{
"metadata": {
"rulebook_version": "2026.01"
},
"rules": [
{
"id": "FAA1",
"name": "Definition of Maritime Transactions and Commerce",
"authority": "9 U.S.C. § 1",
"jurisdiction": "FAA",
"type": "definition",
"burden_of_proof": "preponderance",
"elements": [
{
"id": "FAA1E1",
"name": "Maritime transactions defined",
"text": "\"Maritime transactions\" include charter parties, bills of lading, wharfage agreements, vessel supplies, repairs, collisions, and other matters within admiralty jurisdiction."
},
{
"id": "FAA1E2",
"name": "Commerce defined",
"text": "\"Commerce\" means commerce among the several States, with foreign nations, or in U.S. Territories or D.C."
},
{
"id": "FAA1E3",
"name": "Worker exemption",
"text": "The FAA does not apply to employment contracts of seamen, railroad employees, or other workers engaged in interstate or foreign commerce."
}
],
"exceptions": [
{
"id": "FAA1X1",
"text": "Employment contracts of transportation workers are excluded from FAA coverage."
}
]
},
{
"id": "FAA2",
"name": "Validity and Enforceability of Arbitration Agreements",
"authority": "9 U.S.C. § 2",
"jurisdiction": "FAA",
"type": "substantive",
"burden_of_proof": "preponderance",
"elements": [
{
"id": "FAA2E1",
"name": "Written arbitration agreement",
"text": "A written arbitration provision in a maritime or commerce-related contract is valid, irrevocable, and enforceable."
},
{
"id": "FAA2E2",
"name": "Contract defenses",
"text": "Enforcement may be denied only on grounds that exist at law or equity for revocation of any contract."
}
],
"exceptions": [
{
"id": "FAA2X1",
"text": "Agreements may be invalidated by generally applicable contract defenses such as fraud, duress, or unconscionability."
},
{
"id": "FAA2X2",
"text": "Chapter 4 sexual assault/harassment disputes may invalidate predispute arbitration agreements."
}
]
},
{
"id": "FAA3",
"name": "Mandatory Stay of Litigation",
"authority": "9 U.S.C. § 3",
"jurisdiction": "FAA",
"type": "procedural",
"burden_of_proof": "preponderance",
"elements": [
{
"id": "FAA3E1",
"name": "Issue referable to arbitration",
"text": "If a suit involves an issue referable to arbitration, the court must stay the action upon application."
},
{
"id": "FAA3E2",
"name": "No default",
"text": "The party seeking the stay must not be in default in proceeding with arbitration."
}
],
"exceptions": [
{
"id": "FAA3X1",
"text": "A stay is not required if the arbitration agreement is invalid under § 2 or Chapter 4."
}
]
},
{
"id": "FAA4",
"name": "Petition to Compel Arbitration",
"authority": "9 U.S.C. § 4",
"jurisdiction": "FAA",
"type": "procedural",
"burden_of_proof": "preponderance",
"elements": [
{
"id": "FAA4E1",
"name": "Failure to arbitrate",
"text": "A party aggrieved by another's refusal to arbitrate may petition a U.S. district court to compel arbitration."
},
{
"id": "FAA4E2",
"name": "Court determination",
"text": "The court must order arbitration unless the making of the agreement or default is in issue."
}
],
"exceptions": [
{
"id": "FAA4X1",
"text": "Court may deny a petition if the arbitration agreement is invalid or unenforceable."
}
]
},
{
"id": "FAA5",
"name": "Appointment of Arbitrators",
"authority": "9 U.S.C. § 5",
"jurisdiction": "FAA",
"type": "procedural",
"burden_of_proof": "preponderance",
"elements": [
{
"id": "FAA5E1",
"name": "Follow contract method",
"text": "If the agreement provides a method of appointing arbitrators, that method must be followed."
},
{
"id": "FAA5E2",
"name": "Court appointment",
"text": "If the method fails or no method exists, the court shall appoint arbitrators."
}
],
"exceptions": [
{
"id": "FAA5X1",
"text": "Court appointment is unavailable if the arbitration agreement itself is invalid."
}
]
},
{
"id": "FAA7",
"name": "Witness Summons Power",
"authority": "9 U.S.C. § 7",
"jurisdiction": "FAA",
"type": "procedural",
"burden_of_proof": "preponderance",
"elements": [
{
"id": "FAA7E1",
"name": "Arbitrator subpoena power",
"text": "Arbitrators may summon witnesses and documents relevant to the case."
},
{
"id": "FAA7E2",
"name": "Court enforcement",
"text": "A U.S. district court may compel attendance or punish refusal as contempt."
}
],
"exceptions": [
{
"id": "FAA7X1",
"text": "Subpoena power cannot be used for discovery unrelated to the arbitration hearing."
}
]
},
{
"id": "FAA9",
"name": "Confirmation of Awards",
"authority": "9 U.S.C. § 9",
"jurisdiction": "FAA",
"type": "award-confirmation",
"burden_of_proof": "preponderance",
"elements": [
{
"id": "FAA9E1",
"name": "One-year application window",
"text": "A party may apply for confirmation within one year after the award is made."
},
{
"id": "FAA9E2",
"name": "Mandatory confirmation",
"text": "The court must confirm the award unless it is vacated, modified, or corrected under §§ 10–11."
}
],
"exceptions": [
{
"id": "FAA9X1",
"text": "Confirmation may be denied if statutory grounds for vacatur or modification are proven."
}
]
},
{
"id": "FAA10",
"name": "Vacatur of Awards",
"authority": "9 U.S.C. § 10",
"jurisdiction": "FAA",
"type": "award-vacatur",
"burden_of_proof": "clear_and_convincing",
"elements": [
{
"id": "FAA10E1",
"name": "Corruption or fraud",
"text": "The award was procured by corruption, fraud, or undue means."
},
{
"id": "FAA10E2",
"name": "Evident partiality",
"text": "There was evident partiality or corruption in the arbitrators."
},
{
"id": "FAA10E3",
"name": "Misconduct",
"text": "Arbitrators refused to postpone a hearing or hear material evidence, or engaged in prejudicial misbehavior."
},
{
"id": "FAA10E4",
"name": "Exceeding powers",
"text": "Arbitrators exceeded their powers or failed to make a mutual, final, and definite award."
}
],
"exceptions": [
{
"id": "FAA10X1",
"text": "Vacatur is unavailable for mere legal or factual error by arbitrators."
}
]
},
{
"id": "FAA11",
"name": "Modification or Correction of Awards",
"authority": "9 U.S.C. § 11",
"jurisdiction": "FAA",
"type": "award-modification",
"burden_of_proof": "preponderance",
"elements": [
{
"id": "FAA11E1",
"name": "Miscomputations",
"text": "There was an evident material miscalculation or descriptive mistake."
},
{
"id": "FAA11E2",
"name": "Matters not submitted",
"text": "Arbitrators awarded on matters not submitted, affecting the merits."
},
{
"id": "FAA11E3",
"name": "Form imperfections",
"text": "The award is imperfect in form not affecting the merits."
}
],
"exceptions": [
{
"id": "FAA11X1",
"text": "Modification cannot be used to revisit the merits of the arbitrators' decision."
}
]
},
{
"id": "FAA12",
"name": "Three-Month Deadline for Vacatur/Modification Motions",
"authority": "9 U.S.C. § 12",
"jurisdiction": "FAA",
"type": "procedural-deadline",
"burden_of_proof": "preponderance",
"elements": [
{
"id": "FAA12E1",
"name": "Three-month service requirement",
"text": "Notice of a motion to vacate, modify, or correct must be served within three months after the award is delivered."
}
],
"exceptions": [
{
"id": "FAA12X1",
"text": "The three‑month deadline does not apply to defenses raised against confirmation under § 9."
}
]
},
{
"id": "FAA16",
"name": "Appeals",
"authority": "9 U.S.C. § 16",
"jurisdiction": "FAA",
"type": "procedural",
"burden_of_proof": "preponderance",
"elements": [
{
"id": "FAA16E1",
"name": "Appealable orders",
"text": "Orders refusing stays, denying motions to compel, confirming or denying awards, or modifying/vacating awards are appealable."
},
{
"id": "FAA16E2",
"name": "Non-appealable interlocutory orders",
"text": "Orders granting stays, compelling arbitration, or refusing to enjoin arbitration are not appealable."
}
],
"exceptions": [
{
"id": "FAA16X1",
"text": "Interlocutory appeals may proceed only if permitted under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b)."
}
]
},
{
"id": "FAA401",
"name": "Definitions for Sexual Assault and Harassment Disputes",
"authority": "9 U.S.C. § 401",
"jurisdiction": "FAA",
"type": "definition",
"burden_of_proof": "preponderance",
"elements": [
{
"id": "FAA401E1",
"name": "Predispute arbitration agreement",
"text": "An agreement to arbitrate a dispute that had not yet arisen at the time of the agreement."
},
{
"id": "FAA401E2",
"name": "Predispute joint-action waiver",
"text": "An agreement waiving the right to participate in joint, class, or collective actions for disputes not yet arisen."
}
],
"exceptions": [
{
"id": "FAA401X1",
"text": "Definitions do not apply outside Chapter 4 sexual misconduct disputes."
}
]
},
{
"id": "FAA402",
"name": "Invalidity of Predispute Arbitration in Sexual Misconduct Cases",
"authority": "9 U.S.C. § 402",
"jurisdiction": "FAA",
"type": "substantive",
"burden_of_proof": "preponderance",
"elements": [
{
"id": "FAA402E1",
"name": "Election by claimant",
"text": "A claimant alleging sexual assault or harassment may elect to invalidate a predispute arbitration agreement."
},
{
"id": "FAA402E2",
"name": "Court determination",
"text": "A court, not an arbitrator, determines applicability and enforceability regardless of delegation clauses."
}
],
"exceptions": [
{
"id": "FAA402X1",
"text": "The invalidation applies only to predispute agreements, not post‑dispute agreements."
}
]
}
]
}
This pre‑arbitration evaluation is an automated, informational tool. It does not constitute legal advice, does not create an attorney‑client relationship, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional legal counsel.
Results are generated based solely on the facts you provide and the rulebook applied. They may not reflect the outcome of any real arbitration, court proceeding, or legal dispute.
This evaluation tool is designed primarily for use by licensed attorneys and legal professionals seeking a rapid, structured, and rule‑based assessment of a potential arbitration matter. It is intended to support professional judgment, not replace it, and should be used as an aid in preliminary case screening, client advisement, and strategic planning.
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The evaluator is powered by the Clinfera adjudication module, a deterministic legal‑reasoning system that applies a versioned rulebook.json using IRAC/CREAC‑style analysis. Each issue is broken into elements, burdens of proof, and exceptions. The engine evaluates user‑submitted facts against these elements and produces a reproducible, audit‑ready reasoning trace. No generative text or free‑form interpretation is used; all outcomes follow the rulebook exactly as written.
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