James Ford Inc. v. Ford Dealer Computer Services Inc.

*325 MEMORANDUM *

Ford Dealer Computer Services, Inc. and Universal Computer Systems, Inc. (collectively “FDCS”) 1 appeal the district court’s judgment confirming an arbitration award in favor of James Ford Inc. (“James Ford”). The judgment awarded James Ford damages, equitable relief, and attorney’s fees. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 , and we affirm.

I.

FDCS first alleges that the arbitrator’s decision to apply California law constituted manifest disregard of the law because the contract contained a choice of law provision that unambiguously stated the agreement would be governed by Michigan law. An arbitrator’s award may be overturned only if it was rendered in “manifest disregard of law” or constituted a completely irrational decision. See Todd Shipyards Corp. v. Cunard Line, Ltd., 943 F.2d 1056, 1060 (9th Cir.1991). Furthermore, an arbitrator is not required to state reasons for his findings. A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. v. McCollough, 967 F.2d 1401, 1403 (9th Cir.1992).

Because the arbitrator did not state his reasons for applying California law, if James Ford presents plausible permissible grounds on which the arbitrator could have relied to reach his…