In March, the United Kingdom’s High Court ruled that courts have the authority to order further explanations from the umpire in an expert determination. The parties in this case entered into an agreement whereby the claimant, Halifax Life Limited (“Halifax”) agreed to reinsure the defendant’s business. A dispute arouse as to the precise balance of premium payable for the reinsurance. Pursuant to the agreement, an umpire was appointed, who would act as an expert, not an arbitrator, whose decision would be binding on the parties. In September, 2006, the umpire issued a ruling. The claimants, unsatisfied with the ruling, challenged the umpire’s determination on several grounds.
Mr. Justice Cresswell found that the reasons given by the umpire for arriving at his decision were inadequate under the circumstances. Although Justice Cresswell declined to make a declaration that the expert determination was not binding, he referred to section 70(4) of the Arbitration Act of 1996, which allows a court to order the tribunal to state the reasons in detail where it appears that the award does not contain sufficient detail to enable the matter to be properly considered. Justice Cresswell stated that “[i]t would be highly anomalous if an expert’s failure to give reasons caused the determination not to be binding, when this is not the position in the case of arbitration awards.” Instead, he adjourned the hearing and directed the umpire to state further reasons for his ruling. Halifax v. Equitable Life Assurance Society, [2007] EWHC 503 (Mar. 13, 2007).