Opinion ID: 1786870
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Count Four (Alleging Violations of the Alabama Antitrust Act)

Text: Count Four alleges violations of § 6-5-60, Ala.Code 1975. In that count Lynch claims he lost business that he otherwise would have enjoyed had the contracts not been terminated. We do not address the issue whether the contracts have a sufficient involvement with interstate commerce to preclude the application of the Alabama Antitrust Act; that issue is not before us. Lynch contends that the phrase arising out of, used in the arbitration clause, is narrower than the phrase relating to. Therefore, he says, the arbitration clause does not apply to Count Four. This Court's earlier arbitration cases have recognized such a distinction as to the scope of these phrases. See, e.g., Koullas v. Ramsey, 683 So.2d 415 (Ala.1996) (arbitration clause referring to disputes or controversies arising under an agreement applies only to those claims arising under the terms of the agreement, and does not extend to matters or claims independent of, or merely collateral to, the agreement). See also American Bankers Life Assur. Co. v. Rice Acceptance Co., 709 So.2d 1188 (Ala.1998). Because Lynch's claim stated in Count Four requires an interpretation of the agreements and an examination of the parties' performance under the agreements, we cannot say that the claims or controversies raised by Count Four are independent of, or collateral to, the agreements. Hence, Count Four is subject to arbitration. The trial court's order must be reversed insofar as it denied arbitration of the claims stated in Count Four.