Source: http://mo.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20180313_0000149.WMO.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 10:02:42+00:00

Document:
SARAH W. HAYS UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE.
shall hear the parties, and upon being satisfied that the making of the agreement for arbitration or the failure to comply therewith is not in issue, the court shall make an order directing the parties to proceed to arbitration in accordance with the terms of the agreement. . . If the making of the arbitration agreement or the failure, neglect, or refusal to perform the same be in issue, the court shall proceed summarily to the trial thereof.
9 USC § 4. In determining whether arbitration should be compelled, the court's first task is to determine whether the parties entered into a valid arbitration agreement. Nebraska Mach. Co. v. Cargotec Sols., LLC, 762 F.3d 737, 740 (8th Cir. 2014). Whether a valid arbitration agreement exists is a matter of state law. Donaldson Co. v. Burroughs Diesel, Inc., 581 F.3d 726, 731 (8th Cir. 2009). Therefore, Missouri substantive law governs whether the parties entered into a valid arbitration agreement.
As set forth in Clemmons v. Kansas City Chiefs Football Club, Inc., 397 S.W.3d 503 (Mo.Ct.App. 2013), the party seeking to compel arbitration has the burden of proving the existence of a valid and enforceable arbitration agreement. Clemmons v. Kansas City Chiefs Football Club, Inc., 397 S.W.3d 503, 505-06 (Mo.Ct.App. 2013). A valid arbitration agreement must meet the essential elements of a contract under Missouri law. Id. at 506. “The essential elements of a valid contract include offer, acceptance, and bargained for consideration.” Johnson v. McDonnell Douglas Corp., 745 S.W.2d 661, 662 (Mo. banc 1988)).
This Court will first address whether the unsigned Arbitration Agreement is sufficient to show a valid contract. The Arbitration Agreement provided to the Court by Welk purporting to be that which Bryant signed provides a full description of the claims subject to arbitration, provides a waiver for jury trial and representative/class action proceedings, and provides a detailed procedure for arbitration. (Doc. #1-2, at 6-8) At the end of the document there is a place for the employee to sign and date and a place for Welk to sign and date. (Doc. #1-2, at 8) As noted earlier, Welk is unable to find a signed agreement. The failure to submit a signed agreement, however, is not fatal to Welk's claim. Heritage Roofing, LLC v. Fischer, 164 S.W.3d 128, 134 (Mo.Ct.App. 2005). Nevertheless, Welk must submit some evidence that the parties intended to form a contract. Baier v. Darden Restaurants, 420 S.W.3d 733, 738 (Mo.Ct.App. 2014).

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