Pro se plaintiffs Henry and Ijeamaka Ekweani characterized a district court’s confirmation of an arbitration award against them and in favor of American Express Travel Related Services as a “rubber stamp” that violated their due process rights. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently affirmed the award.

The Ekweanis argued that the district court abused its discretion by denying their request for additional discovery but the Ninth Circuit disagreed, finding that the Ekweanis showed no prejudice resulting from the ruling. “A decision to deny discovery will not be disturbed except upon the clearest showing that the denial of discovery results in actual and substantial prejudice to the complaining litigant.”

Ekweani v. Am. Express Travel Related Servs. Co., No. 18-16925 (9th Cir. Aug. 27, 2019).