Petitioner, International Tin Council (ITC), brought an action to stay an American Arbitration Association arbitration that was initiated by respondent, Amalgamet Inc., and that arose out of petitioner’s refusal to honor three contracts for the purchase of tin from respondent. Petitioner claimed that it was immune from suit in the United States by virtue of its status as an international organization under British law, and, in the alternative, that the arbitration clause in its contract with respondent was unenforceable. The Supreme Court of New York County (per Parness, J.) dismissed the petition, and held that petitioner lacked any basis under U.S. law for immunity from legal process and that petitioner had consented to the arbitration clause providing for arbitration in New York.
