Viani

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 Steven P. Viani, No. 2:23-cv-0033 1-KJM-AC Plaintiff, ORDER v. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, 1S Defendant. 16 In this insurance coverage dispute, plaintiff Steven Viani moves to compel an appraisal of 18 disputed damages under the terms of the insurance policy with defendant Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. As explained in this order, the motion is granted. The appraisal process is 20 an “arbitration” under the terms of the Federal Arbitration Act, and this court must compel the parties to complete the appraisal under the terms of that act regardless of any related coverage 22 disputes. 23 I. BACKGROUND In October 2021, Viani’s home was damaged in a storm. Viani Decl. ECF No. 16-2. He submitted a claim to Nationwide, which had issued him a homeowner’s insurance policy. /d. Nationwide estimated it would cost about $3,175 to repair the damage. Id. § 3. …