The Ninth Circuit recently discussed arbitrators' subpoena powers and discovery in the case of CVS Health Corporation v. Vividus, LLC, No. 16-16187 (9th Cir. Dec. 21, 2017).
The court held that while Federal Arbitration Act Section 7 gives arbitrators the authority to subpoena witnesses for a hearing, including bringing documents to the hearing, it does not give arbitrators power to subpoena documents prior to a hearing.
Loyola New Orleans Law Professor Imre Szalai writes:
"The Ninth Circuit noted that its decision conflicted with the Eighth Circuit, which has held that section 7’s broad subpoena power for a hearing encompasses the lesser subpoena power regarding pre-hearing discovery...In my view, the Ninth Circuit is interpreting the FAA correctly, as originally intended. (Remember, back in the 1920s, broad pre-hearing discovery as we know it today under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure did not exist.)"
Video of oral argument https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0FgDZ7csT4
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