In Goldfinger v. Lisker, 68 N.Y.2d 225 [1986] the Court of Appeals reasoned, "Precisely because arbitration awards are subject to such judicial deference, it is imperative that the integrity of the process, as opposed to the correctness of the individual decision, be zealously safeguarded." Lower courts had found that evidence of ex parte communications with the arbitrator was insufficient to demonstrate actual partiality. The Court of Appeals reversed, holding that the conversations "created the appearance of impropriety if not actual partiality and that Our general reluctance to disturb arbitration awards must yield in this case to the clear necessity of safeguarding the integrity of the arbitration process. " (Goldfinger, 68 N.Y.2d at 232-233.)