In our October 7, 2024, post, “Can a Court under Section 10(a)(4) Overturn an Award Because it was Based on a Clear Mistake of Historical Fact or a Conceded Nonfact?”, we promised some further analysis of UpHealth Holdings, Inc. v. Glocal Healthcare Sys. PVT, No. 24-cv-3778, slip op. (N.D. Ill. Sept. 24, 2024), the principal case discussed in that post, which held warranted partial vacatur of an award because the award was based in part on a “nonfact.” In this and at least one other post, let’s take a closer, analytical look at UpHealth’s “clear mistake of historical fact or conceded nonfact” vacatur standard, consider whether UpHealth comports with the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), and take an informed guess about how the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit might decide the case if there is an appeal.
We’ll focus on the following questions and our answers will presume familiarity with the October 7, 2024, UpHealth post, here:
- What is the difference, if any, between a “clear mistake of historical fact” and a “conceded nonfact?”
- What is or should be required to establish a “clear mistake of historical fact” or a “conceded nonfact?”
- Assuming Section 10(a)(4) authorizes courts to vacate awards based on a “clear mistake of historical fact” or a “conceded nonfact,” did the UpHealth district court err by holding that the award against Damodaran was based on a nonfact?
- Assuming that the district correctly applied the “conceded nonfact” standard, does it comport with the FAA?
- If there is a Seventh Circuit appeal of the UpHealth decision, is it likely the decision will be overturned on appeal, and if so, on what grounds?
This Part I addresses questions 1 and 2. One or more subsequent posts will address questions 3 through 5.
Discussion
What is the Difference, if any, between a “Clear Mistake of Historical Fact” and a “Conceded Nonfact?”
The standard adopted in UpHealth—which was derived from Electronics Corp. of Am. v. International Union of Elec., Radio and Mach. Workers, 492 F.2d 1255 (1st Cir. 1974); National Post Office, Mailhandlers, Watchmen, Messengers & Grp. Leaders Div, Laborers Int’l Union of N. Am., AFL-CIO v. United States Postal Serv., 751 F.2d 834, 843 (6th Cir. 1985) (Stewart, Associate Justice (ret.), sitting by designation), and Mollison-Turner v. Lynch Auto Grp., No. 01 6340, 2002 WL 1046704, at *3 (N.D. Ill. May 23, 2002)—authorizes vacatur of awards based on: (a) a “clear mistake of historical fact” or (b) a “conceded nonfact.” Both of these bases for vacating an award may, at least to some, suggest a fairly broad authorization to vacate awards that is not already encompassed within the manifest disregard of the agreement (a/k/a “essence of the agreement”) standard. That is especially so of vacatur based on a “clear mistake of historical fact.” Continue Reading »
Can a court vacate an award because it was based on a clear mistake of historical fact or on a conceded nonfact? Some might consider asking that question to be akin to using fighting words, but it is one that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit may ultimately answer if an appeal of the 
