Kaishauna Guidry, M.D., H.M.D.C., an individual v. Vitas Healthcare Corporation of California, a Delaware corporation; and Does 1 through 25
- Proceeding
- district
- Area
- civil
- Panel
- Marilyn L. Huff (author)
Analysis
The court considered Defendant's motion to confirm an arbitration award that dismissed Plaintiff's claims without costs or fees. The court granted the motion, confirmed the award, and directed the Clerk to enter judgment for the Defendant and close the case.
| What the court decided | The model |
|---|---|
Granting Defendant's motion to confirm the arbitration award“As a result, the Court grants Defendant’s motion and confirms the arbitration award.” | agree with court The decision follows from the Federal Arbitration Act, which mandates confirmation of an award unless grounds for vacatur exist. The order notes that the Plaintiff did not oppose the motion, and the cited authority places the burden on the party seeking to vacate. Therefore, confirming the award is the legally required outcome. |
Directing the Clerk to enter judgment in favor of Defendant and close the case“Consistent with the arbitration award, the Court directs the Clerk to enter judgment in favor of Defendant. The Court thereafter directs the Clerk to close the case.” | agree with court Entering judgment in conformity with a confirmed arbitration award is the standard procedural step under the Federal Arbitration Act. Closing the case is appropriate as the underlying dispute has been resolved. |
The order itself: sound — The order correctly applies the mandatory confirmation standard of the Federal Arbitration Act. It accurately cites the statute and Ninth Circuit precedent regarding the burden of proof for vacatur. The reasoning is sufficient for a motion where the opposing party has filed a notice of non-opposition.
Opinion
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 10 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 11 12 KAISHAUNA GUIDRY, M.D., Case No.: 24-cv-00176-H-MMP H.M.D.C., an individual, 13 ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S Plaintiff, 14 MOTION TO CONFIRM v. ARBITRATION AWARD 15 VITAS HEALTHCARE 16 CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA, a 17 Delaware corporation; and DOES 1 through 25, 18 Defendants. 19 20 On December 21, 2023, Plaintiff Kaishauna Guidry, M.D., H.M.D.C. (“Plaintiff”) 21 filed a complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego. (Doc. No. 1- 22 2.) On January 25, 2024, Defendant VITAS Healthcare Corporation of California 23 (“Defendant”) removed the case to this Court. (Doc. No. 1.) On May 9, 2024, the Court 24 granted Defendant’s motion to compel arbitration of Plaintiff’s claims. (Doc. No. 20.) 25 The parties proceeded to arbitration and, on November 7, 2025, the arbitrator issued the 26 following award: 27 “[Plaintiff] to take nothing by way of award as against Respondent. No costs 28 or attorneys’ fees are awarded in this arbitration.” 1 || (Doc. No. 25-6, Ex. 5 at 12.) 2 On December 15, 2025, Defendant filed a motion requesting the Court to confirm 3 || the arbitration award. (Doc. No. 25.) On January 12, 2026, the Court took the matter under 4 ||submission. (Doc. No. 30.) 5 Specifically, Defendant moves the Court to confirm the arbitration award and enter 6 ||judgment in favor of Defendant in conformity with the award. (Doc. No. 25 at 5.) On 7 || January 12, 2026, Defendant filed a notice of non-opposition by Plaintiff to Defendant's 8 ||motion. (Doc. No. 29.) As a result, the Court grants Defendant’s motion and confirms the 9 || arbitration award. See 9 U.S.C. § 9 (stating court “must” confirm arbitration award “unless 10 award is vacated, modified or corrected as prescribed by [9 U.S.C. §§ 10-117”); □□□□ 11 || Life Ins. Co. v. Superior Nat. Ins. Co., 591 F.3d 1167, 1173 (9th Cir. 2010) (“The burden 12 ||of establishing grounds for vacating an arbitration award is on the party seeking it.”). 13 || Consistent with the arbitration award, the Court directs the Clerk to enter judgment in favor 14 || of Defendant. The Court thereafter directs the Clerk to close the case. 15 IT IS SO ORDERED. 16 ||} DATED: January 26, 2026 - i | shih 18 MARILYNL. HUFF, Distri dge UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28