Baca III v. Knights of Columbus, et al.

Case No.: 22STCV41024 Matter: Motion to Vacate Arbitration Award Ruling: The Motion is denied. Defendant to give notice. The Court encourages all parties to appear remotely via LA CourtConnect. If submitting on the Court's tentative ruling, please follow the instructions provided above. On July 9, 2026, the Court granted Defendant Knights of Columbus' petition to confirm an arbitration award against Plaintiff Ben Baca III. Plaintiff again argues that the award should be vacated because (a) the underlying arbitration agreement is unconscionable and (b) the arbitrator failed to disclose a conflict/bias.

Plaintiff's argument as to unconscionability was already rejected on January 9, 2024, and the Court sees no reason to change its conclusion. Plaintiff cannot demonstrate that the arbitrator's past representation of an unrelated religious entity rises to the level of evident partiality required to vacate an award under Code of Civil Procedure Sec. 1286.2. The standard for bias is objective, and Mr. Baca has failed to establish any direct or substantive connection between the arbitrator's previous work and the parties or issues involved in this specific dispute.

Consequently, his challenge amounts to an impermissible attempt to subject a final arbitration award to an after-the-fact attack based on generalized, unsubstantiated claims of bias. The Motion to Vacate is denied. Defendant to give notice.

Judge Kevin C. Brazile Department 310 Hearing Date: August 18, 2026 Case Name: Aguilar v. General Motors LLC, et al.