Opinion ID: 1280542
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Bazzle

Text: The Bazzles (like their fellow class members) were approached by Patton General Contracting (Patton), a nonexclusive Green Tree dealer, in 1995, to perform home improvements. Patton provided the Bazzles with a Green Tree application for financing. The Green Tree application contained no attorney or insurance agent preference notice. On May 20, 1995, the Bazzles executed a Retail Installment Contract and Security Agreement for $15,000 which contained the arbitration clause at issue. [3] The same day the Bazzles executed a number of other documents identifying Green Tree as the lender, including a mortgage stamped with directions to return it to Green Tree once executed. The Bazzles were never given an attorney or insurance preference form and no attorney was involved in the transaction or closing on their behalf. On March 25, 1997, Lynn and Burt Bazzle commenced an action against Green Tree in the Dorchester County Court of Common Pleas based on Green Tree's alleged violations of the attorney and insurance agent preference provisions of the South Carolina Consumer Protection Code [4] arising out of their home improvement financing agreement with Green Tree. On April 21, 1997, the Bazzles filed an amended complaint incorporating class allegations and a Motion for Class Certification. A month later, Green Tree filed a Motion for Stay and to Compel Arbitration. On December 5, 1997, the trial court heard both motions. It granted the Motion for Class Certification. After the court granted class certification, Green Tree pursued its Motion to Compel Arbitration, and the trial court granted it. The trial court issued two separate orders memorializing its rulings on December 5, 1997:(1) an order granting class certification; and (2) an order compelling arbitration. In its order compelling arbitration, the trial court stated that the order applied to the Bazzles and all members of their class who elected to be part of the action. In a supplemental order issued January 7, 1998, the trial court ordered that the class action in arbitration proceed on an opt-out basis. On January 20, 1998, Green Tree filed a Motion for Reconsideration of the trial court's order granting class certification. After a hearing, the trial court denied Green Tree's Motion for Reconsideration, and Green Tree filed an appeal. On April 28, 1998, the Court of Appeals dismissed Green Tree's appeal on grounds that granting or denying class certification is interlocutory and non-appealable. Green Tree filed a Petition for Rehearing. The Court of Appeals denied rehearing and Green Tree filed a petition for certiorari with this Court. This Court denied Green Tree's petition and remitted the case to the trial court. On February 24, 1999, the Bazzles filed a Motion to Compel Appointment of an Arbitrator. On May 6, 1999, Green Tree filed a Motion to Dismiss on grounds that the Bazzles were not the proper parties to pursue the claims asserted, as their interests were contrary to the interests of the class members. On May 20, 1999, the trial court heard both motions. The trial court appointed the Honorable Thomas Ervin as arbitrator and declined to hear the Motion to Dismiss for lack of jurisdiction. All class action proceedings were thereafter administered by the arbitrator, without further involvement of the trial court. The arbitrator handled several motions by the parties before holding the final hearing on May 31, 2000. On July 24, 2000, the arbitrator issued a Final Order and Award, finding Green Tree liable for violating the attorney and insurance preference statute, S.C.Code Ann. § 37-10-102(a). The arbitrator found the remedies for such a violation to be in S.C.Code Ann. § 37-10-105 (Supp.1996 & 1997) and awarded relief to the class of 1,899 individuals in the amount of $10,935,000, and an additional $3,645,500 in attorney's fees and $18,242 in costs. On July 25, 2000, the Bazzles filed a Motion to Confirm the Award in the trial court. On August 24, 2000, Green Tree filed a Motion to Remand the Award for Amendment and Clarification, an objection to the Motion to Confirm, and a Motion to Vacate the Award. On September 15, 2000, the trial court confirmed the award and denied Green Tree's motions to remand and vacate. Green Tree appealed and this Court assumed jurisdiction to hear the consolidated appeals.