IN THE SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA

January 2022 Term

_____________________

No. 20-0794

_____________________

CHANCELLOR SENIOR MANAGEMENT, LTD.

Defendant Below, Petitioner,

v.

LOUISE MCGRAW, by and through her Daughter, 

NANCY REUSCHEL as Power of Attorney, and 

CHARLOTTE RODGERS, by and through her Daughter, 

LORETTA HOLCOMB as Power of Attorney, 

on their own behalf and all others similarly situated,

Plaintiffs Below, Respondents.

___________________________________________________________

Appeal from the Circuit Court of Raleigh

The Honorable Andrew G. Dimlich, Judge

Civil Action No. 16-C-698-D

AFFIRMED

_________________________________________________________

Submitted: February 8, 2022

Filed: March 22, 2022

Avrum Levicoff, Esq.

The Levicoff Law Firm, P.C.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Counsel for Petitioner

Debra Tedeschi Varner, Esq.

Varner & Van Volkenburg, PLLC

Clarksburg, West Virginia

Christa L. Collins, Esq.

Collins Law PL

St. Petersburg, Florida

 

FILED

March 22, 2022

released at 3:00 p.m.

EDYTHE NASH GAISER, CLERK

SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

OF WEST VIRGINIA
ii

 Jonathan R. Mani, Esq.

 Mani, Ellis & Layne, PLLC

 Charleston, West Virginia

 Martha Geron Gadd, Esq.

 Elizabeth Aniskevich, Esq.

 AARP Foundation

 Washington, D.C.

 Counsel for Respondents

JUSTICE WOOTON delivered the Opinion of the Court.

CHIEF JUSTICE HUTCHISON, having been disqualified, did not participate in the 

decision of this case. 

JUSTICE ALAN D. MOATS sitting by temporary assignment.

JUDGE BALLARD sitting by temporary assignment.
i

SYLLABUS BY THE COURT

1. “An order denying a motion to compel arbitration is an interlocutory ruling 

which is subject to immediate appeal under the collateral order doctrine.” Syl. Pt. 1, Credit 

Acceptance Corp. v. Front, 231 W.Va. 518, 745 S.E.2d 556 (2013). 

2. “When an appeal from an order denying a motion to dismiss and to compel 

arbitration is properly before this Court, our review is de novo.” Syl. Pt. 1, W. Va. CVS 

Pharmacy, LLC v. McDowell Pharmacy, Inc., 238 W. Va. 465, 796 S.E.2d 574 (2017).

3. “When a trial court is required to rule upon a motion to compel arbitration 

pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§ 1-307 (2006), the authority of the trial 

court is limited to determining the threshold issues of (1) whether a valid arbitration 

agreement exists between the parties; and (2) whether the claims averred by the plaintiff 

fall within the substantive scope of that arbitration agreement.” Syl. Pt. 2, State ex rel. TD 

Ameritrade, Inc. v. Kaufman, 225 W. Va. 250, 692 S.E.2d 293 (2010). 

4. “Nothing in the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 2, overrides normal rules 

of contract interpretation.” Syl. Pt. 9, in part, Brown ex rel. Brown v. Genesis Healthcare 

Corp., 228 W. Va. 646, 724 S.E.2d 250 (2011), overruled in part on other grounds by 

Marmet Health Care Ctr., Inc. v. Brown, 565 U.S. 530 (2012). 
ii

5. “A valid written instrument which expresses the intent of the parties in plain 

and unambiguous language is not subject to judicial construction or interpretation but will 

be applied and enforced according to such intent.” Syl. Pt. 1, Cotiga Dev. Co. v. United 

Fuel Gas Co., 147 W. Va. 484, 128 S.E.2d 626 (1962).

6. “It is not the right or province of a court to alter, pervert or destroy the clear 

meaning and intent of the parties as expressed in unambiguous language in their written 

contract or to make a new or different contract for them.” Syl. Pt. 3, Cotiga Dev. Co. v. 

United Fuel Gas Co., 147 W. Va. 484, 128 S.E.2d 626 (1962).

7. “It is the safest and best mode of construction to give words, free from 

ambiguity, their plain and ordinary meaning.” Syl. Pt. 4, Williams v. S. Penn Oil Co., 52 

W. Va. 181, 43 S.E. 214 (1903), overruled in part on other grounds by Ramage v. S. Penn 

Oil Co., 94 W. Va. 81, 118 S.E.162 (1923). 

8. “Where an arbitration agreement names a forum for arbitration that is 

unavailable or has failed for some reason, a court may appoint a substitute forum pursuant 

to section 5 of the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 5 (1947) (2006 ed.), only if the 

choice of forum is an ancillary logistical concern. Where the choice of forum is an integral 

part of the agreement to arbitrate, the failure of the chosen forum will render the arbitration 

agreement unenforceable.” Syl. Pt. 3, Credit Acceptance Corp. v. Front, 231 W. Va. 518, 

745 S.E.2d 556 (2013).
1

WOOTON, Justice:

The petitioner, Chancellor Senior Management, Ltd. (sometimes referred to 

as “Chancellor”), appeals the order entered by the Circuit Court of Raleigh County, West 

Virginia, on October 2, 2020, denying the petitioner’s motion to compel arbitration. The 

petitioner’s only assignment of error is that the circuit court refused to enforce a clear and 

comprehensive written agreement to arbitrate all disputes, which agreement is contained 

in the “Assisted Living Residency Agreement(s) The Villages at Greystone Senior Living 

Community (West Virginia)” (“Residency Agreement”) signed by the respondents Nancy 

Reuschel and Loretta Holcomb on behalf of their mothers, the respondents Louise McGraw 

and Charlotte Rodgers, respectively. See text infra. Upon our careful review of the briefs, 

the arguments of counsel, the appendix record, the applicable law, and all other matters 

before the Court, we affirm the circuit court’s decision. 

I. Facts and Procedural Background

On March 27, 2013, Ms. McGraw was admitted to The Villages at Greystone 

(“The Greystone”),1 an assisted living facility located in Beckley, West Virginia. A 

Residency Agreement was executed on behalf of Ms. McGraw by her daughter, Ms. 

Reuschel. Likewise, on July 4, 2014, Ms. Rodgers was admitted to The Greystone under 

1 On May 27, 1998, Chancellor entered into an “Agreement to Manage an Assisted 

Living Community” (“Management Agreement”) with Beckley Health Partners, Ltd

(“Beckley Health”), which is the owner of The Greystone, to manage the facility. 
2 

a Residency Agreement executed by her daughter, Ms. Holcomb.2

 Both Residency 

Agreements contained the following arbitration provision, which provided, in pertinent 

part: 

 X. RESOLUTION OF LEGAL DISPUTES 

A. NONPAYMENT OF CHARGES 

Any legal controversy, dispute, disagreement or 

claim of any kind arising out of, or related to this 

Agreement, or the breach thereof, regarding 

nonpayment by you for payments due to the 

Community shall be adjudicated in a court of 

law, or arbitrated if mutually agreed to by the 

parties. 

B. RESIDENT’S RIGHTS 

Any legal controversy, dispute, disagreement or 

claim arising between the parties after the 

execution of this Agreement in which you or a 

person on your behalf alleges a violation of any 

right granted you under law shall be settled 

exclusively by binding arbitration as set forth in 

Section X.D. below. This provision shall not 

limit in any way your right to file formal or 

informal grievances with the Community or the 

State of West Virginia or Federal government. 

C. ALL OTHER DISPUTES 

Any legal controversy, dispute, disagreement or

claim of any kind arising out of, or related to this 

Agreement, or the breach thereof (other than 

those actions addressed in Sections X.A. and 

X.B. of this Agreement), shall be settled 

exclusively by binding arbitration as set forth in 

Section X.D. below. This arbitration clause is 

2

 Both daughters were acting under durable powers of attorney. 
3

meant to apply to all controversies, disputes, 

disagreements or claims including, but not 

limited to, all breach of contract claims, all 

negligence and malpractice claims, all tort 

claims, and all allegations of fraud in the 

inducement or requests for revision of the 

contract.

D. CONDUCT OF BINDING ARBITRATION

You understand that by hereby agreeing to 

arbitrate legal disputes means that you are 

waiving your right to sue in a court of law and to 

a trial by jury. You agree to arbitrate disputes by 

signing this Agreement. The decision of the 

arbitrator(s) shall be final and binding and may 

not be appealed nor may it be stayed. The 

arbitration will be conducted as follows: Any 

arbitration conducted pursuant to this Section X 

shall be conducted in Cabell County, West 

Virginia in accordance with the American 

Health Lawyers Association (“AHLA”) 

Alternative Dispute Resolution Service Rules of 

Procedure for Arbitration. The award rendered 

by the arbitrator(s) shall be final, and judgment 

on the award shall be entered in accordance with 

applicable law in any court having jurisdiction 

thereof. The parties understand that arbitration 

proceedings are not free and that any person 

requesting arbitration will be required to pay a 

filing fee to AHLA and other expenses; however, 

the parties agree to divide the arbitration 

expenses equally. If you would like information 

regarding AHLA’s Alternative Dispute 

Resolution Service, you may contact AHLA at 

(202) 833-1100 or Suite 600, 1025 Connecticut 

Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036-5405.

(Emphasis added). The AHLA “Rules of Procedure for Consumer Arbitration” (“AHLA 

Rules”), applicable to claims received on or after September 15, 2019, set forth certain 
4

requirements that must be met in order for a claim to be arbitrated in accordance with the 

AHLA Rules. In “Section 2: Filing a Claim,” it is specified that:

2.1 Requirements

To file a claim, a party must complete and submit the claim 

form on the AHLA website, pay the applicable fees listed in 

Exhibit 3 and on the form, provide a statement describing the 

issue(s) to be arbitrated, and either provide a copy of an 

agreement to arbitrate or a court order requiring arbitration of 

the claim under the Rules or cite a statute or regulation 

authorizing or requiring arbitration under the Rules.

If the agreement to arbitrate was signed before the events 

giving rise to the claim occurred, the agreement must:

(1) be a separate document conspicuously identified as an 

agreement to arbitrate;

(2) include the following notice, or substantially similar 

language, in a conspicuous location:

Voluntary Agreement to Arbitrate

THIS AGREEMENT GOVERNS IMPORTANT LEGAL 

RIGHTS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY BEFORE 

SIGNING.

This is a voluntary agreement to resolve any dispute that 

may arise in the future between the parties under the 

American Health Lawyers Association’s Rules of 

Procedure for Arbitration. In arbitration, a neutral third 

party chosen by the parties issues a final, binding decision. 

When parties agree to arbitrate, they waive their right to a 

trial by jury and the possibility of an appeal.

(3) state conspicuously that the health care entity will 

provide the same care or treatment, without delay, if the 

agreement is not signed; and

(4) explicitly grant the resident or his or her representative 

the right to rescind the agreement within 30 calendar 
5

days of signing it (unless a state law applicable to 

contracts generally grants a longer period for 

revocation).

(Emphasis added).

The AHLA Rules also includes the following provision: 

2.4 Hearing on Administration of Arbitration

(a) SCHEDULING. If a Consumer claims the agreement 

to arbitrate fails to comply with the requirements listed

in Rule 2.1, the arbitrator, once appointed, will 

promptly schedule a preliminary hearing on this issue. 

The arbitrator may conduct the hearing by telephone, 

by video conference, and/or by submission of briefs.

(b) DETERMINATION. Within ten (10) days after the 

preliminary hearing is closed, the arbitrator will issue an 

award determining whether the agreement to arbitrate 

satisfies the requirements set forth in Rule 2.1. If the 

arbitrator determines that the agreement does not satisfy 

the requirements, the arbitrator will issue a Final 

Award terminating the arbitration without prejudice to 

any claims or defenses. The Final Award may order the 

Health Care Entity to pay all the costs and fees of 

arbitration, including the filing fee. If the arbitrator 

determines the agreement satisfies the requirements, the 

arbitrator will issue an interim award to that effect. Any 

determination under this section not to administer the 

arbitration shall not be considered a determination on 

the validity of the arbitration agreement, and the parties 

may arbitrate in another forum if their agreement so 

provides or if they otherwise agree.

(Emphasis added). 
6

On November 29, 2016, the respondents, Louise McGraw, by and through 

her Daughter, Nancy Reuschel, as power of attorney, and Charlotte Rodgers, by and 

through her Daughter, Loretta Holcomb, as power of attorney, on their own behalf and all 

others similarly situated, filed an amended complaint3 against the petitioner.

4 The 

respondents alleged that the petitioner defrauded their respective mothers5 by making 

misrepresentations and misleading statements, and concealing material facts, all of which 

led them to believe the petitioner would assess its residents’ needs and provide staffing 

sufficient to meet those needs. The amended complaint alleged that the petitioner’s actions 

or inactions violated the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act 

(“WVCCPA”). See generally W. Va. Code §§ 46A-1-101 to -8-102 (2015 & Supp. 2021).

The petitioner answered the amended complaint6 on January 24, 2017, 

raising twenty-nine separate defenses, none of which involved a demand for arbitration. 

Thereafter, the petitioner filed pleadings and motions, including a motion to amend its 

amended answer, again without any mention of the arbitration provision found in the 

3 The original complaint was filed on October 25, 2016. 

4 The respondents filed this action as a putative class action. However, there are no 

issues in regard to class action status before the Court in this appeal as a class has not yet 

been certified.

5 Both Ms. McGraw and Ms. Rodgers are now deceased.

6 The circuit court’s order entered October 2, 2020, indicates that the petitioner 

answered the original complaint on December 5, 2016; however, the appendix record does 

not contain a copy of this answer.
7

Residency Agreements. Not until July 11, 2017, when it again sought leave to amend its 

answer, did the petitioner seek to add arbitration as a defense to the respondents’ claims.

7

 

By order entered March 11, 2019, the circuit court allowed the amended answer to be filed.

On June 5, 2019 – more than two and one-half years after the filing of the 

original complaint – the petitioner moved to compel arbitration based upon the arbitration 

provision set forth in the Residency Agreements. In response thereto, the respondents filed 

a “Motion for Partial Summary Judgment Concerning Arbitration of Plaintiffs’ Claims and 

Memorandum of Law in Support,” seeking a determination that the arbitration provision 

was invalid as a matter of law because it did not comply with the rules the petitioner 

incorporated into the agreement, the application of which would result in dismissal of any 

arbitration. Specifically, the respondents argued that the arbitration provision adopted the 

AHLA Rules, which required that the arbitration provision: 1) be labeled as a “voluntary 

agreement;” 2) be presented in a “separate document conspicuously identified as an 

7 The respondents opposed the petitioner’s motion to amend its answer in regard to 

arbitration, arguing that the petitioner waived that defense by failing to raise it in its initial 

pleadings and actively litigating the case for six months. In support of their waiver 

argument, the respondents pointed to numerous filings by the petitioner including 

responding to discovery and filing a “Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings, or in the 

Alternative Motion for Summary Judgment” which was based on an argument that the 

deceptive trade practice claims asserted by the respondents did not survive their mothers’

deaths. However, the circuit court never ruled on the waiver issue, and because the 

respondents fail to assert any assigned error in regard to waiver, the issue is not properly 

before the Court. 
8

agreement to arbitrate;” 3) state that the provision of care is not contingent on signing the 

arbitration provision; and 4) allow for revocation of the agreement for thirty days after 

execution. According to the AHLA Rules, if the arbitration agreement failed to satisfy the 

foregoing requirements, the arbitrator was “required to issue a Final Award terminating the 

arbitration. . . .” Here, the respondents argued, the arbitration provision in the Residency 

Agreements failed to comply with any of the foregoing requisite provisions of the AHLA

Rules and this failure precluded arbitration. The respondents further argued that the 

provision not only requires application of the AHLA Rules but also clearly designates the 

AHLA as the arbitration forum by requiring that the arbitration fee be paid to the AHLA 

and directing the parties to the AHLA’s Dispute Resolution Service. In this latter regard, 

the respondents contended that because the provision required the use of a particular 

arbitration forum, the forum is an integral term of the agreement; and therefore, because 

the forum was unavailable, the arbitration provision is invalid. 

In its amended brief in support of arbitration, the petitioner argued, among 

other things, that the arbitration provision did not require the AHLA to conduct or 

administer the arbitration, and thus the unavailability of the AHLA to conduct the 

arbitration was irrelevant. According to the petitioner, even if the provision could be read 

to require that the AHLA conduct the arbitration, the unavailability of an arbitration forum 

did not render the agreement to arbitrate unenforceable.
9

By order entered October 2, 2020, the circuit court found that while the 

claims asserted by the respondents would otherwise be subject to arbitration, the arbitration 

provision could not be enforced because it was contained in the admissions documentation,

i.e., the Residency Agreements, rather than in a separate document, and therefore the 

agreement could not be enforced as written. In short, the court found that the petitioner 

“made a prima facie showing of the existence of an arbitration agreement. [The 

respondents], however, have met their burden of proof by demonstrating that the subject 

agreement cannot be enforced as written because it does not comply with its own stated 

standards.” As a result, the court denied the petitioner’s motion to compel arbitration. It is 

from this order that the petitioner appeals. 

II. Standard of Review

“An order denying a motion to compel arbitration is an interlocutory ruling 

which is subject to immediate appeal under the collateral order doctrine.” Syl. Pt. 1, Credit 

Acceptance Corp. v. Front, 231 W.Va. 518, 745 S.E.2d 556 (2013). Further, “[w]hen an 

appeal from an order denying a motion to dismiss and to compel arbitration is properly 

before this Court, our review is de novo.” Syl. Pt. 1, W. Va. CVS Pharmacy, LLC v. 

McDowell Pharmacy, Inc., 238 W. Va. 465, 796 S.E.2d 574 (2017); accord Credit 

Acceptance, 231 W. Va. at 525, 745 S.E.2d at 563. Under this standard of review, we 

address the issue before us. 
10

III. Discussion

The sole issue before this Court is whether the circuit court erred in refusing 

to enforce the arbitration provision contained in the Residency Agreements. The petitioner 

contends that the arbitration provision does not require the AHLA to administer the 

arbitration because it only requires that the arbitration be conducted “in accordance with” 

the AHLA Rules of Procedure for Consumer Arbitration. According to the petitioner, Rule 

2.1 of the AHLA “only imposes certain requirements that an arbitration agreement must 

meet in order for the AHLA to administer the arbitration.8

 It does not create a standard of 

enforceability of the arbitration agreement.” (Footnoted added). The petitioner further 

argues that the language “in accordance with” means that the requirements of Rule 2.1 are 

not integrated into the arbitration agreement. Instead, pursuant to AHLA Rule 2.4(b) which 

the petitioner contends was ignored by the circuit court, any determination that the 

arbitration agreement does not satisfy the requirements of the Rule 2.1, “shall not be 

considered a determination on the validity of the arbitration agreement, and the parties may 

8

We reject the petitioner’s argument that the “[t]he drafter and parties could not have 

intended that the requirements of Rule 2.1 create standards of enforceability of the 

arbitration” because Rule 2.1 was not enacted by the AHLA until 2019, “well after the 

subject Residency Agreements were entered into.” Significantly, the AHLA Rules 

expressly provide that “[a] claim will be arbitrated in accordance with the version of these 

Rules posted on the website of the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) on the 

date a claim is filed.” Further, the petitioner’s argument was not raised before the circuit 

court and expressly relies upon certain exhibits containing prior versions of the AHLA 

Rules that the petitioner affixed to its petition for appeal. These exhibits constitute new 

evidence and were not part of the record considered by the circuit court. In this regard, by 

order entered July 15, 2021, we granted the respondents’ motion to strike exhibits attached 

to the petitioner’s brief because the exhibits and this evidence, as well as the petitioner’s 

arguments inextricably connected thereto, are not properly considered in this decision.
11

arbitrate in another forum if their agreement so provides or if they otherwise agree . . . .” 

Thus, the petitioner claims that Rule 2.1 is not a “procedural rule” but is merely a rule 

relating to the administration of arbitration. In other words, the petitioner argues that Rule 

2.1 “has absolutely no bearing on the enforceability of an agreement to arbitrate, and 

represents nothing more than an internal operating administrative requirement.” We 

disagree. 

We have held that 

[w]hen a trial court is required to rule upon a motion to 

compel arbitration pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 

U.S.C. §§ 1-307 (2006), the authority of the trial court is 

limited to determining the threshold issues of (1) whether a 

valid arbitration agreement exists between the parties; and (2) 

whether the claims averred by the plaintiff fall within the 

substantive scope of that arbitration agreement.

Syl. Pt. 2, State ex rel. TD Ameritrade, Inc. v. Kaufman, 225 W. Va. 250, 692 S.E.2d 293 

(2010). In Certegy Check Services, Inc. v. Fuller, 241 W. Va. 701, 828 S.E.2d 89 (2019), 

we recognized that “[t]he threshold issue—‘whether a valid arbitration agreement exists’—

is really two intertwined issues. First, is there an agreement? Second, if there is an 

agreement, is it valid (i.e., in the sense of being enforceable)?” Id. at 704, 828 S.E.2d at 

92. In this case, both parties agree that an arbitration provision exists. The issue is whether

it is a valid arbitration agreement. 

In addressing the validity of the arbitration provision, it is well established 

that “[s]tate law governs the determination of whether a party agreed to arbitrate a 
12

particular dispute.” Brown ex rel. Brown v. Genesis Healthcare Corp., 228 W. Va. 646, 

673, 724 S.E.2d 250, 277 (2011), overruled in part on other grounds, Marmet Health Care 

Ctr., Inc. v. Brown, 565 U.S. 530 (2012). Further, “[n]othing in the Federal Arbitration 

Act, 9 U.S.C. § 2, overrides normal rules of contract interpretation.” Id. at 657, 724 S.E.2d 

at 261, Syl. Pt. 9, in part. Thus, “the issue of whether an arbitration agreement is a valid

contract is a matter of state contract law and capable of state judicial review.” State ex el. 

Clites v. Clawges, 224 W. Va. 299, 305, 685 S.E.2d 693, 699 (2009). Arbitration 

agreements are “to be treated by courts like any other contract, nothing more, and nothing 

less.” Brown ex rel. Brown, 228 W. Va. at 671, 724 S.E.2d at 275. 

The parties agree that the language that comprises the arbitration provision 

in the Residency Agreements is clear and unambiguous. Because of this, we do not need 

to interpret the arbitration provision but simply to apply it. This Court held that

[a] valid written instrument which expresses the intent 

of the parties in plain and unambiguous language is not subject 

to judicial construction or interpretation but will be applied and 

enforced according to such intent.

. . . . 

It is not the right or province of a court to alter, pervert 

or destroy the clear meaning and intent of the parties as 

expressed in unambiguous language in their written contract or 

to make a new or different contract for them.

Syl. Pts. 1 and 3, Cotiga Dev. Co. v. United Fuel Gas Co., 147 W. Va. 484, 128 S.E.2d 

626 (1962); accord Syl. Pts. 6 and 7, Ascent Res. - Marcellus, LLC v. Huffman, 244 W. Va. 

119, 851 S.E.2d 782, 788 (W.Va. 2020). “It is also well settled that the words of an 
13

agreement should be given their natural and ordinary meaning, because the parties 

presumably used the words in the sense in which they were generally understood.” Bennett 

v. Dove, 166 W. Va. 772, 774, 277 S.E.2d 617, 619 (1981). In this regard, we previously 

held that “[i]t is the safest and best mode of construction to give words, free from 

ambiguity, their plain and ordinary meaning.” Syl. Pt. 4, Williams v. S. Penn Oil Co., 52 

W.Va. 181, 43 S.E. 214 (1902), overruled in part on other grounds by Ramage v. S. Penn 

Oil Co., 94 W. Va. 81, 118 S.E.162 (1923). 

First, the language of the arbitration provision found in the Residency 

Agreements provides that “[t]he arbitration will be conducted as follows: Any arbitration 

conducted pursuant to this Section X shall be conducted in Cabell County, West Virginia 

in accordance with the American Health Lawyers Association (“AHLA”) Alternative 

Dispute Resolution Service Rules of Procedure for Arbitration.” 9 (Emphasis added). The 

petitioner focuses upon the words “in accordance with” in arguing that this language 

neither integrates the AHLA Rules into the arbitration agreement nor “create[s] a standard 

of enforceability of the arbitration agreement.” In other words, the petitioner contends that 

“[t]he plain and unambiguous language of the arbitration provision reflects only one 

9 The petitioner’s argument that Rule 2.1 is merely an administrative rule and not a 

procedural rule is disingenuous. Rule 2.1 is found in the AHLA’s “Rules of Procedure for 

Consumer Arbitration” and there is nothing in the rule to suggest that it is purely 

administrative. Instead, the language of the rule set forth supra and discussed in greater 

detail infra sets forth the procedural requirements which must be met for filing a claim to 

arbitrate. 
14 

requirement, that the arbitration be conducted ‘in accordance with’ the AHLA Rules of 

Arbitration” but does not require that any of the other procedures in the AHLA Rules be 

followed or that AHLA conduct the arbitration – despite express contractual language to 

the contrary. 

 The petitioner’s logic and piecemeal selection of only certain words from 

both the arbitration agreement and the AHLA Rules are both misguided and misleading. 

Inasmuch as the parties agree that the arbitration provision is unambiguous, basic principles 

of contract construction, see id., require us to give the phrase “in accordance with” its 

ordinary meaning, which is: “in a way that agrees with or follows.” In accordance with, 

Merriam-Webster, https://merriam-webster.com, (last visited February 21, 2022). Hence, 

the language “in accordance with the American Health Lawyers Association (“AHLA”) 

Alternative Dispute Resolution Service Rules of Procedure for Arbitration[,]” means that 

the arbitration will be conducted in a way that agrees with or follows the AHLA Rules. 

 In this regard, pursuant to the arbitration provision found in the Residency 

Agreements, an arbitration must follow or agree with AHLA Rule 2.1, “Requirements.” 

This rule provides that “[i]f the agreement to arbitrate was signed before the events giving 

rise to the claim occurred, the agreement must:” 1) be set forth in a separate document 

conspicuously identified as an agreement to arbitrate; 2) include the express notice set forth 

supra in greater detail or substantially similar language in a conspicuous location; 3) 

provide conspicuously that the facility will provide the same care or treatment, without 
15

delay, if the agreement is not signed; and 4) grant the resident or his or her representative 

the right to rescind the agreement within thirty calendar days of signing it. Further, any 

arbitration must follow Rule 2.4, which provides that “[i]f the arbitrator determines that 

the agreement does not satisfy the requirements, the arbitrator will issue a Final Award 

terminating the arbitration without prejudice to any claims or defenses.” (Emphasis 

added). 

Even a cursory examination of the arbitration provision at issue reveals that 

it fails to “comply with its own stated standards” set forth in the AHLA Rules; indeed, the 

arbitration provision is internally inconsistent with the requirements of Rule 2.1. 

Specifically, the arbitration provision is not contained in a separate agreement as required 

by Rule 2.1, but rather is buried in the Residency Agreements. Additionally, it fails to 

contain any language specifying that it is a “voluntary agreement,” which is also required 

by Rule 2.1. The arbitration provision further fails to advise residents that the provision of 

health care is not contingent on their signing the agreement to arbitrate, and it does not 

provide a thirty-day period to rescind the agreement after it has been signed. According to 

Rule 2.4, if an arbitration provision fails to comport with the requirements of Rule 2.1, the 

arbitrator “will issue a Final Award terminating the arbitration.” Thus, the circuit court did 

not err in determining that the arbitration agreement was not valid. 

Additionally, the petitioner argues that the arbitration provision’s reference

to the AHLA to the effect that the arbitration is to be conducted “in accordance with” the 
16

AHLA Rules, “is merely an ancillary logistical concern and is not a forum selection integral 

to the agreement to arbitrate.” The petitioner argues that “[h]ad the parties desired that the 

AHLA conduct or administer the arbitration, they could have specifically stated this in the 

arbitration agreement.” Conversely, the respondents argue that “selecting the AHLA as 

the arbitral forum is clear and mandatory” and while the petitioner could have provided for 

an alternative forum, it failed to do so.

We held the following in syllabus point three of Credit Acceptance:

Where an arbitration agreement names a forum for 

arbitration that is unavailable or has failed for some reason, a 

court may appoint a substitute forum pursuant to section 5 of 

the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 5 (1947) (2006 ed.), 

only if the choice of forum is an ancillary logistical concern. 

Where the choice of forum is an integral part of the agreement 

to arbitrate, the failure of the chosen forum will render the 

arbitration agreement unenforceable.

231 W. Va. at 519, 745 S.E.2d at 557-58, Syl. Pt. 3 (emphasis added). 

We easily dispense with the petitioner’s argument that arbitration can occur 

in a forum other than the AHLA. First, and critically, even if the arbitration provision 

provided a different forum for the arbitration, any non-AHLA arbitrator would be required 

to apply Rule 2.1 and, as discussed supra in greater detail, the failure of the arbitration 

provision to comport with the Rule 2.1 would mandate a dismissal of the arbitration. 
17

Second, a review of the language of the arbitration provisions demonstrates 

clearly that the parties agreed to the AHLA conducting the arbitration and made the AHLA 

an integral part of the agreement, to wit:

[t]he parties understand that arbitration proceedings are not 

free and that any person requesting arbitration will be required 

to pay a filing fee to AHLA and other expenses; however, the 

parties agree to divide the arbitration expenses equally. If you 

would like information regarding AHLA’s Alternative Dispute 

Resolution Service, you may contact AHLA . . . .10

(Emphasis and footnote added). Succinctly stated, the AHLA is the only arbitrator 

designated in the arbitration provision; the provision requires the parties to pay a filing fee 

to the AHLA. The petitioner’s contention that the arbitration can occur in a different forum 

simply is not contemplated by the arbitration provision. Therefore, the circuit court did 

not err in its determination that the arbitration agreement “cannot be enforced as written 

because it does not comply with its own stated standards.” 

IV. Conclusion

For the foregoing reasons, the circuit court’s order denying the petitioner’s motion 

to compel arbitration is affirmed.

Affirmed.

10 See also AHLA Rule 2.1 set forth supra.