Quinn, Racusin & Gazzola Chartered v. Pavich Law Group, P.C., et al. (District of Columbia Court of Appeals Nos. 25-CV-0086 & 25-CV-0229)

Procedural record

1. 3 September 2026United States

   3 September 2026United States

   Amended Opinion of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals in Nos. 25-CV-0086 & 25-CV-0229 dated 3 September 2026

   District of Columbia Court of Appeals

   Decision summary

   The court affirmed the Superior Court’s judgment confirming the arbitrator’s final award and denying Quinn, Racusin & Gazzola Chartered’s motion to vacate. It held that the ACAF was not procured by fraudulent inducement or duress, that the arbitration clause covered the fee-allocation dispute and related tort claims, and that vacatur of the underlying Iraq Litigation judgment did not render the ACAF void.

   Supporting details

   Quinn, Racusin & Gazzola Chartered

   Representative

   Robert N. Kelly (For: Quinn, Racusin & Gazzola Chartered)

   Representative

   Tara A. Barnes (For: Quinn, Racusin & Gazzola Chartered)

   Pavich Law Group, P.C.

   Representative

   Stuart A. Berman (For: Pavich Law Group, P.C.)

   Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, LLP

   Representative

   Eric C. Rowe (For: Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, LLP)

   Representative

   C. Allen Foster (For: Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, LLP)

   Representative

   Masten Childers, III (For: Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, LLP)

   Kalbian Hagerty, LLP

   Representative

   William P. McGrath, Jr. (For: Kalbian Hagerty, LLP)

   District of Columbia Court of Appeals

   Judge

   Blackburne-Rigsby

   Judge

   Easterly

   Judge

   Shanker

   Other

   Representative

   Joe R. Reeder (For: Wye Oak Technology, Inc.)

   Authorities cited

   5

   • Revised Uniform Arbitration Act (D.C. Code § 16-4423)
     statute
   • Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. § 10)
     statute
   • Quinn, Racusin & Gazzola Chartered v. PLG Law Group, P.C. (309 A.3d 587 (D.C. 2024))
     case
   • Wye Oak Technology, Inc. v. Republic of Iraq (109 F.4th 509 (D.C. Cir. 2024))
     case
   • Wye Oak Technology, Inc. v. Republic of Iraq (146 S. Ct. 396 (2025))
     case
2. Date not availableArbitration

   Date not availableArbitration

   Final Arbitration Award

   JAMS

   Decision summary

   The final award allocated Wye Oak’s contingency fee among the law firms as follows: Pavich Law Group, 18 percent; Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, 27.5 percent; Kalbian Hagerty, 0.5 percent; and Quinn, Racusin & Gazzola, 0 percent.

   Supporting details

   Pavich Law Group

   Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, LLP

   Kalbian Hagerty, LLP

   Quinn, Racusin & Gazzola Chartered

   JAMS

   Arbitrator

   Richard A. Levie

3. Date not availableArbitration

   Date not availableArbitration

   Interim Arbitration Award

   JAMS

   Decision summary

   The interim award allocated Wye Oak’s contingency fee among the law firms as follows: Pavich Law Group, 18 percent; Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, 27.5 percent; Kalbian Hagerty, 0.5 percent; and Quinn, Racusin & Gazzola, 0 percent.

   Supporting details

   Pavich Law Group

   Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, LLP

   Kalbian Hagerty, LLP

   Quinn, Racusin & Gazzola Chartered

   JAMS

   Arbitrator

   Richard A. Levie