 5938 (Supp.1978-79)).”

Cape Elizabeth Sch. Bd. v. Cape Elizabeth Teachers Ass'n, 435 A.2d 1381 (Me. 1981). “The Act provides two separate avenues for determining the arbitrability of a particular dispute: on a motion to compel or stay arbitration under 14 M.R.S.A. § 5928(1), (2), or on a motion to vacate the arbitrator’s award under § 5938(1)(E).”

Anderson v. Elliott, 555 A.2d 1042 (Me. 1989). “The section of the Act not cited, 14 M.R.S.A. § 5928 (1980), governs motions to compel or stay arbitration and resolution of pending court actions in contractual arbitration proceedings.”

Palmer v. Portland Sch. Comm., 652 A.2d 86 (Me. 1995). · cites it 2× “Palmer contends that the Superior Court erred in denying his application to compel arbitration pursuant to 14 M.R.S.A. § 5928 (1980). 1 Palmer filed the application on November 9, 1992 in response to the Committee’s allegation that he had failed to exhaust his remedies pursuant…”

J.M. Huber Corp. v. Main-Erbauer, Inc., 493 A.2d 1048 (Me. 1985). “However, Huber’s motion also invokes 14 M.R.S.A. § 5928(2), the section of the Arbitration Act that provides for application to “stay an arbitration proceeding commenced or threatened.”

Show all 42 citing cases →

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 5928(1) — 17 cases

MacOmber v. MacQuinn-Tweedie, 2003 ME 121 (Me. 2003). “Thus, 14 M.R.S.A. § 5928 provides, in pertinent part: 1.”

Stenzel v. Dell, Inc., 2005 ME 37 (Me. 2005). “§ 4 (1999); 14 M.R.S.A. § 5928(1) (2003); see also 9 U.”

Hl 1, LLC v. Riverwalk, LLC, 2011 ME 29 (Me. 2011). “14 M.R.S. § 5928(1) (2010) (emphasis added).”

Saga Commc'ns of New England, Inc. v. Voornas, 2000 ME 156 (Me. 2000). “Saga demanded that Voornas voluntarily submit their dispute to arbitration pursuant to her employment agreement.”

Cape Elizabeth Sch. Bd. v. Cape Elizabeth Teachers Ass'n, 435 A.2d 1381 (Me. 1981). “The Act provides two separate avenues for determining the arbitrability of a particular dispute: on a motion to compel or stay arbitration under 14 M.R.S.A. § 5928(1), (2), or on a motion to vacate the arbitrator’s award under § 5938(1)(E).”

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 5928(2) — 9 cases

Susan R. Snow v. Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson, P.A., 2017 ME 239 (Me. 2017). “Shortly after, Snow filed a motion to stay threatened arbitration pursuant to 14 M.R.S. § 5928(2) (2016). In response, relying on the arbitration provision in the engagement letter, Bernstein filed a motion to compel arbitration.”

J.M. Huber Corp. v. Main-Erbauer, Inc., 493 A.2d 1048 (Me. 1985). “However, Huber’s motion also invokes 14 M.R.S.A. § 5928(2), the section of the Arbitration Act that provides for application to “stay an arbitration proceeding commenced or threatened.”

Cnty. of Hancock v. Teamsters Union Local 340, 2010 ME 135 (Me. 2010).

Dep't of Educ. & Cultural Servs. v. Maine State Employees Ass'n, 433 A.2d 415 (Me. 1981).

Klein v. Klein (Me. Super. Ct 2017).

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 5928(4) — 9 cases

Maine Coast Masonry, LLC v. Seymour (Me. Super. Ct 2020).

England v. Cantara (Me. Super. Ct 2008).

Machias Animal Hosp., Inc. v. Patriot Ins. Co. (Me. Super. Ct 2014).

TPR, Inc. v. Paychex, Inc., 2020 ME 79 (Me. 2020).

TPR, Inc. v. Paychex, Inc., 2020 ME 79 (Me. 2020).

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