Resolving a split among the federal circuits, the U.S. Supreme Court has clarified the rules governing where businesses can file court actions to confirm or vacate arbitration awards.

The high court in Cortez Byrd Chips Inc. v. Bill Harbert Construction Co., No. 98-1960, on March 21 unanimously held that the Federal Arbitration Act does not require that a motion to confirm, modify or vacate an arbitration award be filed only in the district where the award was made.