Judge: Mark E. Windham, Case: 24STCP00466, Date: 2024-07-08 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 24STCP00466    Hearing Date: July 8, 2024    Dept: 26

Forward Financing, LLC v. Bianca, et al.

PETITION TO CONFIRM ARBITRATION AWARD

(CCP § 1285, et seq.)

TENTATIVE RULING:

Petitioner Forward Financing, LLC’s Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO ALLOW PETITIONER TO FILE AND SERVE AN AMENDED PETITION THAT CORRECTS THE DEFECTS NOTED HEREIN.

ANALYSIS:

On February 14, 2024, Petitioner Forward Financing, LLC (“Petitioner”) filed the instant Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award (the “Petition”) against BLC, Inc. dba Bellacures (“BLC”) and Respondent Bianca Christopher (“Respondent”). No proof of service of, nor opposition to, the Petition has been filed to date.

Legal Standard

“Any party to an arbitration in which an award has been made may petition the court to confirm, correct or vacate the award.  The petition shall name as respondent all parties to the arbitration and may name as respondents any other persons bound by the arbitration award.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 1285.) “If a petition or response under this chapter is duly served and filed, the court shall confirm the award as made, whether rendered in this state or another state, unless in accordance with this chapter it corrects the award and confirms it as corrected, vacates the award or dismisses the proceeding.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 1286.)

A response to a Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award that seeks to vacate or correct the award must be served and filed no later than 100 days after the date of the service of a signed copy of the award on the respondent. (Code Civ. Proc., § 1288.2.)

Discussion

Code of Civil Procedure, section 1290.4 requires that the Petition and Notice of Hearing be served on Respondent “in the manner provided in the arbitration agreement for the service of such petition and notice” or “[i]f the arbitration agreement does not provide the manner in which such service shall be made . . . [s]ervice within this State shall be made in the manner provided by law for the service of summons in an action.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 1290.4, subds. (a), (b).)

First, the Petition does not name all parties to the arbitration as required by Code of Civil Procedure section 1285. The Petition only names Respondent but does not name BLC. (See Pet., ¶1 and Attachment 8(c).) Second, no proof of service of the Petition and Notice of Hearing has been filed as required by Code of Civil Procedure section 1290.4. The arbitration agreement does not provide for the manner of service of the Petition and Notice of Hearing, which therefore must be served in the manner of service for a summons. (Pet., Attachment 4(b).) Accordingly, the Court finds that the requirements of Code of Civil Procedure section 1290.4 are not satisfied.

Conclusion

Petitioner Forward Financing, LLC’s Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO ALLOW PETITIONER TO FILE AND SERVE AN AMENDED PETITION THAT CORRECTS THE DEFECTS NOTED HEREIN.

Petitioner to give notice.