AI-assisted research summary: A court must vacate an arbitration award if specific statutory grounds are met, and a party must file a motion within 90 days, with a shorter timing rule when fraud or similar misconduct is alleged.
5-445. Vacating award. (a) Upon motion to the court by a party to an arbitration proceeding, the court shall vacate an award made in the arbitration proceeding if: (1) The award was procured by corruption, fraud or other undue means; (2) there was: (A) Evident partiality by an arbitrator appointed as a neutral arbitrator; (B) corruption by an arbitrator; or (C) misconduct by an arbitrator prejudicing the rights of a party to the arbitration proceeding; (3) an arbitrator refused to postpone the hearing upon showing of sufficient cause for postponement, refused to consider evidence material to the controversy, or otherwise conducted the hearing contrary to K.S.A. 5-437, and amendments thereto, so as to prejudice substantially the rights of a party to the arbitration proceeding; (4) an arbitrator exceeded the arbitrator's powers; (5) there was no agreement to arbitrate, unless the person participated in the arbitration proceeding without raising the objection under K.S.A. 5-437(c), and amendments thereto, not later than the beginning of the arbitration hearing; or (6) the arbitration was conducted without proper notice of the initiation of an arbitration as required in K.S.A. 5-431, and amendments thereto, so as to prejudice substantially the rights of a party to the arbitration proceeding. (b) A motion under this section must be filed within 90 days after the movant receives notice of the award pursuant to K.S.A. 5-441, and amendments thereto, or within 90 days after the movant receives notice of the award pursuant to K.S.A. 5-442, and amendments thereto, unless the movant alleges that the award was procured by corruption, fraud or other undue means, in which case, the motion must be made within 90 days after the ground is known or, by the exercise of reasonable care, would have been known by the movant. (c) If the court vacates an award on a ground other than that set forth in subsection (a)(5), it may order a rehearing. If the award is vacated on a ground stated in subsection (a)(1) or (2), the rehearing must be before a new arbitrator. If the award is vacated on a ground stated in subsection (a)(3), (4) or (6), the rehearing must be before the arbitrator who made the award or the arbitrator's successor. The arbitrator must render the decision in the rehearing within the same time as that provided in K.S.A. 5-441(b), and amendments thereto, for an award. (d) If the court denies a motion to vacate an award, it shall confirm the award unless a motion to modify or correct the award is pending. History: L. 2018, ch. 90, § 23; July 1.