Opinion ID: 76843
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Scope of Claims Subject to Arbitration Clause

Text: 6 Appellants argue that invocation of the Note's arbitration clause to resolve Appellees' RESPA claims is appropriate because servicing of the Blincos' loan arises from and/or relates to the Note or the relationships resulting from the Note. Green Tree argues that without the Note evidencing the loan, no servicing relationship between Green Tree and the Blincos would exist. The Blincos counter that it is Green Tree's independent statutory status as loan servicer that gives rise to their claims, not the Note or the Mortgage. The Blincos argue that servicing is severable from the Note and Mortgage and accordingly do not rely upon the Note and/or Mortgage in making their RESPA claims. Therefore, the Blincos contend that the Note's arbitration clause has no nexus with their claims and cannot be invoked. 7 The Court concludes that the Blincos' RESPA claims arise from the Note and are subject to the arbitration clause therein. In resolving this issue, it is important to first note the unquestionably strong federal policy favoring arbitration. Moses H. Cone Hosp. v. Mercury Constr. Corp., 460 U.S. 1, 24-25, 103 S.Ct. 927, 941, 74 L.Ed.2d 765, 784 (1983); Anders v. Hometown Mortgage Servs., Inc., 346 F.3d 1024, 1029 (11th Cir.2003). Any doubts concerning the scope of arbitrable issues should be resolved in favor of arbitration. Moses H. Cone Hosp., 460 U.S. at 24-25, 103 S.Ct. at 941, 74 L.Ed.2d at 785. The arbitration clause at issue here is broadly drafted to cover [a]ll disputes, claims or controversies arising from or relating to th [e] contract or the relationships which result from th[e] contract. Although the district court found that the Blincos' RESPA claims were separate from the Note, this conclusion is not compelled by the text of RESPA or the Note. Rather, the Blincos' RESPA claims arise from Green Tree's alleged obligation to service the Note and the statutory requirements that coincide with that obligation. Indeed, it is difficult to understand how Green Tree could be a servicer if there were no Note, and more importantly, how Green Tree could face statutory servicer liability if there were no Note to service. In light of this conclusion and strong federal policy favoring arbitration, it is appropriate to compel arbitration of the Blincos' RESPA claims. 8