Opinion ID: 864436
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: whether the actions of the

Text: UNIVERSITY AND THE NURSING PLLC PREJUDICED PHILLIPS. ¶28. Waiver will be found when the party seeking arbitration substantially invokes the judicial process to the detriment or prejudice of the other party. Subway Equip. Leasing Corp. v. Forte, 169 F.3d 324, 326 (5th Cir. 1999); Miller Brewing, 781 F.2d at 497. ¶29. The chancellor found that Phillips had been prejudiced by the actions of the University and the Nursing PLLC: 14 [Phillips] has been relieved from her current position as faculty on the nursing staff, incurred expense in seeking resolution of this matter and much time has past since her original request for information. . . Thus, had this matter been expeditiously referred to arbitration the need for terminating Phillips’ contract may have been avoided. ¶30. However, according to the Fifth Circuit, [P]rejudice . . . refers to the inherent unfairness – in terms of delay, expense, or damage to a party's legal position – that occurs when the party's opponent forces it to litigate an issue and later seeks to arbitrate that same issue. Subway Equip., 169 F.3d at 327 (citing Doctor's Associates v. Distajo, 107 F.3d 126, 134 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 522 U.S. 948, 118 S. Ct. 365, 139 L. Ed. 2d 284 (1997)). Phillips made no showing of prejudice due to delay, expense, or damage to her legal position. Furthermore, neither the University nor the Nursing PLLC invoked the judicial proceedings – Phillips did. Finally, because we find that the University and the Nursing PLLC did not substantially participate in litigation and did not cause an undue delay, their actions could not have caused any prejudice to Phillips.