(a) Temporary Injunctive Orders
(1) In industry or clearing disputes required to be submitted to arbitration pursuant to Rule 10201, parties may seek a temporary injunctive order, as defined in paragraph (a)(2) of this Rule, from a court of competent jurisdiction. Parties to a pending arbitration may seek a temporary injunctive order from a court of competent jurisdiction even if another party has already filed a claim arising from the same dispute in arbitration pursuant to this paragraph, provided that an arbitration hearing on a request for permanent injunctive relief pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Rule has not yet begun.
(2) For purposes of this Rule, temporary injunctive order means a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction or other form of initial, temporary injunctive relief.
(3) A party seeking a temporary injunctive order from a court with respect to an industry or clearing dispute required to be submitted to arbitration pursuant to Rule 10201 shall simultaneously file with the Director a Statement of Claim requesting permanent injunctive and all other relief with respect to the same dispute in the manner specified under this Code. The party seeking temporary injunctive relief shall also serve the Statement of Claim requesting permanent injunctive and all other relief on all other parties in the same manner and at the same time as the Statement of Claim is filed with the Director. Filings and service under this Rule shall be made by facsimile, overnight delivery service or messenger. Service shall be made on all parties at the same time and in the same manner, unless the parties agree otherwise. A party obtaining a court-issued temporary injunctive order shall notify the Director and the other parties of the issuance of the order within one business day.
(4) Unless otherwise stated, for purposes of computation of time under any paragraph of this Rule, any reference to days means calendar days, including Saturdays, Sundays or any NASD holiday. However, if a party must provide notice or a response to the Director and the day on which that notice or response to the Director must be given falls on a Saturday, Sunday or any NASD holiday, then the time period is extended until the next business day.
(b) Hearing on Request for Permanent Injunctive Relief
(1) Scheduling of Hearing
If a court issues a temporary injunctive order, an arbitration hearing on the request for permanent injunctive relief shall begin within 15 days of the date the court issues the temporary injunctive order. If the 15th day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or NASD holiday, the 15-day period shall expire on the next business day. Unless the parties agree otherwise, a hearing lasting more than one day shall be held on consecutive days when reasonably possible. The Director shall provide to all parties notice of the date, time and place of the hearing at least three days prior to the beginning of the hearing.
(2) Composition of Arbitration Panel
The hearing on the request for permanent injunctive relief shall be heard by a panel of three arbitrators, who shall either be all non-public arbitrators as defined in Rule 10308(a)(4), or, if the underlying dispute would be heard by a public arbitrator or panel consisting of a majority of public arbitrators under Rule 10202, a majority of public arbitrators as defined in Rule 10308(a)(5).
(3) Selection of Arbitrators and Chairperson
(A)(i) In cases in which all of the members of the arbitration panel are non-public under paragraph (b)(2) of this Rule, the Director shall generate and provide to the parties a list of seven arbitrators from a national roster of arbitrators. The Director shall send to the parties the employment history for the past 10 years for each listed arbitrator and other background information. At least three of the arbitrators listed shall be lawyers with experience litigating cases involving injunctive relief.
(ii) Each party may exercise one strike to the arbitrators on the list. Within three days of receiving the list, each party shall inform the Director which arbitrator, if any, it wishes to strike, and shall rank the remaining arbitrators in order of preference. The Direct shall consolidate the parties' rankings, and shall appoint arbitrators based on the order of rankings on the consolidated list, subject to the arbitrators' availability and disqualification.
(B)(i) In cases in which the panel of arbitrators consists of a majority of public arbitrators under paragraph (b)(2) of this Rule, the Director shall generate and provide to the parties a list of nine arbitrators from a national roster of arbitrators. The Director shall send to the parties employment history for the past 10 years for each listed arbitrator and other background information. At least a majority of the arbitrators listed shall be public arbitrators, and at least four of the arbitrators listed shall be lawyers with experience litigating cases involving injunctive relief.
(ii) Each party may exercise two strikes to the arbitrators on the list. Within three days of receiving the list, each party shall inform the Director which arbitrators, if any, it wishes to strike, and shall rank the remaining arbitrators in order of preference. The Director shall consolidate the parties' rankings, and shall appoint arbitrators based on the order of rankings on the consolidated list, subject to the arbitrators' availability and disqualification.
(C)(i) Each party shall inform the Director of its preference of chairperson of the arbitration panel by the close of business on the next business day after receiving notice of the panel members.
(ii) If the parties do not agree on a chairperson within that time, the Director shall select the chairperson. In cases in which the panel consists of a majority of public arbitrators, the Director shall select a public arbitrator as chairperson. Whenever possible, the Director shall select as chairperson the lawyer with experience litigating cases involving injunctive relief whom the parties have ranked the highest.
(D) The Director may exercise discretionary authority and make any decision that is consistent with the purposes of this Rule and Rule 10308 to facilitate the appointment of arbitration panels and the selection of chairperson.
(4) Applicable Legal Standard
The legal standard for granting or denying a request for permanent injunctive relief is that of the state where the events upon which the request is based occurred, or as specified in an enforceable choice of law agreement between the parties.
(5) Effect of Pending Temporary Injunctive Order
Upon a full and fair presentation of the evidence from all relevant parties on the request for permanent injunctive relief, the panel may prohibit the parties from seeking an extension of any court-issued temporary injunctive order remaining in effect, or, if appropriate, order the parties jointly to move to modify or dissolve any such order. In the event that a panel's order conflicts with a pending court order, the panel's order will become effective upon expiration of the pending court order.
(6) Fees, Costs and Expenses, and Arbitrator Honorarium
(A) The parties shall jointly bear reasonable travel-related costs and expenses incurred by arbitrators who are required to travel to a hearing location other than their primary hearing location(s) in order to participate in the hearing on the request for permanent injunctive relief. The arbitrators may reallocate such costs and expenses among the parties in the award.
(B) The party seeking injunctive relief shall pay the expedited hearing fees pursuant to Rule 10205(h), or, where both sides seek such relief, both parties shall pay such fees. In either event, however, the arbitrators may reallocate such fees among the parties in the award.
(C) Notwithstanding any other provision in the Code, the chairperson of the panel hearing a request for permanent injunctive relief pursuant to this Rule shall receive an honorarium of $375 for each single session, and $700 for each double session, of the hearing. Each other member of the panel shall receive an honorarium of $300 for each single session, and $600 for each double session, of the hearing. The parties shall equally pay the difference between these amounts and the amounts panel members and the chairperson receive under the Code pursuant to IM-10104. The arbitrators may reallocate such amount among the parties in the award.
(c) Hearing on Damages or other Relief
(1) Upon completion of the hearing on the request for permanent relief, the panel, may, if necessary, set a date for any subsequent hearing on damages or other relief, which shall be held before the same panel of arbitrators and which shall include, but not be limited to, the same record.
(2) The parties shall jointly bear reasonable travel-related costs and expenses incurred by arbitrators who are required to travel to a hearing location other than their primary hearing location(s) in order to participate in any subsequent hearings on damages or other relief. The arbitrators may reallocate such costs and expenses among the parties in the award.
This Rule shall apply to arbitration claims filed on or after March 25, 2002. Except as otherwise provided in this Rule, the remaining provisions of the Code shall apply to proceedings instituted under this Rule.
