Alexander v. Blue Cross of California

Opinion

PARRILLI, J.

The Code of Civil Procedure empowers arbitrators in certain cases to impose the discovery sanctions available in superior court. In this case, we hold that an arbitrator’s refusal to impose a discovery sanction provides no ground to vacate the arbitration award, even if the sanction is mandatory under the discovery statutes.

Maureen H. Alexander appeals from a judgment confirming an arbitration award in favor of Blue Cross of California (Blue Cross). Alexander contends the award should have been vacated because the arbitrator exceeded his powers by refusing to deem that Blue…