Court of Civitavecchia, order of 8 July 2026 (R.G. 00000046/2026)

In order to determine whether the proceedings are arbitration or contractual arbitration (arbitrato irrituale), the arbitration clause must be construed according to the canons of interpretation of art. 1362 cod. civ., since conferring on the arbitrators the power to decide ex aequo et bono or as amiables compositeurs, the non-appealability of the decision or the exemption from procedural formalities are not in themselves decisive; in case of uncertainty, weight is to be given to the arbitrators' characterisation of the arbitration as contractual in the award.
An award rendered in contractual arbitration (arbitrato irrituale) is contractual in nature and lacks enforceability, so that the absence of a valid enforceable title constitutes serious grounds justifying a stay of the enforceability of the title under art. 615, co. 1, cod. proc. civ.