A general contractor (Riha) and homeowners (Smulcers) had a dispute over a residential construction contract and went to arbitration as required by their contract. The arbitrator awarded Riha $35,125.65. The trial court then modified the award by subtracting certain credits. The appeals court reversed this decision, ruling that trial courts cannot change or correct an arbitrator's award—it must be confirmed exactly as written. This is critical for subcontractors because it protects arbitration awards from being altered by judges.
Once an arbitrator issues an award, the trial court must confirm it as-is. Judges cannot modify, correct, or adjust the amount—even if they think credits should be subtracted.