Harshad & Nasir Corp. v. Global Sign Sys., Inc.

*526 Global Sign Systems, Inc. (Global) sued Friendly Franchisees Corporation (FFC) to recover $114,823.72 allegedly owed on unpaid invoices. A few weeks before trial, the parties agreed to submit the dispute to arbitration. Five years later, the arbitrator, Retired Judge David D. Perez, awarded Global $1,154,793.72 in damages, $702,093.86 in prejudgment interest, and $1,142,596.20 in costs and attorney fees. The arbitrator also added four affiliates of FFC (the Affiliates) as joint and several obligors under the award. 1

Global petitioned the superior court to confirm the award, and FFC and the Affiliates petitioned to vacate the award. The trial court confirmed the award as to FFC and vacated the award as to the Affiliates. 2 Global then filed a motion in the trial court to recover post-arbitration attorney fees from FFC, and the Affiliates moved to recover attorney fees from Global. The court denied these motions, but ruled that the arbitrator could award such fees.

FFC appealed from the judgment confirming the arbitrator's award, and Global appealed from the part of the judgment vacating the award as to the Affiliates. FFC appealed from the order permitting Global to seek…