Fagelbaum & Heller LLP v. Smylie

Opinion

BAUER, J. *

INTRODUCTION

Appellant Robert O. Smylie (Smylie) appeals from a judgment confirming an arbitration award which resolved a dispute over legal fees and costs incurred in two prior lawsuits. He contends that the court should have stayed the lawsuit filed by respondent law firm, Fagelbaum & Heller LLP (F&H), until the completion of the nonbinding arbitration Smylie initiated pursuant to the mandatory fee arbitration act (MFAA), Business and Professions Code section 6200 et seq. Smylie also contends that the court should have stayed the contractual arbitration initiated by F&H…