William Manning and Manning & Napier Advisors, Inc. v. Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. And Stanford R. Ovshinsky, and American Arbitration Association

JON O. NEWMAN, Circuit Judge:

This appeal from an order compelling arbitration illustrates the difficulties facing a district judge when parties are imprecise as to both the relief sought and the grounds of their opposition. The appeal is brought by defendants-appellants Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (“ECD”) and Stanford R. Ovshinsky from an order of the District Court for the Western District of New York (Michael A. Telesca, Judge) entered on August 18, 1987, and amended on September 16, 1987. The order compels appellants to arbitrate a dispute with plaintiffs-appellees William Manning and…