Opinion ID: 2314712
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Marshwood's Motion to compel arbitration and consolidate the proceedings.

Text: The initial order of the court could be facially construed to be a denial of plaintiff's application to compel arbitration by Defendant Krumbhaar & Holt. Such a construction would place the order within the scope of 14 M.R.S.A. § 5945(1)(A). That construction, however, is simply not consistent with the underlying facts, the motion, or the resulting order. Despite any characterization to the contrary, the gravamen of Marshwood's motion was its prayer for an order consolidating the two pending arbitrations, not an order to compel arbitration. The court noted that K & H did not deny the existence of an agreement to arbitrate but rather denied that it was bound to arbitrate through the American Arbitration Association as claimed by the Plaintiff in seeking consolidation. Therefore, to interpret the court's order as being within the purview of a section 5945(1)(A) appeal would be to misconstrue the substance of the proceedings below.