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Case Law

VIAC has listed below a selection of arbitration-related decisions rendered by the Austrian Supreme Court in chronological order between 1954 and 2021. There is a link to the full text of the German language decision as available on the Austrian Legal Information System (RIS).

2024
Date   Type of proceeding Outcome of the proceeding Subject
22.10.2024 4Ob33/24t Jurisdiction unsuccessful Content of conciliation clause; ÖNORM
17.10.2024 18OCg1/24g setting aside proceeding unsuccessful Violation of substantive and procedural public policy; violation of the right to be heard; violation of fundamental values of the Austrian legal system – reimbursement of costs
06.08.2024 18ONc1/24b appointment of
arbitrators		 successful Existence of an arbitration agreement
30.7.2024 18ONC2/24z appointment of
arbitrators		 unsuccessful Appointment of the arbitration tribunal
25.06.2024 4Ob46/24d Revision appeal unsuccessful Action to determine the existence or non-existence of an arbitration agreement is not admissible in an ordinary court
03.04.2024 18OCg3/22y setting aside proceeding successful Lack of objective arbitrability, objective arbitrability
26.03.2024 2Nc13/24w Notification of bias unsuccessful Bias of judges of the Senate of the Supreme Court responsible for arbitration proceedings due to their membership in the VIAC Presidium
2023
Date   Type of proceeding Outcome of the
proceeding		 Subject
14.09.2023 18OCg1/23f setting aside proceeding unsuccessful Claim dismissed due to lack of form
11.03.2023 18OCg2/22a setting aside proceeding unsuccessful Validity of arbitration agreement
2022
Date   Type of proceeding Outcome of
the
proceeding		 Subject
28.09.2022 18ONc1/22z appointment of
arbitrators		 successful Appointment of the arbitral tribunal
16.09.2022 18OCg2/22a setting aside
proceeding		 unsuccessful setting aside of an arbitral award;
electronic file
08.09.2022 3Ob80/22v appeal successful Recognition and declaration of
enforceability; BIT
29.06.2022 7Ob79/22a appeal unsuccessful Joinder of a third party;
pending proceedings;
termination of proceedings
02.06.2022 18ONc1/22z appointment of
arbitrators		 successful Appointment of arbitrators
04.05.2022 18OCg1/22d setting aside
proceeding		 unsuccessful violation of the ordre public;
violation of Austrian law;
arbitrary application of the law;
contradictory assessment of the facts
14.03.2022 18ONc1/22z appointment of
arbitrators		 unsuccessful Appointment of arbitrators;
pending proceedings
22.02.2022 18ONc1/22z appointment of
arbitrators		 successful Appointment of arbitrators
2021
Date   Type of proceeding Outcome of
the proceeding		 Subject
15.12.2021 18OCg5/21s setting aside proceeding unsuccessful Violation of the right to be heard; possibility to comment on the decision on costs; excess of powers of the arbitral tribunal; violation of the ordre public; non-conformity with matters in the record; arbitrariness
21.10.2021 3Ob152/21f appeal unsuccessful Validity of an arbitration agreement under foreign law; Execution of an award; Case-by-case assessment for arbitration agreements
22.09.2021 18ONc5/21m appointment of arbitrators successful Failure to appoint an arbitrator; Appointment by the court; jurisdiction of the Austrian Supreme Court
22.09.2021 18OCg2/21z setting aside proceeding unsuccessful Violation of the right to be heard; violation of the ordre public;
22.09.2021 18ONc6/21h challenge of arbitrators unsuccessful Challenge of arbitrators – application unfounded
21.07.2021 1Ob121/21g appeal successful arbitral tribunal of an association; formation of a functioning arbitral tribunal; inactivity of an arbitrator; appealing to the arbitral tribunal is unreasonable; litigation without arbitration
29.04.2021 9ObA47/20g appeal successful admissibility and content of conciliation agreements; gross unfairness
20.04.2021 4Ob36/21d appeal unsuccessful contract for the benefit of third parties; scope of the arbitration agreement
20.04.2021
 4Ob43/21h appeal unsuccessful contract for the benefit of third parties; scope of the arbitration agreement
14.04.2021 18OCg1/21b setting aside proceeding unsuccessful Private foundation; lack of jurisdiction; declaration of foundation equals articles of association; latest procedural laws are applied
24.03.2021 3Ob2/21x appeal unsuccessful refusal of recognition and declaration of enforceability of an annulled foreign arbitral award (Art V (1) (e) NYC); violation of public policy (Art V (2) (b) NYC)
 24.03.2021 9ObA4/21k appeal unsuccessful objection to jurisdiction; agreement to arbitrate constitutes procedural bar to claiming the lack of subject-matter jurisdiction
02.03.2021 18OCg10/19y setting aside proceeding unsuccessful excess of powers of the arbitral tribunal; public policy; right to be heard (surprising decision); decision based on principles of fairness and equitability; applicable law; choice of law – principal contract as an indication for a conclusive choice of law; interpretation; arbitrability; derogation from the arbitral tribunals’ obligation to conduct an oral hearing; the necessity to conduct an oral hearing
17.02.2021 18OCg5/20i setting aside proceeding unsuccessful action for annulment of an arbitral award on the grounds of bias of the sole arbitrator, on the grounds of alleged serious procedural violations; violation of the right for clarification and correction of the arbitral award; form of the arbitration agreement; lack of form relating to the power of attorney; exceeding of the parties’ request for relief
20.01.2021 3Ob127/20b appeal unsuccessful the relation between state jurisdiction and arbitration (Sec. 584 paragraph 1 ZPO); admissibility of optional arbitration agreements
 20.01.2021 3Ob198/20v appeal unsuccessful proceedings for a declaration of enforceability of foreign arbitral awards, review of the public policy violation of a decision on legal costs; primacy of intergovernmental agreements – specifically the 1954 Hague Convention on Legal Costs
19.01.2021 18ONc5/20k challenge of arbitrators unsuccessful challenge of arbitrators – application unfounded
2020
Date   Type of proceeding Outcome of
the proceeding		 Subject
20/10/2020 4Ob136/20h appeal unsuccessful interpretation of the arbitration agreement; scope of the arbitration agreement; competence of the arbitral tribunal
29/09/2020 18OCg6/20m setting aside proceeding successful The arbitral tribunal wrongly denied its jurisdiction; interpretation of an arbitration agreement; analogous application of § 611 para. 2 no. 1 2nd case ZPO)
28/09/2020 8Ob77/20m appeal unsuccessful differentiation between conciliation panels (“Schlichtungseinrichtung”) and arbitral tribunals; interpretation of association statutes (Sec 577 et seqq. ZPO); arbitrability
23/09/2020 6Ob28/20s appeal unsuccessful arbitrability; liquidation
23/07/2020 18OCg3/20w  setting aside proceeding unsuccessful arbitrability; public policy; conflicts of interest of arbitrators
23/07/2020 18ONc2/20v appointment of arbitrators unsuccessful appointment of arbitrators
23/07/2020 18ONc1/20x challenge of arbitrators unsuccessful conflicts of interest of arbitrators – contact between arbitrator and party representative; IBA Guidelines on Conflicts of Interest in International Arbitration
23/07/2020 18ONc3/20s setting aside proceeding unsuccessful Challenge of arbitrators; admissibility of conducting an arbitration hearing by means of a video conference – performance despite opposition of a party; Art 6 ECHR; due process
23/07/2020
 18Ocg1/20a appeal unsuccessful public policy – assessment standard; sham trial; inadmissibility of révision au fond
07/07/2020 5Ob27/20m appeal unsuccessful legal consequences resulting from the invalidity of an expert contract for the binding character of an expert determination
18/06/2020 18OCg4/20t setting aside proceeding unsuccessful requirement of translation of the arbitral award
 26/05/2020 9Ob18/20t appeal unsuccessful differentiation between arbitral awards and expert determinations
26/05/2020 2Nc16/20f challenge of arbitrators successful conflicts of interest of judges in state court proceedings
related to arbitration proceedings
09/04/2020 18ONc3/19i appointment of arbitrators unsuccessful legal representation not required in setting aside proceedings –
no interruption of proceedings due to death of party representative
06/03/2020 18OCg7/19g setting aside proceeding unsuccessful applicable law, choice of law; application for legal aid;
public policy – degree of domestic nexus of award decisive
 06/03/2020 18OCg11/19w setting aside proceeding unsuccessful validity of the arbitration agreement – public authorities
15/01/2020 18OCg12/19t setting aside proceeding unsuccessful public policy – reimbursement of costs
15/01/2020 18OCg6/18h setting aside proceeding unsuccessful Rom I Regulation – not applicable in arbitration proceedings as well as
in related state court proceedings
15/01/2020 18OCg9/19a setting aside proceeding unsuccessful right to be heard – application to take evidence;
public policy – arbitral hearings
2019
Date   Type of proceeding Outcome of the
proceeding		 Subject
20/12/2019 18ONc 3/19i appointment of arbitrators successful scope of the arbitration agreement – non-signatories;
conflicts of interest of arbitrators
19/11/2019 3Ob13/19m enforcement proceeding unsuccessful public policy – consultations and votes within the arbitral tribunal
09/10/2019 2Nc38/19i enforcement proceeding successful conflicts of interest of judges in state court proceedings related
to arbitration proceedings
01/10/2019 18OCg5/19p setting aside proceeding unsuccessful conflicts of interest of arbitrators – assertion after the
end of the arbitration proceedings; public policy (Art 10 ECHR)
01/10/2019 18ONc2/19t challenge of arbitrators successful conflicts of interest of arbitrators – assessment standard and time limit; about the arbitrator’s behavior during an arbitration hearing
29/08/2019 6Ob142/19d appeal successful universal application of the New York Convention
15/05/2019 18OCg1/19z setting aside proceeding unsuccessful exceeding the request for relief; right to be heard –
application to take evidence; public policy – lack of reasoning; revison au fond
15/05/2019 18OCg6/19k challenge of arbitrators successful conflicts of interest of arbitrators – personnel interrelations
15/05/2019
 18OCg6/18h setting aside proceeding unsuccessful applicable law, choice of law; scope of the arbitration agreement
(organs of legal entities); right to be heard (application to take evidence)
18/02/2019 18OCg2/19x setting aside proceeding unsuccessful arbitral tribunals in the meaning of Sec. 577 ZPO (association conciliation panels)
14/02/2019 2Nc6/19h setting aside proceeding successful conflicts of interest of judges – in state court proceedings
related to arbitration proceedings
 17/01/2019 5Ob63/18b setting aside proceeding unsuccessful time limitation of arbitration agreements
2018
Date   Type of proceeding Outcome of the
proceeding		 Subject
19/12/2018 3Ob153/18y enforcement proceeding successful enforceability of an arbitral award
30/11/2018 18OCg5/18m setting aside proceeding successful differentiation between arbitral awards and expert determinations
20/11/2018 18OCg6/18h application purusant to Art 53 EuGVVO unsuccessful confirmation of an application pursuant to Art 53 Rom I Regulation; exemption under Art 1 para 2 d Rom I Regulation
09/10/2018 18OCg2/18w Setting aside proceedings unsuccessful validity of the arbitration agreement; foreclosure of the ground for setting aside; requirement of the written form; right to be heard; public policy; reasoning of the arbitral award
21/08/2018 18OCg1/18y setting aside proceeding successful application to set aside an arbitral award
20/03/2018 18OCg1/17x setting aside proceeding unsuccessful public policy
06/02/2018 18ONc4/17h appointment of arbitrators unsuccessful appointment of arbitrators
17/01/2018 6Ob195/17w appeal successful form requirement – power of attorney to conclude an arbitration agreement
2017
Date   Type of proceeding Outcome of
the
proceeding		 Subject
21/12/2017 6Ob104/17p recission proceeding
(shareholders resolution)		 unsuccessful arbitration clauses in corporate statutes
21/12/2017 6Ob178/17w appeal unsuccessful interpretation of arbitral awards
07/09/2017 18ONc1/17t challenge of arbitrators unsuccessful challenge of arbitrators
04/07/2017 3Ob118/17z enforcement proceeding unsuccessful enforceability of arbitral awards
30/05/2017 4Ob92/17h appeal successful award set aside by wrong court
02/03/2017 18OCg6/16f setting aside proceeding unsuccessful sports arbitration
01/03/2017 5Ob72/16y appeal partially successful arbitration agreement; choice of law and European Union law
2016
Date   Type of proceeding Outcome of
the
proceeding		 Subject
06/12/2016 18OCg5/16h setting aside proceeding unsuccessful public policy; right to be heard
10/10/2016 7Nc18/16f Application pursuant to JN Sec. 28 (1) 2 unsuccessful arbitration before CIETAC – not infeasible
28/09/2016 18OCg3/16i setting aside proceeding partially successful Procedural Public Order – lack of reasoning
28/09/2016 18OCg2/16t setting aside proceeding unsuccessful pending arbitration
23/02/2016 18OCg3/15p setting aside proceeding unsuccessful public policy; inadmissibility of révision au fond; right to be heard – standard of review before the OGH (Supreme Court); scope of the request for relief – no excess of powers by the arbitral tribunal
2006 - 2015
Date   Type of proceeding Outcome of
the
proceeding		 Subject
23/06/2015 18OCg1/15v setting aside proceedings unsuccessful applicable law; choice of law – principal contract as an indication for a conclusive choice of law
19/06/2015 18OCg2/15s setting aside proceedings unsuccessful public policy; right to be heard; no excess of powers by the arbitral tribunal
       
05/08/2014 18ONc1/14p challenge of arbitrators unsuccessful conflicts of interest of arbitrators – personnel interrelations
05/08/2014 18ONc2/14k challenge of arbitrators unsuccessful conflicts of interest of arbitrators – personnel interrelations
       
19/04/2012 6Ob42/12p recission proceeding
(shareholders resolution)		 unsuccessful arbitrability of actions for nullity
18/04/2012 3Ob44/12k enforcement proceeding unsuccessful provisional measures (Brussels I-Regulation)
18/04/2012 3Ob38/12b enforcement proceeding unsuccessful right to be heard
         
13/04/2011 3Ob154/10h enforcement proceeding successful public policy – consultations and votes within the arbitral tribunal
         
24/05/2010 3Ob25/10p appeal unsuccessful arbitration and the CMR (Convention on the Contract for the
International Carriage of Goods by Road)
05/05/2010 7Ob216/09d enforcement proceeding unsuccessful confirmation of finality and enforceability
27/01/2010 7Ob225/09i
(7Ob256/09m)		 appeal unsuccessful interim and protective measures
         
 22/07/2009 3Ob144/09m appeal unsuccessful consumer related issues in arbitration
 30/03/2009 7Ob266/08f appeal successful applicable law and extension of an arbitration agreement to third parties
         
01/10/2008 6Ob170/08f appeal unsuccessful binding effect of awards and third party intervention (Art 6 ECHR)
03/09/2008 3Ob35/08f enforcement proceeding partially successful authentification and certification of an award (NYC)
26/08/2008 4Ob80/08f appeal partially successful scope of the arbitration clause
20/08/2008 9Ob53/08x setting aside proceeding unsuccessful public policy; due process; challenge of arbitrators
01/04/2008 5Ob272/07x setting aside proceeding unsuccessful public policy (Law on Restitution of Art Objects of 1998)
28/02/2008 8Ob4/08h appeal unsuccessful liability of arbitrators
05/02/2008 10Ob120/07f setting aside proceeding unsuccessful time limit for the challenge of an arbitral award
         
23/10/2007
 3Ob141/07t enforcement proceeding unsuccessful enforcement under the New York Convention and the
requirement of a special power of attorney
07/08/2007 4Ob142/07x appeal unsuccessful arbitration agreement – separability and writing requirement
 22/02/2007 3Ob281/06d setting aside proceeding unsuccessful interpretation of arbitration agreements and setting aside of arbitral awards
         
30/11/2006 6Ob207/06v appointment of arbitrators unsuccessful duty of disclosure and arbitrators’ fees
vor SchiedsRÄG 2006 (bis 1.7.2006)
Date  

Type of proceeding

Outcome of
the
proceeding

 Subject
22.05.2006 10Ob3/06y

appeal

unsuccessful

scope of statutory arbitration clauses
26.04.2006 3Ob211/05h

enforcement proceeding

successful

translation of an arbitral award, dissenting opinions and
deliberations of the arbitral tribunal
26.04.2006 7Ob236/05i

setting aside proceeding

unsuccessful

validity of the arbitration agreement – applicable law
29.03.2006 7Ob64/06x

setting aside proceeding

successful

arbitration agreement – requirement of
a written special power of attorney
08.03.2006 7Ob252/05t

setting aside proceeding

successful

advance on costs – no setting aside of
preliminary or interim decisions
 

setting aside proceeding

unsuccessful

challenge of arbitrators
 26.01.2005 7Ob314/04h

setting aside proceeding

partially successful

annual interest rate – Austrian public policy
26.01.2005 3Ob221/04b

setting aside proceeding

unsuccessful

challenge of arbitrators
 

setting aside proceeding

unsuccessful

challenge of arbitrators
15.09.2004 9ObA94/04w

setting aside proceeding

unsuccessful

right to be heard
 

recission proceeding
(shareholders resolution)

successful

arbitrability of the matter in dispute
28.05.2003 7Ob96/03y

recission proceeding
(shareholders resolution)

unsuccessful

arbitrability of the matter in dispute
 

setting aside proceeding

unsuccessful

annual interest rate – Austrian public policy
18.12.2002 7Ob265/02z

setting aside proceeding

partially successful

interpretation of an arbitration agreement
 

setting aside proceeding

unsuccessful

right to be heard
03.04.2001 4Ob37/01x

setting aside proceeding

unsuccessful

principle of separability
 

setting aside proceeding

unsuccessful

constitution of the arbitral tribunal (chairperson)
10.12.1998 7Ob221/98w

setting aside proceeding

successful

jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal – ex aequo et bono
15.09.1998 7Ob229/98x Aufhebungsverfahren nicht erfolgreich Jahreszinssatz – Österreichischer Ordre Public
05.05.1998 3Ob2372/96m Aufhebungsverfahren teilw. erfolgreich Auslegung von Schiedsvereinbarungen
       
24.07.1997 6Ob186/97i Aufhebungsverfahren nicht erfolgreich rechtliches Gehör
       
06.09.1990 6Ob572/90 Aufhebungsverfahren nicht erfolgreich  Grundsatz der Separabilität 
       
29.02.1984 2Ob516/84 Aufhebungsverfahren nicht erfolgreich  Schiedsrichterbestellung (Vorsitzender)
       
18.11.1982 8Ob520/82 Aufhebungsverfahren  erfolgreich Zuständigkeit des Schiedsgerichts –
Treu und Glauben

English Translations of Decisions

English summaries of some decisions are available. These can be found in the ‘Austrian Yearbook on International Arbitration’, Klausegger/Klein/Kremslehner/Petsche/Pitkowitz/Welser/Zeiler (eds.), C.H.Beck, MANZ Verlag Wien, Stämpfli Verlag, written by Markus Schifferl with Nikolaus Pitkowitz/Venus Valentina Wong/Alexander Zojer. The contributions in the various editions of the Austrian Yearbook are accessible online in the RDB legal database and on the Wolters Kluwer website. Further translations can be found in the Jus Mundi database.