Opinion ID: 1648193
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Whether Ms. Henry, as Ms. Hilliard's Heir and/or Successor, is Bound by the Arbitration Agreements.

Text: ¶ 18. Henry argues that she is a non-signatory, unintended, third-party beneficiary of the agreements and therefore not bound by the arbitration clauses. The agreements plainly state that they are binding on Hilliard's heirs, successors and administrators.... ¶ 19. Other states have interpreted nearly identical agreements in favor of arbitration. In Collins v. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., 561 So.2d 952, 956 (La.Ct.App.1990), the Louisiana Court of Appeals held that the heirs and successors of a deceased customer of a brokerage firm were bound by the arbitration agreement signed by the customer and the firm. The court stated: We find no merit in plaintiff's argument that they are not bound by the arbitration clause because the Customer Agreement was not signed by them, but by their brother.... By its own terms, the agreement applies to the successors and assigns of the customer. Moreover, we have held that a written agreement to arbitrate does not necessarily have to be signed by both parties. Collins, 561 So.2d at 955. Also, in Herbert v. Superior Court, 169 Cal.App.3d 718, 215 Cal.Rptr. 477 (Cal.Ct.App.1985), the California appellate court held that a widow and her children were bound by an arbitration agreement signed by the children's father which purported to bind his heirs. Likewise, in this case, Henry is an heir of Hilliard. ¶ 20. In the case at hand, we are dealing with an arbitration clause in which Henry is a successor under the terms of Hilliard's will, and as such, she is specifically covered by the agreement. According to the terms of the agreement, Henry is not required to be a signatory in order to be bound by the arbitration clause. As a successor of Hilliard, Henry is covered by the arbitration clause of the client agreements.