Another MBNA America Arbitration Award Denied Because No Written Agreement Existed Authorizing Arbitration
The Arkansas Court of Appeals affirmed a refusal to confirm arbitration award in MBNA America Bank, N.A. v. Blanks, No. 06-1396 (9/19/07).
MBNA unilaterally attempted to amend Blanks' credit card agreement by adding an arbitration amendment, but Blanks never signed a contract agreed to arbitration. Then MBNA procured an arbitration award without Blanks' participation in the arbitration. The facts were similar to an earlier MBNA America case, Danner v. MBNA America, N.A. (previously posted 4/27/07).
The trial court refused to confirm the award but gave no grounds (Danner had not yet been decided). The court of appeals applied Danner and affirmed the denial of confirmation because MBNA America could not produce a written agreement authorizing arbitration.
