Paul Revere Variable Annuity Insurance v. Kirschhofer

SELYA, Circuit Judge.

These appeals emanate from the district court’s denial of seventeen petitions to compel arbitration. The petitioners contend, as they did below, that the rules and regulations of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) grant them a right to arbitrate the claims that the respondents have asserted against them in parallel state court litigation. Discerning no error in the district court’s contrary conclusion, we affirm the denial of arbitration.

I. BACKGROUND

The petitioners, defendants in the underlying state court actions and appellants here, comprise an…