Evans

I. INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff, Susan E. Evans, appeals from orders compelling arbitration and confirming an award against her. Plaintiff claimed her former attorneys, defendant, Trope & Trope LLP, committed legal malpractice during its representation of her in a marital dissolution proceeding. Plaintiff also claimed James A. Durant, an attorney with Trope & Trope and a codefendant, breached his fiduciary duties, intentionally inflicted emotional distress, and committed battery. For clarity’s sake we will refer to defendant and its employee, Mr. Durant, collectively as defendants. Defendants moved for arbitration pursuant to a retainer agreement under Code of Civil Procedure section 1281.2.1 The motion to compel arbitration was granted by Judge John L. Segal. An arbitrator, Retired Judge Eli Chernow, ruled in favor of defendants as to all claims. Defendants filed a petition to confirm the award. Plaintiff filed a petition to vacate the award. The trial court granted defendants’ petition and denied plaintiff’s. (Judge Segal granted the motion to compel arbitration. Judge Suzanne G. Bruguera ruled on the confirmation petition. For clarity’s purposes, we will refer to Judge Bruguera as…