Weirton Medical Center, Inc. (“WMC”), a hospital in West Virginia, entered into an agreement with QHR Intensive Resources, LLC, under which QHR provided hospital administrative services. WMC ultimately terminated the agreement and refused to pay QHR’s invoices. As a result, QHR commenced arbitration in accordance with the arbitration provision in the operative agreement, alleging that WMC was in breach of contract for failing to reimburse QHR for amounts owed thereunder and seeking to recover those amounts.

After three years of discovery and an evidentiary hearing on the merits, the arbitrator issued an award in favor of QHR. WMC then brought an action in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia to vacate the award under Section 10 of the Federal Arbitration Act, and QHR cross-moved for confirmation. The Court ruled in QHR’s favor, finding that the arbitrator did not exceed his powers in basing the award on the proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law submitted by QHR in lieu of those submitted by WMC, as there was sufficient evidence to support the arbitrator’s decision, and it was apparent he considered the claims and defenses asserted by WMC. Moreover, the Court held that the arbitrator’s ruling was not in manifest disregard of the law, as he did not refuse to apply a legal principle that was clearly defined and not subject to reasonable debate. Last, the Court found that the award was not procured by fraud, corruption or undue means based on QHR’s having paid four of its fact witnesses for the time spent traveling to and preparing for their testimony at the arbitration, as WMC did not show by clear and convincing evidence that the witnesses were paid for their testimony, the arrangements did not materially influence the outcome of the hearing, and WMC failed to address this issue before the award was rendered, even though it was aware of the situation. Weirton Medical Center, Inc. v. QHR Intensive Resources, LLC, No. 5:15CV131 (USDC N.D.W.Va May 12, 2016).