Schlumberger Technology Corp. v. Baker Hughes Inc.

OPINION

MICHAEL MASSENGALE, Justice.

Schlumberger Technology Corporation and Baker Hughes Incorporated are in the midst of an arbitration proceeding to resolve patent disputes. A disagreement has arisen about whether the presiding panel of arbitrators has jurisdiction to determine a discrete subissue raised by Baker Hughes in the proceeding. Schlumberger contends that the subissue should be resolved by the same panel, but Baker Hughes argues that the issue is governed by a prior settlement agreement between the parties and must be resolved by the mediator who facilitated that agreement.

Baker…