Compelling Arbitration under CPLR § 7503(a): Timing Matters
To commence a special proceeding to compel arbitration in New York, pursuant to CPLR § 7503(a), a party must be “aggrieved by the failure of another to arbitrate.” In KPMG LLP v. Kirschner, Justice Barry R. Ostrager recently ruled that to be “aggrieved,” and thereby have standing, a party must be subject to litigation before filing a special proceeding to compel arbitration. According to the Court, a subsequently filed litigation or the risk of potential litigation is not sufficient to confer standing.