Opinion ID: 2831475
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Definition of “Contractor”

Text: The Engineers and Insurance Brokers point out that the general contract states that it is an agreement between “the Owner” and “the Contractor,” and that Sapphire and G.T. Leach each signed the agreement in those respective capacities. They note, however, that the contract provides that the term “Contractor” includes any contractor who executes a separate agreement with the owner. Since Sapphire is suing them for breach of separate agreements directly between each of them and Sapphire, they contend that they are each a “Contractor” under the general contract and thus entitled to enforce its arbitration agreement. The contract, however, expressly provides that the “Contract Documents shall not be construed to create a contractual relationship of any kind . . . between [Sapphire] and a Subcontractor . . . or [] between any persons or entities other than [Sapphire] and [G.T. Leach].”20 In summary, we find no language in the general contract that gives the Other Defendants rights to enforce the general contract’s arbitration clause against Sapphire. We thus conclude that Sapphire did not agree in the general contract to arbitrate its claims against the Other Defendants. 20 In addition, a supplemental provision of the general contract states that “[n]o person or entity shall be deemed to be a third party beneficiary of any provisions of the Contract, nor shall any provisions thereof be interpreted to create a right of action or otherwise permit anyone not a signatory party to the Contract to maintain an action for personal injury or property damage.” While the Other Defendants contend that this provision was in an unsigned supplement to the general contract and, in any event, does not expressly prohibit demands for arbitration, they concede that the contract expressly incorporates these provisions as part of the “Contract Documents.” In any event, this provision reflects Sapphire’s intent that other parties not have rights under the general contract more clearly than any provision on which the Other Defendants rely reflects an intent that they have such rights. Even ignoring this provision, the lack of any provision by which Sapphire agrees to allow the Other Defendants to compel arbitration of Sapphire’s claims against them defeats their attempts to do so. 31