Opinion
August 17, 1977. Reargument Denied September 16, 1977.
Appeal from the Commonwealth Court, at No. 169, Misc. Docket, Crumlish, Jr., J.
William A. Hebe, Spencer, Gleason Hebe, Wellsboro, for appellant.
Louise O. Knight, Clement Knight, Lewisburg, for appellee.
Before EAGEN, C. J., and O'BRIEN, ROBERTS, POMEROY, NIX, MANDERINO and PACKEL, JJ.
OPINION OF THE COURT
Petition for allowance of appeal is granted.
We hear this appeal pursuant to the Appellate Court Jurisdiction Act, Act of July 31, 1970, P.L. 673, art. II, § 204(a), 17 Pa.C.S.A. § 211.204(a) (Supp. 1977).
In Community College of Beaver County, Society of the Faculty v. Community College of Beaver, ___ Pa. ___, 375 A.2d 1267 (1977), this Court stated that an arbitrator's award is to be respected by the judiciary if the award " 'can in any rational way be derived from the agreement, viewed in light of its language, its context, and any other indicia of the parties' intention. . . .' " (Slip opinion at 17), quoting Ludwig Honold Mfg. Co. v. Fletcher, 405 F.2d 1123, 1128 (3d Cir. 1969). See also Washington Arbitration Case, 436 Pa. 168, 259 A.2d 437 (1969).
Applying this standard of review, we conclude that the arbitrator's award in the instant case was rationally derived from the agreement and that the Commonwealth Court erred in reversing the arbitration award.
The order of the Commonwealth Court is reversed and the arbitration award is reinstated.