Opinion ID: 864892
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: whether the circuit judge erred in

Text: DENYING UNION PLANTERS’ MOTION TO COMPEL ARBITRATION. ¶6. After its acquisition of the Sunburst Bank, the Magnolia Federal Savings Bank and the Washington Federal Savings Bank, Union Planters sent many mailings to its customers outlining the duties and responsibilities of the bank to the customers and of the customers to the bank. Contained in one of the mail-outs was an arbitration clause which included the following language: BY SIGNING A SIGNATURE CARD AND USING YOUR ACCOUNT YOU AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT. BY SIGNING YOUR SIGNATURE CARD YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT, INCLUDING THE WAIVER OF YOUR RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL OR TRIAL BY A JUDGE IN A PUBLIC COURT. The circuit judge ruled that the arbitration clause was not enforceable because, even though Rogers had signed signature cards with the individual banks prior to merger, she had never signed a signature card for Union Planters containing an arbitration clause. ¶7. Union Planters argues that whether Rogers signed a Union Planters signature card is immaterial because many of the mail-outs had the following or similar language: “Your continued use of the Account evidences your agreement to any amendment.” Since Rogers continued to use her accounts, it contends, she agreed to the amendment which added the arbitration clause. Union Planters also cites to Herrington v. Union Planters Bank, 113 4 F. Supp. 2d 1026 (S.D. Miss. 2000), aff’d, 265 F.3d 1059 (5th Cir. 2001), which dealt with almost identical facts. There, United States District Judge Walter Gex held as follows: When the plaintiffs signed their initial signature cards [from a bank before it merged with Union Planters], they agreed that the terms and conditions of their deposit accounts could change in the future upon sufficient notice. It is undisputed that the plaintiffs were given notice in March of 1998 that their accounts were being revised to include an arbitration clause. It is further undisputed that the plaintiffs continued to use their accounts after the effective date of the arbitration clause. . . .