Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. v. Abbar

OPINION

LOUIS L. STANTON, District Judge.

Defendant Ghazi Abbar arranged the investment of his family’s wealth with affiliates of Citigroup, Inc. (“Citigroup”), a large multinational financial services provider with numerous business divisions and offices worldwide. The investments performed poorly, and Sheikh Abbar, whom I shall call Mr. Abbar in accordance with American usage, asserts that Citigroup is responsible. It is not the function of this proceeding to adjudicate those claims, but simply to determine whether he can compel arbitration of them here.

Mr. Abbar claims a right to arbitrate…