Opinion ID: 1835835
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Serra Automotive, Inc.

Text: The arbitration clause included in the addendum to the Retail Buyer's Order that Vivian Smith signed on November 17, 1994, reads as follows in pertinent part:  ADDENDUM TO RETAIL BUYER'S ORDER . . . . (2) That in the event any dispute(s), under the terms of this contract of sale arise, (including but not limited to the terms of the agreement, the condition of the motor vehicle sold, the conformity of the motor vehicle sold to the contract, the representations, promises, undertakings or covenants made by Serra Mitsubishi, Inc. in connection therewith, or any terms of any credit life and/or disability insurance purchased simultaneously herewith, or extended service or maintenance agreements), that Serra Mitsubishi, Inc. and the purchaser agree to submit such dispute(s), to binding arbitration, pursuant to the provisions of 9 U.S.C. § 1, et seq. and according to the commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association then existing in Birmingham, Alabama. (3) That in the event any dispute arises between purchaser and Serra Mitsubishi, Inc., its officers, agents and employees, the said dispute will be submitted to binding arbitration pursuant to 9 U.S.C. § 1, et seq. and according to the commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association then existing in Birmingham, Alabama. . . . . (5) This addendum constitutes part of your retail [buyer's] order. (Emphasis added.) Vivian Smith contends that Serra Automotive, Inc., is not a party to the signed contract containing the agreement to arbitrate between Vivian Smith and Serra Mitsubishi, Inc. However, Serra Automotive, Inc., contends that Vivian Smith entered into an agreement to arbitrate with Serra Automotive on November 17, 1994, because, it contends, Serra Mitsubishi, Inc. is a trade name for Serra Automotive, Inc. We disagree. Serra Automotive, Inc., is an entity separate and distinct from Serra Mitsubishi, Inc. Vivian Smith signed an arbitration agreement with Serra Mitsubishi, Inc., whose name appears at the top of the retail buyer's order and throughout the language of the arbitration agreement. Serra Automotive's name does not appear anywhere in the buyer's order, nor does the phrase Serra Automotive, Inc., d/b/a Serra Mitsubishi, Inc. Almost two months after Smith and Serra Mitsubishi, Inc., executed the buyer's order containing the arbitration clause, Vivian Smith and Serra Automotive, Inc., entered into a Retail Installment Sale Contract, which did not contain an arbitration clause or a merger clause. Additionally, the buyer's order contains a nonmerger clause, which states: The Purchaser agrees that all provisions stated hereon are part of this Order and that this Order supersedes any prior agreement and is the complete and exclusive agreement on the subject matters covered by this Order. Further, Purchaser and Seller agree that no person is authorized to make any representations beyond those expressed in this Order. Verbal promises by salesmen are not valid and any promises or understandings not herein specified in writing are expressly waived by the Purchaser. (Emphasis added.) We conclude that the buyer's order containing the arbitration agreement between Serra Mitsubishi, Inc., and Vivian Smith is the complete and exclusive agreement to arbitrate claims, and that it is an agreement between these two parties only. Serra Automotive, Inc., cannot enforce an arbitration agreement between Serra Mitsubishi, Inc., and Smith, to which it is not a party. We affirm the trial court's order denying Serra Automotive's motion to compel arbitration against Vivian Smith.