Opinion ID: 1855862
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Premier

Text: The trial court denied Premier's motion to compel arbitration, without stating its reasons. The basis for the trial court's ruling is unclear, given the fact that it granted Edwards and Plummer's motion to compel arbitration. The Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq., clearly applies to this transaction, which no one disputes involves interstate commerce. The Duttons concede that, as the record shows, Premier, as the assignee of the Retail Installment Contract and Security Agreement, is clearly within the scope of the arbitration agreement. See, also, Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp. v. Ross, 703 So.2d 324 (Ala.1997) (a valid assignment gives the assignee the right to invoke an arbitration provision agreed to by the assignor). The Duttons argue only that the trial court's order can be affirmed on the ground that Premier waived its right to arbitrate by substantially invoking the litigation process and thereby prejudicing their ability to seek redress. However, the arbitration provision in the Buyer's Order states that this issue is reserved for the arbitrator. Therefore, based on the clear wording of that arbitration provision, we conclude that the Duttons agreed to submit that arbitrability issue to arbitration. See First Options of Chicago, Inc. v. Kaplan, 514 U.S. 938, 115 S.Ct. 1920, 131 L.Ed.2d 985 (1995). The record indicates that the trial court erred if it denied Premier's motion on the ground of waiver. [3] Furthermore, we can find nothing in the record that would support the trial court's order on some other ground. The order is reversed to the extent it denied arbitration of the claim against Premier, and as to those claims the case is remanded.