Title: Aurora Healthcare, Inc. v. Ramsey
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 1091561
State: Alabama
Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court
Date: October 21, 2011

REL 10/21/2011 
Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l 
r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n 
t h e 
advance 
s h e e t s o f 
Southern Reporter. 
R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e 
Reporter of 
Decisions, 
Alabama 
A p p e l l a t e 
C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 
((334) 
2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f 
any t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n 
o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may be made 
b e f o r e t h e 
o p i n i o n i s 
p r i n t e d i n 
Southern Reporter. 
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA 
OCTOBER TERM, 2011-2012 
1091561 
Aurora H e a l t h c a r e , Inc.; Aurora Cares, LLC, 
d/b/a Tara 
Cares; and Birmingham N u r s i n g and R e h a b i l i t a t i o n Center 
E a s t , LLC 
v. 
Sharon Ramsey, as a d m i n i s t r a t r i x o f the e s t a t e o f Mary 
Pettway 
Appeal from J e f f e r s o n C i r c u i t Court 
(CV-06-2168) 
MALONE, C h i e f 
J u s t i c e . 
A u r o r a 
H e a l t h c a r e , I n c . ; A u r o r a C a r e s , L L C , 
d/b/a T a r a 
C a r e s 
( h e r e i n a f t e r 
r e f e r r e d t o c o l l e c t i v e l y as " t h e A u r o r a 
d e f e n d a n t s " ) ; a n d 
B i r m i n g h a m 
N u r s i n g a n d R e h a b i l i t a t i o n C e n t e r 
1091561 
E a s t , 
LLC 
( " B i r m i n g h a m 
E a s t " ) 
( t h e A u r o r a 
d e f e n d a n t s a n d 
B i r m i n g h a m E a s t a r e h e r e i n a f t e r r e f e r r e d t o c o l l e c t i v e l y as 
" t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s " ) , 
a p p e a l 
f r o m an o r d e r 
o f t h e J e f f e r s o n 
C i r c u i t C o u r t d e n y i n g 
t h e i r m o t i o n t o c o m p e l a r b i t r a t i o n . 
We 
r e v e r s e a n d remand. 
F a c t s a n d P r o c e d u r a l 
H i s t o r y 
On o r a b o u t November 7, 2003, M a r y P e t t w a y , t h e n 75 y e a r s 
o l d , 
was d i s c h a r g e d 
f r o m t h e h o s p i t a l a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f 
A l a b a m a a t B i r m i n g h a m a n d a d m i t t e d 
t o a 
n u r s i n g home i n 
B i r m i n g h a m owned a n d o p e r a t e d 
by t h e d e f e n d a n t s . 
She was 
r e t u r n e d t o t h e h o s p i t a l a n d t h e n 
r e a d m i t t e d t o t h e n u r s i n g 
home t w i c e i n 
t h e 
weeks f o l l o w i n g h e r i n i t i a l d i s c h a r g e . Upon 
P e t t w a y ' s 
f i r s t 
r e a d m i s s i o n , 
an 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
a g r e e m e n t was 
a p p a r e n t l y e x e c u t e d , 
a l o n g w i t h t h e 
o t h e r a d m i s s i o n d o c u m e n t s , 
on 
b e h a l f o f P e t t w a y . 
P e t t w a y was 
f i n a l l y 
r e t u r n e d t o t h e 
h o s p i t a l , where she d i e d on December 10, 2003. 
On November 3, 2005, S h a r o n Ramsey, i n h e r c a p a c i t y as 
a d m i n i s t r a t r i x o f P e t t w a y ' s e s t a t e , 
f i l e d a c o m p l a i n t i n t h e 
W i l c o x 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t 
a g a i n s t t h e d e f e n d a n t s .
1 
The 
c o m p l a i n t 
1 O t h e r e n t i t i e s named as d e f e n d a n t s were d i s m i s s e d 
a f t e r 
p r o v i n g 
t h e y d i d 
n o t own o r o p e r a t e 
t h e n u r s i n g home where 
P e t t w a y r e s i d e d d u r i n g t h e 
p e r i o d r e l e v a n t t o 
Ramsey's c l a i m s . 
2 
1091561 
a s s e r t e d 
a v a r i e t y o f 
s t a t u t o r y 
a n d 
common-law 
c l a i m s 
a l l e g e d l y a r i s i n g f r o m P e t t w a y ' s d e a t h , i n c l u d i n g a 
w r o n g f u l -
d e a t h 
c l a i m . 
The 
d e f e n d a n t s 
f i l e d a m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s o r f o r 
a c h a n g e 
o f v e n u e on December 6, 2005, on t h e b a s i s o f A l a . Code 1975, 
§ 6-5-546. 
T h a t s t a t u t e p r o v i d e s 
t h a t a w r o n g f u l - d e a t h a c t i o n 
a g a i n s t a h e a l t h - c a r e 
p r o v i d e r must be b r o u g h t i n t h e c o u n t y 
where t h e a l l e g e d a c t s o r o m i s s i o n s 
o c c u r r e d , i f 
t h e a c t s o r 
o m i s s i o n s 
o c c u r r e d 
i n o n l y one c o u n t y . 
Ramsey a l l e g e d 
t h a t 
t h e r e 
was a q u e s t i o n 
o f f a c t as t o w h e t h e r t h e a c t s a n d 
o m i s s i o n s 
c o m p l a i n e d o f o c c u r r e d 
i n o n l y one c o u n t y . 
As a 
r e s u l t , t h e p a r t i e s 
l i t i g a t e d t h e i s s u e o f v e n u e 
v i g o r o u s l y 
u n t i l t h e W i l c o x 
C i r c u i t C o u r t e n t e r e d an o r d e r t r a n s f e r r i n g 
t h e c a s e t o t h e J e f f e r s o n C i r c u i t C o u r t ("the c i r c u i t 
c o u r t " ) 
on M a r c h 27, 2 0 0 6 .
2 
2 T h e d e f e n d a n t s a n d t h e c i r c u i t c o u r t b o t h s t a t e v a r i o u s l y 
i n t h e r e c o r d t h a t Ramsey p e t i t i o n e d f o r 
a w r i t o f mandamus t o 
r e t u r n t h e c a s e t o W i l c o x C o u n t y . 
No e v i d e n c e o f t h e p e t i t i o n 
a p p e a r s i n t h e r e c o r d . 
The c i r c u i t 
c o u r t , i n i t s o r d e r o f 
J u n e 2 3 , 2 0 1 0 , s t a t e s 
t h a t t h e p e t i t i o n was 
f i l e d 
w i t h t h e 
A l a b a m a Supreme C o u r t , 
b u t i t a l s o 
s t a t e s 
t h a t t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
e n t e r e d an o r d e r 
d e n y i n g t h e mandamus p e t i t i o n on J u n e 
21, 2006. T h i s C o u r t ' s r e c o r d s 
i n d i c a t e t h a t a p e t i t i o n f o r 
a 
w r i t o f mandamus 
f i l e d by Ramsey was d e n i e d on J u n e 2 1 , 2006 
( c a s e no. 1 0 5 1 0 9 1 ) . 
3 
1091561 
On May 11, 2006, t h e A u r o r a d e f e n d a n t s 
f i l e d a m o t i o n t o 
d i s m i s s on t h e g r o u n d t h a t t h e y d i d 
n o t own t h e n u r s i n g home 
a t w h i c h P e t t w a y 
r e s i d e d d u r i n g t h e r e l e v a n t p e r i o d . 
On t h e 
same 
d a y , B i r m i n g h a m 
E a s t 
f i l e d 
an 
a n s w e r 
t o Ramsey's 
c o m p l a i n t . 
On May 17, 2006, t h e c i r c u i t c o u r t e n t e r e d b o t h a 
s c h e d u l i n g o r d e r a n d an o r d e r d e n y i n g t h e A u r o r a 
d e f e n d a n t s ' 
m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s .
3 
On A u g u s t 2 1 , 2006, Ramsey moved f o r 
an e x t e n s i o n o f 
t h e 
d e a d l i n e s e t 
i n 
t h e s c h e d u l i n g o r d e r f o r f i l i n g e x p e r t - w i t n e s s 
d i s c l o s u r e s p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 26, A l a . 
R. C i v . 
P. 
On A u g u s t 
23, 
2006, 
t h e d e f e n d a n t s 
f i l e d 
t h e i r 
o p p o s i t i o n 
t o 
t h a t 
m o t i o n . 
A l s o 
i n A u g u s t a n d S e p t e m b e r 
2006, 
t h e A u r o r a 
d e f e n d a n t s s e r v e d n o t i c e s o f i n t e n t t o s u b p o e n a t h i r d p a r t i e s . 
The A u r o r a d e f e n d a n t s s e r v e d i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s a n d r e q u e s t s 
f o r 
p r o d u c t i o n o f d o c u m e n t s on Ramsey on S e p t e m b e r 19, 2006. 
On 
O c t o b e r 11, 2006, t h e d e f e n d a n t s 
f i l e d 
t h e i r own m o t i o n t o 
e x t e n d t h e t i m e i n w h i c h t o make t h e i r R u l e 26 e x p e r t - w i t n e s s 
d i s c l o s u r e s . 
On 
O c t o b e r 
25, 2006, t h e A u r o r a 
d e f e n d a n t s 
r e s p o n d e d t o Ramsey's d i s c o v e r y r e q u e s t s . 
3 A l t h o u g h t h e May 17, 2006, o r d e r a n d o t h e r o r d e r s a n d 
f i l i n g s 
r e f e r r e d t o by t h e p a r t i e s a r e n o t i n c l u d e d i n 
t h e 
r e c o r d , t h e c i r c u i t c o u r t s t a t e s i n i t s 
J u n e 2 3 , 2 0 1 0 , o r d e r 
t h a t i t 
e n t e r e d t h e e a r l i e r o r d e r . 
4 
1091561 
On November 3, 2006, t h e d e f e n d a n t s f i l e d t h e i r m o t i o n t o 
c o m p e l a r b i t r a t i o n , b a s e d i n p a r t on t h e a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t 
e x e c u t e d i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e a d m i s s i o n a g r e e m e n t Ramsey 
e x e c u t e d upon P e t t w a y ' s s e c o n d a d m i s s i o n t o t h e n u r s i n g home. 
T h a t 
m o t i o n 
c o n s t i t u t e s 
t h e d e f e n d a n t s ' 
f i r s t 
m e n t i o n 
o f 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
i n 
t h i s 
p r o c e e d i n g . 
The 
d e f e n d a n t s ' 
e n t i r e 
e x p l a n a t i o n 
f o r t h e i r 
d e l a y i n a s s e r t i n g 
t h e i r 
r i g h t 
t o 
a r b i t r a t e 
t h i s c a s e i s c o n t a i n e d i n a m o t i o n f o r 
an e x t e n s i o n 
o f t h e i r own R u l e 26 e x p e r t - w i t n e s s d i s c l o s u r e d e a d l i n e s , 
a l s o 
f i l e d by t h e d e f e n d a n t s on November 3, 2 0 0 6 : 
" D e f e n d a n t s 
o n l y 
r e c e n t l y 
became 
aware o f t h e e x i s t e n c e 
o f an 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n t h e P l a i n t i f f and t h e D e f e n d a n t s . " 
A c t i v e 
l i t i g a t i o n c o n t i n u e d t h r o u g h A p r i l 24, 2008, when 
a h e a r i n g on t h e m o t i o n t o c o m p e l 
a r b i t r a t i o n was 
c o n d u c t e d . 
D u r i n g 
t h e h e a r i n g t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
r e q u e s t e d 
t h a t 
t h e 
p a r t i e s 
f i l e 
l e t t e r b r i e f s . 
On May 2, 2008, t h e d e f e n d a n t s 
s e n t a l e t t e r b r i e f t o t h e c i r c u i t 
c o u r t a d d r e s s i n g o n l y t h e 
i s s u e w h e t h e r 
t h e y h a d w a i v e d 
t h e i r 
r i g h t t o a r b i t r a t i o n b y 
p a r t i c i p a t i n g 
i n 
t h e 
l i t i g a t i o n 
p r o c e s s . 
T h e r e 
i s 
no 
c o r r e s p o n d i n g 
l e t t e r 
b r i e f 
f r o m Ramsey i n t h e r e c o r d . 
The 
r e c o r d t h e n f a l l s 
i n e x p l i c a b l y 
s i l e n t f o r 
n e a r l y two y e a r s . I n 
5 
1091561 
A p r i l 
and 
May 
2010, 
c o u n s e l 
f o r t h e d e f e n d a n t s w i t h d r e w 
and 
new 
c o u n s e l 
e n t e r e d 
an 
a p p e a r a n c e . 
On 
J u n e 
23, 
2010, 
t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
e n t e r e d 
i t s o r d e r 
d e n y i n g 
t h e d e f e n d a n t s ' m o t i o n t o c o m p e l a r b i t r a t i o n . 
I n t h a t 
o r d e r , 
t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
f o u n d 
t h a t 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s 
had 
s u b s t a n t i a l l y i n v o k e d t h e l i t i g a t i o n p r o c e s s b y l i t i g a t i n g t h e 
i s s u e 
o f 
v e n u e 
t o 
a 
c o n c l u s i o n , 
b y 
c o n t i n u i n g 
t o 
f i l e 
" s i g n i f i c a n t p l e a d i n g s " a f t e r t h e c a s e was 
t r a n s f e r r e d , and 
b y 
p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n d i s c o v e r y . The 
c i r c u i t c o u r t a l s o d e t e r m i n e d 
t h a t 
Ramsey 
had 
b e e n 
p r e j u d i c e d 
b y 
i n c u r r i n g 
s i g n i f i c a n t 
a t t o r n e y f e e s 
i n p a r t i c i p a t i n g 
i n t h e 
l i t i g a t i o n . 
The 
J u n e 
23, 
2010, 
o r d e r 
s t a t e s , i n p e r t i n e n t p a r t : 
" [ T ] h e 
D e f e n d a n t s 
f i l e d 
an A n s w e r 
on 
May 
11, 
2 0 0 6 ,
[ 4 ] 
t h a t 
f a i l e d 
t o 
a s s e r t 
a 
r i g h t 
t o 
a r b i t r a t i o n . 
I n 
a d d i t i o n t o 
f i l i n g 
an A n s w e r , 
t h e 
D e f e n d a n t s 
f i l e d 
s e v e r a l 
m o t i o n s 
t o 
d i s m i s s 
o r 
t r a n s f e r 
v e n u e , 
t h u s 
c o n t i n u i n g 
t o 
p r o c e e d 
as 
i f  
t h e y 
were 
p r e p a r i n g 
f o r 
a 
j u d i c i a l 
r e s o l u t i o n o f  
P l a i n t i f f [ ' ] s 
c l a i m s . 
The 
p a r t i e s 
l i t i g a t e d 
t h e 
i s s u e 
o f v e n u e f o r t h r e e m o n t h s . 
T h i s 
u n d o u b t e d l y 
' b e s p e a k s 
an 
i n t e n t i o n 
t o 
a b a n d o n 
t h e 
r i g h t 
[ t o 
c o m p e l 
a r b i t r a t i o n ] 
i n 
f a v o r 
o f 
t h e 
j u d i c i a l 
p r o c e s s . ' 
See, 
C o m p a n i o n 
L i f e 
I n s . 
Co. 
[v. 
W h i t e s e l l M f g . , 
I n c . , 
670 
So. 
2d 
895 
( A l a . 1 9 9 5 ) , ] 
and V o y a g e r L i f e I n s u r a n c e 
C o . [ v . Hughes, 841 
So. 
2d 
1216 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 2 ) ] . 
The 
D e f e n d a n t s 
were 
i n 
p o s s e s s i o n 
o f 
t h e 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
document 
t h r o u g h o u t 
4 T h e 
o n l y 
a n s w e r 
f i l e d 
on 
May 
11, 
2006, 
was 
f i l e d 
by 
B i r m i n g h a m 
E a s t . 
6 
1091561 
t h e i r 
p a r t i c i p a t i o n 
i n 
t h e 
l i t i g a t i o n - r e l a t e d 
a c t i v i t y , 
and 
i t s e r v e s 
no p u r p o s e f o r a p a r t y 
who 
d o e s 
n o t 
i n t e n d 
t o 
w a i v e 
t h e 
r i g h t 
t o 
c o m p e l 
a r b i t r a t i o n t o , b e f o r e m o v i n g t o c o m p e l 
a r b i t r a t i o n : 
l i t i g a t e 
t h e v e n u e i s s u e t o a c o n c l u s i o n ; 
f o l l o w i n g t r a n s f e r o f t h e a c t i o n t o 
t h i s 
C i r c u i t C o u r t , 
c o n t i n u e 
l i t i g a t i o n 
w i t h 
s i g n i f i c a n t p l e a d i n g s 
f i l e d ; 
p a r t i c i p a t e 
i n t h e d i s c o v e r y 
p r o c e s s . 
"To t h e u n d e r s i g n e d , 
i t i s c l e a r t h e D e f e n d a n t s were p r e p a r i n g 
f o r 
a j u d i c i a l 
r e s o l u t i o n . 
" I n 
Ex 
p a r t e 
Hood, 
712 
So. 
2d 
341 
( A l a . 
1998 ), 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t r e m o v e d an a c t i o n t o t h e f e d e r a l c o u r t . 
F o u r months 
l a t e r , 
w h i l e 
t h e 
a c t i o n was 
s t i l l 
p e n d i n g 
i n 
t h e 
f e d e r a l 
c o u r t , 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t 
a d v i s e d 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
t h r o u g h 
c o r r e s p o n d e n c e 
t h a t 
i t was 
i n v o k i n g 
i t s 
r i g h t s 
u n d e r 
an 
a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t . 
S h o r t l y t h e r e a f t e r , i n i t s a n s w e r 
t o 
t h e 
c o m p l a i n t , 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t 
a s s e r t e d 
i t s 
r i g h t 
t o 
a r b i t r a t i o n . 
[The] 
C o u r t 
s t a t e d : 
"'We 
m i g h t 
assume 
t h a t 
i f G o l d e n 
[ t h e 
d e f e n d a n t ] had i m m e d i a t e l y 
f o l l o w e d ... i t s 
r e m o v a l w i t h s e r v i c e o f i t s a n s w e r p l e a d i n g 
an 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
d e f e n s e , 
s u c h a c t i o n w o u l d 
h a v e 
b e e n 
s u f f i c i e n t 
t o 
p u t 
Hood 
[ t h e 
p l a i n t i f f ] 
on 
n o t i c e 
t h a t 
G o l d e n 
s t i l l 
i n t e n d e d 
i n t h e 
f e d e r a l c o u r t 
t o 
r e s e r v e 
i t s 
r i g h t 
t o s e e k a r b i t r a t i o n . 
F i l i n g 
an 
a n s w e r a t s u c h a t i m e m i g h t h a v e i n d i c a t e d 
t h a t G o l d e n i n t e n d e d t o p u r s u e 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
i n s t e a d 
o f a f e d e r a l j u d i c i a l remedy, 
and 
i t w o u l d have g i v e n Hood t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o 
a v o i d 
s p e n d i n g 
t h e 
r e s o u r c e s 
n e c e s s a r y 
t o 
h a v e t h e c a s e remanded t o t h e 
s t a t e 
c o u r t 
f o r 
a t r i a l . 
As i t was, 
G o l d e n r e m o v e d t h e 
c a s e t o t h e f e d e r a l c o u r t and p r o c e e d e d 
as 
i f 
i t 
was 
p r e p a r i n g 
f o r 
a 
j u d i c i a l 
r e s o l u t i o n o f Hood's c l a i m . ' 
7 
1091561 
"Hood, 
s u p r a . 
" I n 
c o n c l u s i o n , when Ramsey's 
C o m p l a i n t 
was 
f i l e d 
on November 3, 2005, t h e s e 
D e f e n d a n t s had 
i n 
t h e i r 
p o s s e s s i o n 
an 
a r b i t r a t i o n d o c u m e n t , y e t 
t h e y 
p r o c e e d e d 
t o 
engage 
i n 
l i t i g a t i o n 
a c t i v i t i e s 
( i n c l u d i n g , 
n o t a b l y , 
a 
l e g a l 
f i g h t 
o v e r 
e x a c t l y 
 
where 
t o 
a c t u a l l y 
l i t i g a t e , 
and 
t h e 
f i l i n g 
o f 
an 
A n s w e r t h a t d i d n o t 
a s s e r t a r i g h t 
t o 
a r b i t r a t i o n ) 
u n t i l 
November 
3, 
200 6, 
e x a c t l y 
one 
y e a r 
a f t e r 
f i l i n g 
o f t h e C o m p l a i n t . 
The 
C o u r t DETERMINES t h a t 
P l a i n t i f f 
Ramsey 
has 
i n d e e d 
b e e n 
p r e j u d i c e d 
by 
D e f e n d a n t s ' u n r e a s o n a b l e d e l a y t o r a i s e t h e r i g h t 
t o 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
i n t h a t 
she 
s i g n i f i c a n t l y 
p a r t i c i p a t e d 
i n 
t h e 
l i t i g a t i o n 
so 
f a r , 
t h e r e b y 
i n c u r r i n g 
c o n s i d e r a b l e a t t o r n e y f e e s and e x p e n s e s f o r , t o - w i t : 
c o n d u c t i n g 
l e g a l r e s e a r c h ; a r g u m e n t i n o p p o s i t i o n t o 
t r a n s f e r r i n g 
v e n u e ; p r e p a r i n g and 
f i l i n g 
a 
p e t i t i o n 
f o r w r i t o f mandamus w i t h t h e A l a b a m a Supreme 
C o u r t ; 
r e s p o n d i n g 
t o s e v e r a l m o t i o n s t o d i s m i s s and 
s t r i k e ; 
p r e p a r i n g and 
f i l i n g an Amended C o m p l a i n t ; 
p r e p a r i n g 
d i s c o v e r y and r e s p o n d i n g 
t o d i s c o v e r y ; 
p a r t i c i p a t i n g 
i n phone c o n f e r e n c e s ; 
and, 
o f c o u r s e , 
m a k i n g 
c o u r t 
a p p e a r a n c e s . 
As 
a l l o f t h e f o r e g o i n g o c c u r r e d as 
a 
d i r e c t 
r e s u l t 
o f 
D e f e n d a n t s ' 
c o n t i n u i n g 
p a r t i c i p a t i o n 
i n t h e 
l i t i g a t i o n p r o c e s s , 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
FINDS t h a t D e f e n d a n t s h a v e c l e a r l y WAIVED any 
r i g h t 
t o c o m p e l a r b i t r a t i o n o f P l a i n t i f f Ramsey's c l a i m s . " 
( C a p i t a l i z a t i o n 
and e m p h a s i s i n o r i g i n a l . ) 
V i r t u a l l y a l l t h e 
l i t i g a t i o n 
a c t i v i t y b e t w e e n November 
3, 
2006, 
and 
J u n e 
23, 
2010, 
was 
d e v o t e d t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f 
a r b i t r a t i o n . 
S t a n d a r d 
o f R e v i e w 
I n 
t h i s 
c a s e , 
t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
h e a r d 
no 
o r e 
t e n u s 
e v i d e n c e . 
I t s f i n d i n g s o f f a c t were b a s e d on t h e p a p e r r e c o r d 
and 
on 
h e a r i n g s 
a t t e n d e d 
o n l y by 
c o u n s e l . 
Our 
r e v i e w 
u n d e r 
8 
1091561 
s u c h c i r c u m s t a n c e s 
o f t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t ' s d e t e r m i n a t i o n 
t h a t 
a 
p a r t y 
has 
w a i v e d 
i t s r i g h t 
t o 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
i s 
de 
n o v o . 
C l i m a S t o r 
I V , L.L.C. v. 
M a r s h a l l 
C o n s t r . , 
L.L.C., 
4 So. 
3d 
452, 
455 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 8 ) . 
To 
t h e 
e x t e n t , 
h o w e v e r , 
t h a t 
t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t ' s 
f i n d i n g s 
s u p p o r t i n g 
i t s c o n c l u s i o n a r e 
b a s e d 
on q u e s t i o n s 
o f 
f a c t , 
i t s j u d g e m e n t b a s e d on 
t h o s e 
f i n d i n g s 
w i l l 
n o t 
be 
r e v e r s e d 
u n l e s s 
c l e a r l y e r r o n e o u s . 
B i g 
V a l l e y 
 
Home C t r . , I n c . v. M u l l i c a n , 
774 
So. 
2d 558, 
560 
( A l a . 2 0 0 0 ) . 
D i s c u s s i o n 
W h e t h e r a p a r t y 
has 
w a i v e d 
i t s r i g h t 
t o 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
by 
p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n t h e l i t i g a t i o n p r o c e s s 
i s d e t e r m i n e d p u r s u a n t 
t o t h e 
f o l l o w i n g 
s t a n d a r d : 
" I t 
i s w e l l 
s e t t l e d u n d e r A l a b a m a 
l a w 
t h a t 
a 
p a r t y may 
w a i v e i t s r i g h t t o a r b i t r a t e 
a d i s p u t e i f 
i t 
s u b s t a n t i a l l y 
i n v o k e s 
t h e 
l i t i g a t i o n p r o c e s s 
and 
t h e r e b y 
s u b s t a n t i a l l y 
p r e j u d i c e s t h e p a r t y 
o p p o s i n g 
a r b i t r a t i o n . 
W h e t h e r a p a r t y ' s 
p a r t i c i p a t i o n 
i n 
an 
a c t i o n amounts t o an e n f o r c e a b l e w a i v e r 
o f i t s r i g h t 
t o 
a r b i t r a t e 
d e p e n d s 
on 
w h e t h e r 
t h e 
p a r t i c i p a t i o n 
b e s p e a k s an 
i n t e n t i o n 
t o a b a n d o n t h e 
r i g h t 
i n f a v o r 
o f 
t h e 
j u d i c i a l 
p r o c e s s 
and, 
i f s o , 
w h e t h e r 
t h e 
o p p o s i n g p a r t y w o u l d be 
p r e j u d i c e d by 
a s u b s e q u e n t 
o r d e r 
r e q u i r i n g 
i t t o 
s u b m i t 
t o 
a r b i t r a t i o n . 
No 
r i g i d 
r u l e 
e x i s t s 
f o r d e t e r m i n i n g 
what 
c o n s t i t u t e s 
a 
w a i v e r 
o f 
t h e 
r i g h t 
t o 
a r b i t r a t e ; 
t h e 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n 
as t o w h e t h e r t h e r e has b e e n a 
w a i v e r 
must, i n s t e a d , be b a s e d on 
t h e 
p a r t i c u l a r 
f a c t s 
o f 
e a c h 
c a s e . " 
9 
1091561 
C o m p a n i o n L i f e 
I n s . 
Co. 
v. 
W h i t e s e l l M f g . , 
I n c . , 
670 
So. 
2d 
897, 
899 
( A l a . 1 9 9 5 ) . 
T h u s , t h e 
p a r t y 
o p p o s i n g 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
must d e m o n s t r a t e b o t h 
(1) t h a t t h e p a r t y 
s e e k i n g 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
has 
s u b s t a n t i a l l y 
i n v o k e d 
t h e 
l i t i g a t i o n p r o c e s s , 
b e s p e a k i n g 
an 
i n t e n t 
t o a b a n d o n 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
i n 
f a v o r 
o f 
t h e 
j u d i c i a l 
p r o c e s s , 
and 
(2) t h a t t h e p a r t y o p p o s i n g a r b i t r a t i o n w o u l d 
be 
" s u b s t a n t i a l l y 
p r e j u d i c e d " by an o r d e r 
r e q u i r i n g 
i t t o s u b m i t 
t o a r b i t r a t i o n . 
P a r a g o n L t d . , I n c . v. B o l e s , 
987 
So. 
2d 
561, 
564 
( A l a . 2 0 0 7 ) . 
See 
a l s o S o u t h T r u s t Bank v. Bowen, 959 
So. 
2d 
624, 
633 
( A l a . 2 0 0 6 ) . B e c a u s e 
t h e r e 
i s a s t r o n g 
f e d e r a l 
p o l i c y 
f a v o r i n g 
a r b i t r a t i o n , 
w a i v e r 
o f 
t h e 
r i g h t 
t o 
c o m p e l 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
i s n o t 
l i g h t l y 
i n f e r r e d , 
and 
t h e p a r t y s e e k i n g 
t o 
p r o v e w a i v e r has 
a " h e a v y b u r d e n . " 
B o l e s , 
987 
So. 
2d a t 
564. 
B e g i n n i n g 
o u r 
a n a l y s i s 
w i t h 
t h e 
s e c o n d 
q u e s t i o n 
w h e t h e r t h e o p p o s i n g p a r t y w o u l d be s u b s t a n t i a l l y 
p r e j u d i c e 
-¬
we c o n c l u d e t h a t Ramsey has 
f a i l e d t o c a r r y h e r " h e a v y b u r d e n " 
o f 
e s t a b l i s h i n g 
s u b s t a n t i a l 
p r e j u d i c e 
c a u s e d 
by 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s ' b e l a t e d 
i n v o c a t i o n o f t h e 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
a g r e e m e n t . 
Ramsey s t a t e d i n h e r 
o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e d e f e n d a n t s ' m o t i o n 
t o 
c o m p e l 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
t h a t 
she 
had 
" i n c u r r e d 
c o n s i d e r a b l e 
a t t o r n e y 
f e e s 
and 
e x p e n s e s 
as 
a 
r e s u l t 
o f 
t h e 
D e f e n d a n t s ' 
10 
1091561 
p a r t i c i p a t i o n 
i n t h e 
l i t i g a t i o n p r o c e s s . " 
Ramsey s t a t e d t h a t 
h e r 
c o u n s e l ' s 
a c t i v i t i e s 
i n c l u d e d 
" p r e p a r i n g 
d i s c o v e r y 
and 
r e s p o n s e s 
t o 
d i s c o v e r y , 
... 
l e g a l 
r e s e a r c h , 
... 
phone 
c o n f e r e n c e s 
and 
m a k i n g 
c o u r t 
a p p e a r a n c e s 
i n 
W i l c o x 
and 
J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y C i r c u i t 
C o u r t s . " 
The 
c i r c u i t c o u r t ' s J u n e 23, 
2010, 
o r d e r 
l i k e w i s e s t a t e s 
t h a t 
Ramsey 
had 
c o n d u c t e d 
" l e g a l 
r e s e a r c h ; 
a r g u m e n t 
i n 
o p p o s i t i o n 
t o 
t r a n s f e r r i n g 
v e n u e ; p r e p a r i n g 
and 
f i l i n g 
a 
p e t i t i o n 
f o r w r i t 
o f mandamus w i t h t h e A l a b a m a Supreme C o u r t 
[ r e l a t e d 
s o l e l y 
t o v e n u e ] ; r e s p o n d i n g 
t o 
s e v e r a l m o t i o n s 
t o 
d i s m i s s and 
s t r i k e ; p r e p a r i n g and 
f i l i n g an Amended C o m p l a i n t ; 
p r e p a r i n g d i s c o v e r y and r e s p o n d i n g 
t o d i s c o v e r y ; p a r t i c i p a t i n g 
i n phone c o n f e r e n c e s ; and 
... m a k i n g c o u r t a p p e a r a n c e s . " These 
a s s e r t i o n s 
a r e 
n o t 
s u p p o r t e d 
by 
any 
f a c t u a l 
e v i d e n c e 
i n 
t h e 
r e c o r d . 
I n 
H a l e s 
v. 
P r o E q u i t i e s , 
I n c . , 
885 
So. 
2d 
100 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 3 ) , 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
s t a t e d 
t h e 
f a c t o r s most 
s i g n i f i c a n t 
i n 
d e t e r m i n i n g 
w h e t h e r 
t h e 
p a r t y 
o p p o s i n g 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
w i l l 
be 
p r e j u d i c e d 
i f o r d e r e d 
t o 
a r b i t r a t e . 
One 
f a c t o r 
i s w h e t h e r 
" ' t h e 
p a r t y s e e k i n g 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
a l l o w s t h e o p p o s i n g p a r t y 
t o 
u n d e r g o t h e t y p e s 
o f l i t i g a t i o n e x p e n s e s t h a t a r b i t r a t i o n 
was 
11 
1091561 
d e s i g n e d 
t o 
a l l e v i a t e . ' " 
885 
So. 2d a t 105-06 
( q u o t i n g 
M o r e w i t z v. West o f E n g l a n d 
S h i p Owners Mut. P r o t . & Indem.  
A s s ' n , 
62 F.3d 1356, 1366 
( 1 1 t h C i r . 1 9 9 5 ) ) . 
A n o t h e r i s 
w h e t h e r 
t h e p a r t y 
s e e k i n g 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
" ' t o o k 
a d v a n t a g e o f 
j u d i c i a l d i s c o v e r y p r o c e d u r e s n o t a v a i l a b l e i n a r b i t r a t i o n . ' " 
H a l e s , 
885 So. 2d a t 106 
( q u o t i n g C a r c i c h v. 
R e d e r i 
A/B 
 
N o r d i e , 389 F.2d 692, 696 n.7 (2d C i r . 1 9 6 8 ) ) . 
I n i t s J u n e 23, 2010, o r d e r , t h e c i r c u i t c o u r t 
r e p r o d u c e d 
a t i m e l i n e o f e v e n t s t h a t was 
i n i t i a l l y p r o d u c e d by Ramsey i n 
h e r 
f i l i n g i n o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e m o t i o n t o c o m p e l 
a r b i t r a t i o n . 
The t i m e l i n e p u r p o r t e d l y d e m o n s t r a t e s 
t h e e x t e n t t o w h i c h t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s 
s u b s t a n t i a l l y i n v o k e d t h e l i t i g a t i o n p r o c e s s .
5 
The 
t i m e l i n e 
shows 
t h a t much o f Ramsey's 
c o s t s were 
i n c u r r e d 
l i t i g a t i n g t h e i s s u e o f v e n u e . 
The i n c u r r i n g o f t h o s e 
c o s t s , 
h o w e v e r , c a n n o t 
c o n s t i t u t e p r e j u d i c e i n l i g h t o f t h i s 
C o u r t ' s 
h o l d i n g t h a t " [ a ] d e f e n d a n t has t h e r i g h t t o h a v e t h e p r o p e r 
v e n u e 
e s t a b l i s h e d 
b e f o r e i t h a s any o b l i g a t i o n 
t o move t o 
5Many o f t h e e v e n t s 
l i s t e d u n q u e s t i o n a b l y do n o t show t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s ' 
i n v o c a t i o n 
o f 
t h e 
l i t i g a t i o n 
p r o c e s s . 
F o r 
e x a m p l e , t h e 
f i r s t 
e v e n t 
l i s t e d 
i s t h e 
f i l i n g 
o f Ramsey's 
c o m p l a i n t . 
12 
1091561 
c o m p e l a r b i t r a t i o n . " 
Thompson v. S k i p p e r 
R e a l E s t a t e Co., 
729 
So. 
2d 
287, 
292 
( A l a . 1 9 9 9 ) .
6 
The 
l i t i g a t i o n 
a c t i v i t i e s 
c o n d u c t e d b e t w e e n A p r i l 
2006, 
when t h e c a s e was 
t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e J e f f e r s o n C i r c u i t 
C o u r t , 
and November 2006, when t h e m o t i o n t o c o m p e l a r b i t r a t i o n was 
f i l e d , 
were 
p r i m a r i l y 
d i s c o v e r y 
o r i e n t e d . 
The 
Code 
o f 
P r o c e d u r e 
o f 
t h e 
N a t i o n a l 
A r b i t r a t i o n 
Forum, 
e x p r e s s l y 
i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o t h e a r b i t r a t i o n 
a g r e e m e n t a l l e g e d l y e x e c u t e d 
by Ramsey upon P e t t w a y ' s s e c o n d a d m i s s i o n t o t h e n u r s i n g home, 
a t R u l e 
6 r e q u i r e s 
a r b i t r a t i n g 
p a r t i e s 
t o 
s u b m i t 
a v a i l a b l e 
d o c u m e n t s 
i n s u p p o r t 
o f , 
o r 
i n 
o p p o s i t i o n 
t o , 
a l l 
c l a i m s .
7 
L i t t l e , 
i f any, 
d i s c o v e r y 
a p p e a r s 
t o have b e e n c o n d u c t e d 
o f 
t h e s o r t t h a t s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t s " ' t o o k a d v a n t a g e o f 
j u d i c i a l d i s c o v e r y p r o c e d u r e s n o t a v a i l a b l e i n 
a r b i t r a t i o n . ' " 
H a l e s , 
885 
So. 
2d 
a t 
106 
( q u o t i n g 
C a r c i c h , 
389 
F. 
2d 
a t 
696 
n . 7 ) . 
See 
a l s o R y a n ' s F a m i l y 
S t e a k h o u s e , 
I n c . 
v. 
K i l p a t r i c , 
966 
So. 
2d 
273, 
284 
( A l a . 
C i v . 
App. 
2006) 
( n o t i n g 
t h a t 
p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n d i s c o v e r y p e r m i t t e d u n d e r r u l e s s p e c i f i e d i n 
6We 
n o t e 
t h a t 
Ramsey 
does 
n o t 
a r g u e 
t h a t 
we 
s h o u l d 
o v e r r u l e 
Thompson. 
7We 
t a k e 
j u d i c i a l 
n o t i c e 
o f 
t h e 
N a t i o n a l 
A r b i t r a t i o n 
Forum's Code o f P r o c e d u r e . 
See 
C h r i s M y e r s P o n t i a c - G M C , 
I n c .  
v. 
P e r o t , 
991 
So. 
2d 
1281, 
1284 
( A l a . 2 0 0 8 ) . 
13 
1091561 
t h e 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
a g r e e m e n t 
b e t w e e n 
t h e 
p a r t i e s 
d o e s 
n o t 
c o n s t i t u t e p r e j u d i c e ) . 
We 
do n o t e t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t s 
s e r v e d 
n o t i c e s o f i n t e n t t o s e r v e n o n p a r t y s u b p o e n a s , b u t t h e r e i s no 
s u g g e s t i o n 
i n 
t h e 
r e c o r d 
t h a t 
Ramsey 
t o o k 
any 
a c t i o n 
o r 
i n c u r r e d any e x p e n s e s i n r e s p o n s e t o t h o s e 
n o t i c e s . 
The 
r e c o r d 
r e f l e c t s 
t h a t much o f Ramsey's t i m e e x p e n d e d 
i n 
l i t i g a t i o n 
a f t e r November 2006 
was 
d e v o t e d 
t o 
o p p o s i n g 
a r b i t r a t i o n . 
E x p e n s e s 
i n c u r r e d 
by 
t h e 
p a r t y 
o p p o s i n g 
a r b i t r a t i o n a r e n o t c o n s i d e r e d 
p r e j u d i c i a l . 
A h o l d i n g t o 
t h e 
c o n t r a r y 
w o u l d 
r e s u l t 
i n 
t h e 
a b s u r d i t y 
t h a t 
e v e r y 
p a r t y 
o p p o s i n g a r b i t r a t i o n 
can 
i m m e d i a t e l y a l l e g e p r e j u d i c e 
on 
t h e 
mere g r o u n d t h a t t h e p a r t y o p p o s e d i t . 
Ramsey's m o t i o n 
i n o p p o s i t i o n 
t o 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
p r e s e n t e d 
o n l y 
c o n c l u s o r y 
a s s e r t i o n s 
t h a t 
she 
had 
i n c u r r e d 
l i t i g a t i o n 
c o s t s . 
Her m o t i o n was 
n o t a c c o m p a n i e d by 
an 
a f f i d a v i t 
o r 
by 
any o t h e r e v i d e n c e i n s u p p o r t o f t h e a l l e g a t i o n t h a t she w o u l d 
be 
p r e j u d i c e d 
by 
b e i n g 
c o m p e l l e d 
t o 
a r b i t r a t e h e r 
c l a i m s . 
Ramsey d i d 
n o t 
e v e n 
a l l e g e 
how 
many h o u r s 
h e r 
c o u n s e l 
had 
s p e n t i n l i t i g a t i o n m a t t e r s o r t h e amount o f f e e s o r e x p e n s e s 
i n c u r r e d i n s u c h m a t t e r s . 
A l a b a m a c a s e l a w shows t h a t a p a r t y 
a l l e g i n g p r e j u d i c e 
i s u n l i k e l y t o p r e v a i l w i t h o u t 
p r e s e n t i n g 
14 
1091561 
s u p p o r t i n g e v i d e n c e . 
See, 
e.g., 
S o u t h T r u s t Bank v. Bowen, 
959 
So. 2d a t 633 
( h o l d i n g t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f o p p o s i n g 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
f a i l e d t o meet h i s " h e a v y b u r d e n " when he p r o v i d e d 
no 
e v i d e n c e 
s u p p o r t i n g h i s a l l e g a t i o n 
t h a t he w o u l d be p r e j u d i c e d by 
b e i n g 
c o m p e l l e d t o a r b i t r a t e ) . 
See 
a l s o Ex p a r t e G r e e n s t r e e t , 
I n c . , 
806 
So. 
2d 
1203, 
1209 
( A l a . 2001) 
( " I f 
[a] p a r t y p r e s e n t s 
no 
e v i d e n c e 
i n 
o p p o s i t i o n 
t o 
a 
p r o p e r l y 
s u p p o r t e d 
m o t i o n 
t o 
c o m p e l 
a r b i t r a t i o n , 
t h e n 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
s h o u l d 
g r a n t 
t h e 
m o t i o n 
t o 
c o m p e l 
a r b i t r a t i o n . " ) . 
Thus, 
i n R y a n ' s 
F a m i l y 
 
S t e a k h o u s e , 
I n c . 
v. 
K i l p a t r i c , 
966 
So. 
2d 
a t 284, 
t h e 
c o u r t 
f o u n d 
no 
p r e j u d i c e 
where 
t h e 
r e c o r d 
c o n t a i n e d 
no 
e v i d e n c e 
s u p p o r t i n g 
t h e 
a l l e g a t i o n s 
o f 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f , 
who 
o p p o s e d 
a r b i t r a t i o n , 
t h a t 
she 
had 
e x p e n d e d 
s i g n i f i c a n t 
t i m e 
and 
r e s o u r c e s 
r e s p o n d i n g 
t o 
d i s c o v e r y 
p r o p o u n d e d 
by 
t h e 
p a r t y 
s e e k i n g 
a r b i t r a t i o n . 
T h i s C o u r t ' s o p i n i o n s u p h o l d i n g 
a f i n d i n g o f p r e j u d i c e 
t o 
t h e 
p a r t y 
o p p o s i n g 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
a r e 
e q u a l l y 
c o n s i s t e n t 
i n 
a p p l y i n g 
a h i g h 
s t a n d a r d . 
I n W h i t e s e l l M a n u f a c t u r i n g , 
I n c . , 
s u p r a , 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f ' s 
a r g u m e n t 
t h a t 
he 
w o u l d 
have 
b e e n 
s u b s t a n t i a l l y 
p r e j u d i c e d 
i f a r b i t r a t i o n 
were 
c o m p e l l e d 
was 
w e l l 
s u p p o r t e d 
by 
t h e 
f a c t 
t h a t 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t 
s o u g h t 
15 
1091561 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
o n l y 
a f t e r 
i t h a d 
r e m o v e d t h e 
c a s e 
t o 
f e d e r a l 
c o u r t 
and h a d 
r e c e i v e d 
an a d v e r s e 
r u l i n g i n i t s a t t e m p t 
t o 
d i s p o s e o f t h e c a s e on f e d e r a l s t a t u t o r y g r o u n d s . 
670 So. 
2d 
a t 899. 
T h a t 
p l a i n t i f f 
a l s o 
s u b m i t t e d an 
a f f i d a v i t 
s h o w i n g 
t h e number o f h o u r s e x p e n d e d by c o u n s e l and t h e amount o f f e e s 
i n c u r r e d 
i n s e e k i n g remand t o t h e s t a t e 
c o u r t . 
I d . 
I n Ocwen Loan 
S e r v i c i n g , LLC v. W a s h i n g t o n , 
939 So. 2d 6 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 6 ) , 
t h e d e f e n d a n t 
s e e k i n g a r b i t r a t i o n r e m o v e d 
t h e 
a c t i o n t o f e d e r a l c o u r t , 
f i l e d an a n s w e r i n t h e f e d e r a l 
c o u r t 
t h a t d i d n o t m e n t i o n a r b i t r a t i o n , t h e n s o u g h t t o have t h e c a s e 
t r a n s f e r r e d 
t o p e n d i n g m u l t i d i s t r i c t 
l i t i g a t i o n 
i n 
I l l i n o i s . 
A f t e r 
o p p o s i n g t h e 
t r a n s f e r 
t o 
I l l i n o i s , 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
won 
remand o f t h e c a s e t o t h e 
s t a t e 
c o u r t . 
O n l y t h e n d i d t h e 
d e f e n d a n t move t o c o m p e l 
a r b i t r a t i o n . 
939 So. 2d a t 14-15. 
U n d e r 
s u c h 
f a c t s , 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
c o n c l u d e d 
t h a t 
i t c o u l d 
n o t 
" r e a l i s t i c a l l y 
be 
d i s p u t e d " 
t h a t 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
h a d 
b e e n 
p r e j u d i c e d 
by 
t h e 
n e c e s s i t y 
o f 
f i l i n g 
m o t i o n s 
and 
b r i e f s 
o p p o s i n g 
t h e 
r e m o v a l , 
o p p o s i n g 
t h e 
t r a n s f e r 
t o 
I l l i n o i s 
( i n c l u d i n g 
f i l i n g m o t i o n s and b r i e f s i n I l l i n o i s ) , 
and m o v i n g 
f o r 
a remand. 
939 So. 2d a t 17. 
16 
1091561 
I n B i g V a l l e y Home C e n t e r , I n c . v. M u l l i c a n , 
774 
So. 
2d 
558 
( A l a . 2 0 0 0 ) , t h i s C o u r t a f f i r m e d a t r i a l c o u r t ' s d e n i a l o f 
a m o t i o n 
t o c o m p e l 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
where t h e d e f e n d a n t 
s e e k i n g 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
had 
w a i t e d 
two 
y e a r s 
t o 
i n v o k e 
an 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
a g r e e m e n t , w h i c h i t d i d on t h e "eve o f t r i a l " and 
i m m e d i a t e l y 
a f t e r 
a s e t t l e m e n t o f f e r 
had b e e n made. 
774 
So. 
2d a t 
563. 
T h i s C o u r t c o n c l u d e d t h a t " t o o g r e a t a d e l a y t o o k p l a c e " i n a 
c a s e 
i n w h i c h 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
had b e e n a l l o w e d t o e x p e n d 
t i m e 
and money p r e p a r i n g f o r t r i a l 
b e f o r e t h e d e f e n d a n t moved t o 
c o m p e l a r b i t r a t i o n . 
I d . 
U n d e r 
t h e 
u n d i s p u t e d 
f a c t s 
o f 
t h i s 
c a s e 
and 
t h e 
a p p l i c a b l e s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w , we c o n c l u d e t h a t Ramsey 
f a i l e d 
t o 
e s t a b l i s h 
t h a t 
she 
was 
p r e j u d i c e d by 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s ' 
b e l a t e d 
a s s e r t i o n 
o f 
t h e i r 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
r i g h t s . 
B e c a u s e 
a 
p l a i n t i f f o p p o s i n g a r b i t r a t i o n must show b o t h t h e 
d e f e n d a n t ' s 
s u b s t a n t i a l i n v o c a t i o n o f t h e l i t i g a t i o n p r o c e s s and 
r e s u l t i n g 
" s u b s t a n t i a l 
p r e j u d i c e , " 
we 
p r e t e r m i t d i s c u s s i o n 
o f w h e t h e r 
t h e d e f e n d a n t s h e r e had i n v o k e d t h e 
l i t i g a t i o n p r o c e s s so 
as 
t o b e s p e a k an i n t e n t t o a b a n d o n t h e i r 
r i g h t 
t o 
a r b i t r a t i o n . 
C o n c l u s i o n 
17 
1091561 
B e c a u s e we 
c o n c l u d e t h a t t h e r e 
i s i n s u f f i c i e n t 
e v i d e n c e 
i n 
t h e 
r e c o r d 
t o 
s u p p o r t 
a 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n 
t h a t Ramsey 
was 
s u b s t a n t i a l l y 
p r e j u d i c e d by t h e d e f e n d a n t s ' 
b e l a t e d a s s e r t i o n 
o f t h e i r 
r i g h t t o a r b i t r a t i o n , 
t h e o r d e r o f t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
d e n y i n g t h e d e f e n d a n t s ' 
m o t i o n t o c o m p e l a r b i t r a t i o n must 
be 
r e v e r s e d . 
We 
a r e u n a b l e t o d e t e r m i n e , h o w e v e r , w h e t h e r 
t h i s 
c a s e 
i s due 
t o be 
a r b i t r a t e d . 
The 
p a r t i e s 
d i s p u t e 
w h e t h e r 
Ramsey's s i g n a t u r e on t h e 
a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t i s a u t h e n t i c 
o r 
f o r g e d , 
w h e t h e r 
t h e 
a g r e e m e n t , 
s i g n e d 
s u b s e q u e n t 
t o 
P e t t w a y ' s 
i n i t i a l 
a d m i s s i o n 
t o 
t h e 
n u r s i n g home, 
o p e r a t e s 
r e t r o a c t i v e l y , 
and 
w h e t h e r 
t h e 
A u r o r a 
d e f e n d a n t s , 
n o n s i g n a t o r i e s 
t o t h e 
a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t , can 
e n f o r c e 
t h e 
a g r e e m e n t . 
The 
c i r c u i t c o u r t d i d n o t p r o v i d e f i n d i n g s o f 
f a c t 
o r c o n c l u s i o n s o f l a w as t o any o f t h o s e 
i s s u e s b u t d e n i e d 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s ' 
m o t i o n t o c o m p e l s o l e l y 
on t h e b a s i s o f 
w a i v e r . 
A c c o r d i n g l y , 
we 
r e v e r s e 
t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t ' s 
J u n e 
23, 
2010, 
o r d e r 
d e n y i n g 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s ' 
m o t i o n 
t o 
c o m p e l 
a r b i t r a t i o n . 
We 
remand t h e c a u s e f o r t h a t c o u r t t o 
c o n s i d e r 
t h e 
m o t i o n 
t o 
c o m p e l 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
i n 
l i g h t 
o f 
t h e 
i s s u e s 
a s s o c i a t e d 
w i t h 
t h e 
v a l i d i t y 
and 
s c o p e 
o f 
t h e 
a r b i t r a t i o n 
a g r e e m e n t p r o f f e r e d by 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t s . 
18 
1091561 
REVERSED AND REMANDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS. 
S t u a r t , P a r k e r , a n d W i s e , J J . , c o n c u r . 
Shaw, J . , 
c o n c u r s i n t h e r e s u l t . 
19