Olshan Foundation Repair Co. of Jackson, LLC v. Gloria Moore
Olshan Foundation Repair Co. of Jackson, LLC v. Gloria Moore
Opinion of the Court
¶ 1. Phillip Moore, Gloria Moore, and Katelyn Moore sued Olshan Foundation Repair of Jackson, LLC (Olshan), and Wayne Brown in Perry County Circuit Court. Olshan and Brown sought to compel arbitration pursuant to an arbitration provision within a contract between Phillip Moore and Olshan for the repair of the foundation of the Moores' home. The circuit court ordered Phillip and Gloria Moore to arbitrate their claims. But because the circuit court declined to order Katelyn Moore to the arbitral forum, Olshan and Brown now appeal. We affirm the judgment of the Perry County Circuit Court denying the motion to compel arbitration filed by Olshan and Brown as to Katelyn Moore's claims.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
¶ 2. On June 10, 2013, Phillip Moore contracted
¶ 3. After Olshan and Brown moved to compel arbitration, the circuit court held a hearing. It then entered an order granting the motion with respect to Phillip and Gloria Moore's claims while denying the motion as it pertains to Katelyn Moore's claims. Regarding Katelyn Moore's claims, the circuit court reasoned that the terms of the contract were not broad enough to include Katelyn as a third-party beneficiary of the agreement and that the arbitration agreement could not be enforced against Katelyn on the grounds of estoppel "as her claims are not based solely on the terms of the contract." The circuit court explained:
Katelyn asserts claims for intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress and negligence which could be pursued regardless of whether or not there was a contract. Moreover, due to ambiguity in the Complaint, it is not clear to the [c]ourt if Katelyn is seeking to assert claims for breach of contract and breach of warranty. Those claims more properly belong to Phillip and Gloria.
The trial court further held that Katelyn Moore was neither a third-party beneficiary nor a direct beneficiary of the Olshan contract, because:
the terms of the contract were not expressly broad enough to include Katelyn as a third-party by name or as one of a specified class, as Katelyn was not an owner of the property. Furthermore, Katelyn was not a direct beneficiary of the contract. The fact that Katelyn resides in the home makes her an incidental, not direct beneficiary of the construction work performed by Olshan. See Rein v. Benchmark Construction Company ,865 So.2d 1134 (Miss. 2004) ; Simmons Housing Inc. v. Shelton ex rel. Shelton , 36 So.[3]2d 1283 (Miss. 2010).
¶ 4. Olshan and Brown appeal only the circuit court's denial of their motion to compel Katelyn Moore to arbitrate her claims.
ANALYSIS
¶ 5. A grant or denial of a motion to compel arbitration is reviewed
de novo
.
Harrison Cty. Commercial Lot, LLC v. H. Gordon Myrick, Inc.
,
¶ 6. The circuit court held that the arbitration provision in the foundation-repair contract between Phillip Moore and Olshan was valid and enforceable and that Gloria Moore was a third-party beneficiary. Phillip and Gloria Moore declined to cross-appeal the circuit court's decision that the arbitration agreement was valid and enforceable respecting their claims. Accordingly, the validity of the arbitration provision, itself, is not before the Court. The only question is whether Katelyn Moore, a nonsignatory, is bound to arbitrate her claims against Olshan.
¶ 7. Olshan contends that a federal policy favoring arbitration exists and the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) requires "that 'we rigorously enforce agreements to arbitrate.' "
East Ford, Inc. v. Taylor
,
¶ 8. Only in the rarest of circumstances, and with caution, should we shackle a citizen to an agreement of others that strips the citizen of his or her constitutional right to a trial by jury. Miss. Const. Art. 3, § 31 ;
see
Pinnacle Trust Co., L.L.C. v. McTaggart
,
¶ 9.
Simmons
was introduced to these proceedings by Olshan in its motion to compel arbitration, albeit for a different proposition.
¶ 10. First, the
Simmons
Court analyzed whether the Sheltons' children were third-party beneficiaries and held that a person may be considered a third-party beneficiary "if: (1) the contract between the original parties was entered for that person's or entity's benefit, or the original parties at least contemplated such benefit as a direct result of performance; (2) the promisee owed a legal obligation or duty to that person or entity; and (3) the legal obligation or duty connects that person or entity with the contract."
¶ 11. Here, the trial judge eminently was correct in finding that Katelyn Moore was neither a third-party beneficiary nor a direct beneficiary because:
the terms of the contract were not expressly broad enough to include Katelyn as a third-party by name or as one of a specified class, as Katelyn was not an owner of the property. Furthermore, Katelyn was not a direct beneficiary of the contract. The fact that Katelyn resides in the home makes her an incidental, not direct beneficiary of the construction work performed by Olshan. See Rein v. Benchmark Construction Company ,865 So.2d 1134 (Miss. 2004) ; Simmons Housing Inc. v. Shelton ex rel. Shelton , 36 So.[3]2d 1283 (Miss. 2010).
¶ 12. The
Simmons
Court next analyzed whether equitable estoppel would bind the Sheltons' children to arbitration.
Simmons
,
¶ 13. Olshan unconvincingly argues that equitable estoppel applies because Katelyn Moore's claim of personal injury arises from the contract, so she should be bound to arbitrate. Katelyn Moore argues that she is not subject to equitable estoppel because she had no knowledge of the contract, and, therefore, she could not have benefitted knowingly from the contract. She continues that her claim for negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress is not dependent on the contract. We agree. In
Hattiesburg Health & Rehab Center, LLC v. Brown
,
¶ 14. The trial court correctly found that Katelyn Moore's claim for intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress and negligence "could be pursued regardless of whether or not there was a contract."
¶ 15. Olshan next argues that direct-benefit estoppel mandates enforcement of an arbitration provision against a nonsignatory. "Direct-benefit estoppel involves non-signatories who, during the life of the contract, have embraced the contract despite their non-signatory status, but then, during litigation, attempt to repudiate the arbitration clause in the contract."
Pinnacle Trust Co.
,
¶ 16. Katelyn Moore is not a direct beneficiary because she never sought to obtain any direct benefit from the foundation-repair contract. She is, as the trial court ruled, merely an incidental beneficiary.
Simmons
,
¶ 17. In any event, Katelyn Moore "cannot be required to arbitrate any disputes [to] which [she] did not agree ...."
Harrison Cty. Commercial Lot, LLC
,
¶ 18. Importantly, in
Simmons
, the children alleged contract-related claims.
Simmons
,
¶ 19. Finally, Olshan cites
Terminix International, Inc. v. Rice
,
¶ 20. As in Simmons and Brown , Katelyn Moore is neither a third-party beneficiary to the foundation-repair contract nor is she bound by direct-benefit estoppel. Accordingly, we hold that Katelyn Moore's claims, including negligence and intentional/negligent infliction of emotional distress, are wholly independent of the terms of the contract to which she was not a party. We hold further that Olshan should not be allowed to enforce an arbitration clause respecting Katelyn Moore's claims, which are unrelated to the contract.
CONCLUSION
¶ 21. On de novo review, we find that the circuit court did not err in declining to compel Katelyn Moore's claims to arbitration. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the Perry County Circuit Court.
¶ 22. AFFIRMED.
WALLER, C.J., RANDOLPH, P.J., KING, COLEMAN AND BEAM, JJ., CONCUR. CHAMBERLIN, J., DISSENTS WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION JOINED BY MAXWELL AND ISHEE, JJ.
The following arbitration provision appeared on the back page of the contract:
ARBITRATION : Contractor and Owner agree that any dispute or lawsuit arising out of this Agreement and Warranties shall be resolved by mandatory and binding arbitration pursuant to the arbitration laws in this state and in accordance with this agreement and the rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA). Parties may arbitrate with an agreed upon arbitrator. If unable to agree, binding arbitration shall be administered by AAA. All costs shall be divided equally among the parties.
The Moores requested the following relief:
WHEREFORE, premises considered, as a result of the foregoing, damage was caused to the plaintiffs by the actions of Olshan. In particular, Gloria and Phillip Moore have suffered the following damages :
1. Total and complete loss of the value of their home in the approximate amount of $200,000.00;
2. Loss of use of their home during the time that the repairs were being undertaken;
3. Loss of enjoyment of their home during the time that the damages were unrepaired;
4. Expenses having the house repaired;
5. Expenses having the house examined to determine what actions could be taken to salvage the value of the home;
6. Medical bills for Phillip Moore to deal with his ulcerative colitis issues;
7. Attorneys fees in attempting to have the house repaired;
8. Other consequential damages such as interest on their loan.
The Moores demand payment (1) for the full value of their home ($200,000.00), (2) for loss of use of their home in the amount of the rental value for (3) years ($36,000.00), (3) medical bills and emotional stress damages ($250,000.00) for Phillip Moore and $100,000.00 for Katelyn Moore , (4) actual and punitive damages for fraud in the amount of $100,000.00, (5) all attorneys fees, expenses, pre-judgment interest, and (6) punitive damages as may be allowed by law for the willful and wanton conduct of Olshan.
(Emphasis added.)
Instead of distinguishing
Simmons
-a factually analogous case-Olshan cites a Texas intermediate appellate court opinion that applies the FAA.
In re Ford Motor Co.
,
The
Simmons
Court's third-party-beneficiary analysis was based on
Yazoo & M.V.R. Co. v. Sideboard
,
(1) When the terms of the contract are expressly broad enough to include the third party either by name as one of a specified class, and (2) the said third party was evidently within the intent of the terms so used, the said third party will be within its benefits, if (3) the promisee had, in fact, a substantial and articulate interest in the welfare of the said third party in respect to the subject of the contract.
Id. at 671.
"A pleading which sets forth a claim for relief, whether an original claim, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim, shall contain (1) a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief, and, (2) a demand for judgment for the relief to which he deems himself entitled . Relief in the alternative or of several different types may be demanded." Miss. R. Civ. P. 8 (emphasis added).
Dissenting Opinion
¶ 23. We should not expand the right to arbitration but rather apply already-established law. However, as all of the claims alleged against Olshan and Brown arose from the contract and Katelyn availed herself of that contract, acts already contemplated under existing law, I respectfully dissent. I would reverse the circuit court's denial of arbitration and remand the case to be compelled to arbitration in its entirety.
¶ 24. As the majority recognizes, a party is bound by the principles of direct-benefit estoppel where the party "seek[s] to enforce the terms of that contract or assert[s] claims that must be determined by reference to that contract."
Scruggs v. Wyatt
,
¶ 25. Despite the majority's insistence otherwise, Katelyn (herself or, in the alternative, through her mother as her next friend and natural guardian) has asserted claims that must be determined by reference to the contract. Under the complaint, Katelyn brought all five counts against Olshan and Brown. While the majority is quick to note the clear intent of the parties concerning the application of Mississippi law, it wholly ignores the Moores' admission on appeal that Katelyn brought all five counts in the complaint. On appeal, the Moores (including Katelyn) bluntly declare:
Katelyn, along with her parents Phillip and Gloria Moore, sued Olshan and Wayne Brown, as the employee and GM of Olshan, in Perry County Circuit Court for breach of contract, breach of warranty, negligence, fraud, and Intentional/Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress (INIED) claims stemming from Olshan's failure to competently repair their foundation.
This admission is nothing new, though, as the Moores (including Katelyn), in their response to the motion to compel, argued that "[b]ecause the Moores' claims all arise out of the same occurrence , the claims should be resolved together, either through arbitration or trial." (Emphasis added.)
¶ 26. Instead of deferring to the language of the complaint and the Moores' claims, the majority is forced to draw the distinction that Katelyn has brought only count five against Olshan and Brown. This distinction is unsupported by the complaint and the entire record both in the circuit court and on appeal. The majority's attempt to justify its interpretation of the complaint by recognizing that Katelyn's damages were alleged separately is unavailing in light of the language of the complaint paired with the Moores' own understanding of the claims brought. Even if the circuit court was correct to interpret the complaint's use of the term "the Moores" as excluding Katelyn, Katelyn's continued insistence on appeal that she brought the claims alongside her parents renders this interpretation on appeal untenable.
¶ 27. Had Katelyn brought only count five, though, her claim still should be arbitrated. As to count five, the complaint's specific reference to Katelyn does not allege a cause of action against Olshan or Brown without the surrounding context of the breach-of-contract claims. As to Katelyn, count five states "Katelyn Moore has autism and other mental complications which cause emotional distress due to limited coping skills with physical manifestations of migraine headaches." Alone, these allegations do not allege any cause of action against Olshan and Brown. Instead, the allegations claim that Katelyn's autism and other mental complications caused her emotional distress. These are, at best, damages. Only when the allegations are read in conjunction with the first phrase of Phillip's claim does Katelyn's claim become actionable. The first phrase of Phillip's claim in count five provides: "Due to the actions of Olshan, as previously described in the statement of facts, and its negligence and breach of contract...."
¶ 28. The majority's reliance on
Simmons
and
Brown
is misplaced: in both those cases the Court declined to apply equitable estoppel, as the parties at issue were not bringing contact claims.
Simmons Housing, Inc. v. Shelton ex rel. Shelton
,
¶ 29. Katelyn's claims against Olshan and Brown arose from the contract at issue in this case. Katelyn brought suit against Olshan and Brown under that contract, alleging claims that must, by the Moore's own admissions, be resolved by reference to that contract. As such, I would apply established law and compel Katelyn's claims to arbitration.
MAXWELL AND ISHEE, JJ., JOIN THIS OPINION.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- OLSHAN FOUNDATION REPAIR COMPANY OF JACKSON, LLC D/B/A Olshan Foundation Solutions and Wayne Brown v. Gloria MOORE, Phillip R. Moore and Katelyn A. Moore
- Cited By
- 5 cases
- Status
- Published