Opinion ID: 1945569
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether the circuit court erred in denying defendants' motion to compel arbitration and stay litigation as to ford

Text: ¶ 22. Ford argues separately in its appeal of the circuit court judgment that Plaintiffs had no duty to submit their claims of fraud to arbitration. Ford maintains that, as a defendant, despite its nonsignatory status, it can independently compel arbitration. Second, it requests that this Court stay the litigation in the circuit court pending arbitration of the claims against the remaining defendants. ¶ 23. As for Ford's ability to compel arbitration as a non-signatory to the arbitration provision in dispute, Ford first attempted to gain contract enforcement rights in federal district court. The federal district court ruled that Ford could not compel arbitration. [4] ¶ 24. While the circuit court did not mention comity specifically, when deciding the same issue the court explicitly recognized the analysis of the federal court and issued the same judgment. Comity is similar to full faith and credit but is not governed by the United States Constitution or federal statutes. See Laskosky v. Laskosky, 504 So.2d 726, 729 (Miss.1987) (citing Kountouris v. Varvaris, 476 So.2d 599, 607 (Miss.1985); Cox v. Cox, 234 Miss. 885, 892, 108 So.2d 422 (1959)). Comity is a principle based on courtesy which recognizes the decision of a court from another jurisdiction. In general, the principle of `comity' is that courts of one state or jurisdiction will give effect to laws and judicial decisions of another state or jurisdiction, not as a matter of obligation but out of deference and mutual respect. Black's Law Dictionary 183 (abridged 6th ed.1991). ¶ 25. The courtesy of comity is applied at the discretion of the trial court. Jundoosing v. Jundoosing, 826 So.2d 85, 90 (Miss.2002); Laskosky, 504 So.2d at 729. The circuit court stayed the identical action in its court to await the outcome in federal district court. Upon the issuance of the district court decision, the circuit court issued a decision drawing its sole rationale and ultimate ruling from the district court judge, referring to him by name. Clearly, when faced with the identical issue, the trial court in its own words in agreement with the United States District Court decided to recognize the federal district court's judgment, and this Court finds no abuse of discretion in that decision. However, now that the Fifth Circuit has reversed the district court, the same principle of comity applies, and this Court defers to that ruling. Thus, mooting Ford's appeal to this Court. ¶ 26. Based on the above reasons, the circuit court should have excluded Ford from its decision of arbitrability because by Ford's choice of forum it was bound by the outcome in federal court. The circuit court applied an acceptable legal standard when it exercised comity with respect to the outcome in federal court as to Ford.