Opinion ID: 1921867
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Standards for Appellate Review

Text: [¶ 7] Interlocutory appeals of orders denying requests to stay court proceedings and order a matter to arbitration are authorized by 14 M.R.S. § 5945(1)(A) (2005). See Patrick v. Moran, 2001 ME 6, ¶ 4, 764 A.2d 256, 257; Saga Communications of New England, Inc. v. Voornas, 2000 ME 156, ¶ 6 n. 4, 756 A.2d 954, 957. Here, the court did order the matter to arbitration, but its direction that the arbitration be nonbinding rendered the arbitration the equivalent of mediation pursuant to M.R. Civ. P. 16B, a preliminary step in an ongoing court proceeding. Thus, the court's action is the equivalent of the denial of a request to send the matter to the binding arbitration that Victory asserts is required by the agreement. [2] Accordingly, consideration of this appeal pursuant to section 5945(1)(A) is appropriate. [¶ 8] General rules of contract interpretation apply to questions of substantive arbitrability. See V.I.P., Inc. v. First Tree Dev. Ltd. Liab. Co., 2001 ME 73, ¶ 3, 770 A.2d 95, 96. We review the trial court's finding of substantive arbitrability for errors of law, and for facts not supported by substantial evidence in the record. Barrett v. McDonald Invs., Inc., 2005 ME 43, ¶ 14, 870 A.2d 146, 149. Whether language in a contract is ambiguous is a question of law that we review de novo. Lee v. Scotia Prince Cruises, Ltd., 2003 ME 78, ¶ 9, 828 A.2d 210, 213. Document language is ambiguous if it is reasonably susceptible to different interpretations. Acadia Ins. Co. v. Buck Constr. Co., 2000 ME 154, ¶ 9, 756 A.2d 515, 517. If a document is ambiguous and the trial court considers extrinsic evidence, the interpretation of the document is a question of fact for the fact-finder, subject to the rule that ambiguities in a contract are interpreted against the drafter. Barrett, 2005 ME 43, ¶¶ 15, 17-18, 870 A.2d at 149, 150-51.