Opinion ID: 2611438
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: the district court properly declined to stay proceedings for arbitration

Text: I.C. § 7-902(a) requires the court to compel arbitration [o]n application of a party showing an agreement ... [to arbitrate] and the opposing party's refusal to arbitrate. Although neither party disputes the existence or validity of the arbitration clause, neither party made an application to the court to arbitrate. Walden had declined to designate an arbitrator. The district court correctly determined that Walden could not obtain a stay of proceedings for arbitration while declining to take the steps necessary for arbitration. The district court also properly dealt with the issue before it by Nationwide's motion for summary judgment, that is, whether the facts established a claim for breach of contract or bad faith in failure to pay the claim. If the facts did not support the claims, there was no point in staying the proceedings for arbitration.