Free Complaint - District Court of California - California

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LUCAS VALLEY LAW MARK K. de LANGIS (SBN 190083) 2110 Elderberry Lane San Rafael, California 94903 Telephone: (415) 472-3892 Facsimile: (415) 472-3977 [email protected] Attorneys for Petitioners AMERICAN PRESIDENT LINES, LTD. and APL CO. Pte., LTD.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

In the Matter of the Arbitration between AMERICAN PRESIDENT LINES, LTD., a corporation, and APL CO. Pte., LTD., a corporation, Petitioners, v. UNICOM TRANS, INC, a corporation, Respondent.

No. C 07-04495 SI PETITION FOR ORDER CONFIRMING AWARD OF ARBITRATOR [9 U.S.C. section 9]

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PETITION FOR ORDER CONFIRMING AWARD OF ARBITRATOR

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Petitioners AMERICAN PRESIDENT LINES, LTD. and APL CO. Pte., LTD. (collectively "APL") respectfully allege: 1. Petitioner American President Lines, Ltd. now is, and at all times herein

mentioned was, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with its principal place of business in the City of Oakland, California. 2. Petitioner APL Co. Pte., Ltd. now is, and at all times herein mentioned was, a

corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Singapore, registered to do business in the State of California. 3. On information and belief, respondent Unicom Trans, Inc. ("Unicom"), was at all

material times mentioned herein, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of California.

JURISDICTION 4. The jurisdiction of this Court is invoked under Title 9, United States Code, and

particularly Section 9 thereof, and under Title 28, United States Code, section 1333, as a case within the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction of this Court.

BACKGROUND 5. On or about November 2003, petitioners and respondent entered into a written

maritime contract for the shipment of respondent's cargo by sea from the United States to Russia. (A true and correct copy of the applicable Service Contract No. TA03/0262 is attached hereto, marked Exhibit "A," and is made a part hereof.) 6. This contract evidences a series of transactions involving international maritime

commerce, as is shown by its express terms. /// ///

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7.

APL on the one hand, and Unicom on the other, agreed in the contract, at section

4, to resolve any dispute arising under the contract by submitting the dispute to arbitration in San Francisco, California, before an arbitrator of the American Arbitration Association. In addition, APL and Unicom agreed that the decision of the arbitrator "shall be final, binding and not subject to further review." (Service Contract, at Ex. A, § 4(a), attached hereto.) 8. The contract, at Section 4, further provides that the decision of the arbitrator may

be enforced by any court, tribunal, or other forum as may properly assert jurisdiction, and that the parties expressly consent and agree that the United States District Court for the Northern District of California shall have personal jurisdiction over the parties to the contract. (Service Contract, at Ex. A, § 4(b), attached hereto.) 9. On July 21, 2004, APL invoiced Unicom the sum of $16,100, which was then,

and still is, due pursuant to the terms of Service Contract Number TA03/0262. (A true and correct copy of the July 21, 2004 invoice is attached hereto as Exhibit "B," and made a part hereof.)

THE ARBITRATION 10. Pursuant to the arbitration agreement, as detailed in section 4 of the above-

described contract, APL initiated arbitration proceedings with the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") on February 9, 2007. 11. Following due notice to both APL and Unicom, including preliminary hearings by

telephone, an arbitration (via documents per the AAA rules and by order of the arbitrator) was duly conducted in May 2007, before the AAA appointed arbitrator, Matthew J. Geyer, Esq. 12. On June 8, 2007, the arbitrator awarded petitioners American President Lines,

Ltd. and APL Co. Pte., Ltd. the principal amount of $16,100, attorneys' fees of $1,800 and costs of $1,928.90, for a total award of $19,828.90. (A true and correct copy of the arbitrator's "AWARD," dated June 8, 2007, is attached hereto as Exhibit "C," and made a part hereof.)

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13.

Unicom has failed to satisfy the arbitration award in the time since it was made.

Therefore, a judgment on the arbitration award is needed to permit APL to enforce it. 14. This petition is authorized by the terms of the arbitration clause within the

maritime contract, Section 9 of the Federal Arbitration Act, and the award itself.

WHEREFORE petitioners AMERICAN PRESIDENT LINES, LTD. and APL CO. Pte., LTD. pray as follows: 1. That an order of this Court be made confirming the Award of Arbitrator for the amount of $19,828.90; 2. That judgment be entered in conformity therewith, for the amount owing of $19,828.90, pursuant to the Award of Arbitrator; 3. 4. That APL be allowed costs incurred herein; The Court award APL prejudgment and post-judgment interest on all sums as provided by law; and 5. That APL be awarded such other and further relief as may be proper.

DATED: August 29, 2007

By: /s/ Mark K. de Langis Attorney for Petitioner AMERICAN PRESIDENT LINES, LTD and APL CO. Pte., LTD.

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EXHIBIT A

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