Opinion ID: 2691986
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Eighth District’s Analysis

Text: {¶ 29} The court of appeals based its holdings in the instant cases on Pinchot v. Charter One Bank, F.S.B., 99 Ohio St.3d 390, 2003-Ohio-4122, 792 N.E.2d 1105. Alexander v. Wells Fargo, 8th Dist. No.89277, 2008-Ohio-1402, ¶ 15; Coleman v. Am. Gen. Fin. Servs., 8th Dist. No. 89311, 2008-Ohio-1403, ¶ 11. In Pinchot, we held that the recording of a mortgage satisfaction or real estate lien release is not an integral part of the lending process because it occurs after the debt is satisfied. Id. at ¶ 46. However, whether the recording is an integral part of the lending process is not the standard. Aetna Health asks whether the cause of action can be maintained without reference to the contract or relationship at issue. Regardless of whether the recording of a mortgage satisfaction or financetermination statement is an integral part of the process, the cause of action may still be related to the relationship that was created when the instrument was signed. {¶ 30} We also note that Pinchot concerned whether a federal regulation preempted a state statute governing mortgage-satisfaction recording requirements. Id., syllabus. However, there is a presumption against federal preemption, Medtronic, Inc. v. Lohr (1996), 518 U.S. 470, 485, 116 S.Ct. 2240, 135 L.Ed.2d 700, while there is a presumption in favor of arbitration, ABM Farms, 81 Ohio St.3d at 500, 692 N.E.2d 574. The preemption analysis employed in Pinchot does not apply to the question of arbitrability. {¶ 31} Thus, the Eighth District’s use of Pinchot is misplaced. The standard articulated in Aetna Health must be used to determine whether the arbitration agreements signed by Alexander and Coleman cover their claims.