Court Opinion

ID: 4223641
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-11-27 19:16:10.202065+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:25:38.928623
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Rorick's, Inc. v. Corporex Dev. & Constr. Mgt., L.L.C., 2017-Ohio-8694.]

                                        COURT OF APPEALS
                                       STARK COUNTY, OHIO
                                    FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

RORICK'S INC.                :                                  JUDGES:
                             :                                  Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, P.J.
     Plaintiff-Appellee      :                                  Hon. William B. Hoffman, J.
                             :                                  Hon. Earle E. Wise, Jr., J.
-vs-                         :
                             :
CORPOREX DEVELOPMENT &       :
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, LLC :                                  Case No. 2017CA00075
                             :
     Defendant-Appellant     :                                  OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                                        Appeal from the Court of Common
                                                                Pleas, Case No. 2016CV02670

JUDGMENT:                                                       Reversed and Remanded

DATE OF JUDGMENT:                                               November 20, 2017

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee                                          For Defendant-Appellant

OWEN J. RARRIC                                                  MARK L. RODIO
TERRY A. MOORE                                                  200 Public Square
ALETHA M. CARVER                                                Suite 3000
4775 Munson Street                                              Cleveland, OH 44114
Canton, OH 44735-6963
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00075                                                          2

Wise, Earle, J.

       {¶ 1} Defendant-Appellant, Corporex Development & Construction Management,

LLC, (Corporex), appeals the May 3, 2017 judgment entry of the Stark County Court of

Common Pleas denying Corporex’s motion to stay pending arbitration. Plaintiff-appellee

is Rorick’s Inc.

                         FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

       {¶ 2} In April 2014, CPX Canton Airport, LLC (Owner) contracted with Corporex for

the construction of an Embassy Suites Hotel in North Canton (the Project). Corporex then

entered into a contract (Prime Contract) with Bennett Construction Management (BCM)

to serve as the Prime Contractor to manage and direct the project.

       {¶ 3} A year later, in April 2015, BCM awarded all of the drywall work on the project

- floors one through six - and acoustic ceiling tiles to Rorick’s Inc. (Rorick’s). Rick Rorick

is the president of Rorick’s, Inc. BCM presented Rorick with a Subcontractor Agreement

(Subcontract) on April 24, 2015. Rorick refused to sign the document because he

objected to the arbitration provision. The initial amount discussed between BCM and

Rorick for completion of Rorick’s scope of work was $1,153,000.

        {¶ 4} The Subcontract included “the attached Standard Conditions dated June 1,

1999.” However, the Standard Conditions attached to the Subcontract were actually dated

November 1, 2013.

       {¶ 5} Despite never signing a contract, Rorick’s began its scope of work on the

Project immediately. Rorick submitted one pay application to BCM for work completed

through April 2015 for $130,950 and received payment for the same. He submitted other

pay applications to BCM for work completed in May, June, and July for more than
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00075                                                         3

$300,000, but by the end of July had not been paid. These pay applications included

charges for work completed by Rorick’s on the tower floors of the project. This work was

beyond that originally contemplated between BCM and Rorick’s. These change orders

expanded Rorick’s scope of work and added $186,130 to the original stated cost.

       {¶ 6} During the course of the Project, there were significant disputes between

BCM and Corporex due to BCM’s mismanagement of the Project. On July 21, 2015,

Rorick’s received a letter from Corporex advising it that BCM had abandoned the project.

Corporex then assumed some of BCM’s duties and hired Summit Construction to assume

BCM’s project management obligations.

       {¶ 7} Corporex, through Michael O’Donnell, asked Rorick’s to stay on the job, but

requested a copy of Rorick’s signed Subcontract, invoices, and any change orders that

Rorick’s entered into with BCM before BCM abandoned the Project. According to Rorick,

O’Donnell assured him he would be paid for the outstanding amounts owed by BCM and

that his scope of work would not change.

       {¶ 8} On August 10, 2015, Rorick received a draft Assignment and Assumption

Agreement (Assignment) from Corporex. Again, Rorick refused to sign the document.

This time however, Rorick did not object to the arbitration provisions, but rather because

of a rumor he had heard that Corporex was going to hire someone else to complete the

drywall and acoustic ceiling tiles on the first floor, thus narrowing Rorick’s original scope

of work.

       {¶ 9} The same day, Rorick’s attached a proposed addendum to the Assignment.

The addendum at paragraph 9 would have prohibited Corporex from narrowing Rorick’s

scope of work. The addendum did not, however, make any mention of dispute resolution.
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00075                                                        4

Rorick did not discuss the arbitration provisions referenced in the Assignment with anyone

from Corporex, but did consult his counsel and believed he was not subject to the

arbitration provisions of the Subcontract.

       {¶ 10} On August 11, 2015, Corporex rejected paragraph 9 of Rorick’s addendum,

and further requested Rorick’s to submit documentation to support its claim that additional

monies were owed for work on the tower floors of the Project.

       {¶ 11} Rorick’s submitted a second proposed addendum on August 13, 2015,

deleting the prohibition on narrowing its scope of work and instead offering additional

workers for completion of the first floor work. The same day, Corporex responded and

asked Rorick’s to provide three additional pieces of information – cost, time to completion,

and how many of the additional workers would be “hangers,” i.e, workers hanging drywall

as opposed to performing finishing work.

       {¶ 12} The next day, Rorick’s responded that the drywall installation would take

twice as long as normal due to conditions on the Project, but provided no actual time

frame. By August 20, 2015, after some back and forth, Rorick’s still had not provided

Corporex the answers it sought. Corporex thus removed the first floor from the scope of

Rorick’s work and notified Rorick’s in writing of the same on August 21, 2015. Corporex

presented Rorick’s with a written change order removing the first floor work from Rorick’s

scope of work. Rorick’s refused to sign the change order and responded that the removal

of the first floor work was a breach of its Subcontract with BCM.

       {¶ 13} Meanwhile, Rorick’s still had not been paid for May, June, July, and August,

was unable to make payroll, and was further concerned about possible bankruptcy.
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00075                                                      5

Rorick’s had expected payment at the beginning of August based on O’Donnell’s oral

assurances that it would be paid the amount owed Rorick’s by BCM.

      {¶ 14} Corporex advised, however, that before Rorick’s could be paid, the

Assignment must be signed. On August 26, 2015, Rorick chose to sign the Assignment.

Rorick’s made some changes to the document, none of which concerned dispute

resolution. The Assignment incorporated the previously unsigned Subcontract and the

Prime contract to the extent applicable to Rorick’s scope of work on the Project.

      {¶ 15} Thereafter, Corporex released overdue payments to Rorick’s.

      {¶ 16} On January 28, 2016 Rorick’s requested mediation in an attempt to resolve

its disputes with Corporex over reduction in its scope of work and monies owed. Mediation

was conducted in May 2016 and was unsuccessful.

      {¶ 17} On December 8, 2016, Rorick’s filed a complaint against Corporex alleging

fraudulent inducement, breach of contract, violation of the prompt pay act, promissory

estoppel, unjust enrichment, and defamation. Rorick’s claimed damages exceeding

$100,000. On January 13, 2017, Corporex filed an answer and a motion to stay pending

arbitration. Rorick’s filed a memorandum in opposition.

      {¶ 18} An evidentiary hearing was held March 2, and 6, 2017 on Corporex’s motion

to stay and Rorick’s fraudulent inducement argument. Following the hearing, Rorick’s and

Corporex each filed proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law.

      {¶ 19} On May 3, 2017, the trial court issued its opinion denying Corporex’s motion.

Corporex then filed this appeal. Corporex presents two assignments of error:
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00075                                                         6

                                              I

       {¶ 20} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

CORPOREX        DEVELOPMENT           &    CONSTRUCTION          MANAGEMENT,          LLC'S

("CORPOREX") MOTION TO STAY PENDING ARBITRATION ("MOTION") AND IN

FINDING THAT PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE RORICK'S INC. ("RORICK'S") DID NOT

AGREE TO ARBITRATE DISPUTES IN EXCESS OF $1000,000 BASED ON

INCORRECT LEGAL CONCLUSIONS."

                                                  II

       {¶ 21}     "THE TRIAL COURT'S DENIAL OF THE MOTION BASED ON

INCORRECT FACTUAL FINDINGS WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE

EVIDENCE."

                                              I

       {¶ 22} In its first assignment of error, Corporex argues the trial court erred in

denying its motion to stay pending arbitration, and further erred in finding Rorick’s did not

agree to arbitrate disputes in excess of $100,000 due to incorrect legal conclusions.

                                    Standard of Review

       {¶ 23} The parties disagree on our standard of review in this matter. The standard

of review on a trial court’s ruling on a motion to stay pending arbitration hinges on "the

type of questions raised challenging the applicability of the arbitration provision."

Kaminsky v. New Horizons Computer Learning Ctr. of Cleveland, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

97261, 2016-Ohio-1468, 62 N.E.3d 1054 ¶ 12. As we noted in Simmons v. Extendicare

Heath Services, Inc., et al, 5th Dist. Delaware No. 15 CAE 12 0095, 2016-Ohio-4831 ¶

13:
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00075                                                         7

              In general, an appellate court reviews a trial court's decision to grant

              or deny a motion to compel arbitration or stay the proceedings under

              the abuse of discretion standard of review. Primmer v. Healthcare

              Industries Corp., 2015-Ohio-4104, 43, 43 N.E.3d 788 N.E.3d 788, ¶

              8 (4th Dist.); Scott v. Kindred Transitional Care & Rehab., 8th Dist.

              Cuyahoga No. 103256, 2016-Ohio-495, ¶ 4. However, the issue of

              whether a controversy is arbitrable under an arbitration provision of

              a contract is a question of law for the court to decide; therefore, the

              standard of review on those issues is de novo. Church v. Fleishour

              Homes, Inc., 172 Ohio App.3d 205, 874 N.E.2d 795, 172 Ohio

              App.3d 205, ¶ 9 (5th Dist.2007). When the validity of an arbitration

              agreement is in question, the determination involves a mixed

              question of law and fact. Scott v. Kindred Transitional Care & Rehab.,

              2016-Ohio-495, ¶ 4 citing Corl v. Thomas & King, 10th Dist. Franklin

              No. 05AP–1128, 2006-Ohio-2956, ¶ 10.

       {¶ 24} The question here is whether the controversy between the parties is subject

to arbitration pursuant to their contract. We therefore review this matter de novo. Under

de novo review, an appellate court may interpret the language of the contract and

substitute its interpretation for that of the trial court. Children's Medical Center v. Ward,

87 Ohio App.3d 504, 622 N.E.2d 692 (2nd Dist.1993).
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00075                                                        8

                                     Applicable Law

      {¶ 25} The Supreme Court of Ohio has recognized Ohio's public policy favoring

arbitration. Taylor Bldg. Corp. of America v. Benfield, 117 Ohio St.3d 352, 884 N.E.2d 12

(2008). This public policy stance is codified in R.C. 2711.02(B) which provides:

              (B) If any action is brought upon any issue referable to arbitration

             under an agreement in writing for arbitration, the court in which the

             action is pending, upon being satisfied that the issue involved in the

             action is referable to arbitration under an agreement in writing for

             arbitration, shall on application of one of the parties stay the trial of

             the action until the arbitration of the issue has been had in

             accordance with the agreement, provided the applicant for the stay

             is not in default in proceeding with arbitration.

      {¶ 26} Despite the presumption favoring arbitration, however, a party cannot be

compelled to arbitrate a dispute in which they have not agreed to submit to arbitration.

Council of Smaller Ents. v. Gates, McDonald & Co., 80 Ohio St.3d 661, 687 N.E.2d 1352

(1998).

      {¶ 27} A contract is to be interpreted to give effect to the intention of the parties.

Morrison v. Petro Evaluation Serv., Inc., 5th Dist. Morrow No. 2004-CA-0004, 2005-Ohio-

5640, ¶ 29 citing Employer's Liab. Assur. Corp. v. Roehm, 99 Ohio St. 343, 124 N.E. 223

(1919), syllabus. "Generally, courts presume that the intent of the parties to a contract

resided in the language they chose to employ in the agreement." Shifrin v. Forest City
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00075                                                       9

Ents. Inc., 64 Ohio St.3d 635, 638, 597 N.E.2d 499 (1992). "Common words appearing

in a written instrument will be given their ordinary meaning unless manifest absurdity

results, or unless some other meaning is clearly evidenced from the face or overall

contents of the instrument." Alexander v. Buckeye Pipe Line Co., 53 Ohio St.2d 241, 374

N.E.2d 146 (1978), paragraph two of the syllabus.

                              Relevant Contract Provisions

      {¶ 28} Rorick’s signed the Assignment and Assumption Agreement on August 26,

2015. In doing so, Rorick’s agreed to the Subcontract it had previously refused to sign as

well as the standard terms and conditions attached to the Subcontract.

      {¶ 29} The first page of the Subcontract identifies which documents comprise the

Subcontract. It reads as follows:

             The Contractor and Subcontractor agree as follows:

             The Subcontract Documents consist of this Subcontract including the

             Standard Conditions dated June 1, 1999, and plans and

             specifications. The Subcontract represents the entire agreement

             between the parties hereto and it may be amended only by written

             Modification.

             The Subcontractor shall provide all labor, materials, tools and

             equipment to construct in a thorough and workmanlike manner

             complete in every respect, the following scope of work. This scope

             includes, but is not necessarily limited to the following specific items:
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00075                                                         10

                1. Subcontractor shall be responsible for Contract terms per attached

                Exhibit 1 (owners [Prime] contract),

                2. Plans and specs as listed in Exhibit 1,

                3. Scope of work listed as “drywall” scope for “Embassy Suites –

                Canton, OH.

          {¶ 30} Paragraph 7 of the Standard Conditions addresses dispute resolution. It

provides for unlimited arbitration. Specifically, paragraph 7 of the Standard Conditions

states:

                Any claim related to this Subcontract shall be subject to arbitration.

                Prior to arbitration, the parties shall endeavor to resolve disputes in

                mediation in accordance with the Construction Industry Mediation

                Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Claims not resolved

                by mediation shall be decided by arbitration in accordance with the

                Construction Industry Rules of the American Arbitration Association.

                Demand for arbitration shall be filed in writing with the other party to

                this Subcontract and with the American Arbitration Association. The

                decision of the arbitrator shall be final, and the judgment may be

                entered upon it in accordance with applicable law in any court having

                jurisdiction thereof.

          {¶ 31} Article 12 of the Prime Contract between Corporex and BCM states:
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00075                                                    11

           In the event of any dispute arising hereunder, * * * both Corporex and

           Prime Contractor will use their best efforts to settle such dispute or

           disagreement in good faith and in a manner that is fair and equitable

           to both Parties before either party can exercise the right of legal

           action. If the Parties cannot mutually reach a resolution within thirty

           (30) days * * * then * * * to the extent the amount in controversy is in

           excess of $100,000, in the aggregate, the Parties shall retain and

           may avail themselves of any and all of their respective cumulative

           rights and remedies * * * Notwithstanding any of the forgoing, Prime

           Contractor shall continue with the completion of the Work during any

           period of arbitration and Corporex shall remain obligated to pay for

           such services as herein provided.

     {¶ 32} Paragraph 2 of the Assignment states:

           You agree that the [Subcontract] includes all of the terms and

           conditions of the [Prime Contract] between [BCM] and Corporex

           relating to the Project to the extent applicable to your Project work

           under the [Subcontract], and you agree to assume towards Corporex

           directly all of the duties and responsibilities that Bennet, in turn,

           assumed towards Corporex relative to your scope of work including,

           without limitation, any warranty obligations, project close-out
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00075                                                      12

               obligations, and compliance of the work with Project plans and

               specifications and applicable law.

       {¶ 33} Paragraph 4 of the Standard Conditions contemplates changes in the scope

of work. It states:

               The subcontractor may be ordered in writing by the contractor,

               without invalidating this Subcontract, to make changes in the Work

               within the general scope of this Subcontract, the Subcontract sum,

               and the Subcontract time being adjusted accordingly. The

               Subcontractor, prior to the commencement of such change Work

               shall submit to the Contractor written copies of a modification to the

               Subcontract Documents. No extra work or changes under this

               contract will be recognized unless by the Contractor and paid for by

               the Owner and unless agreed to in writing before the work is done or

               the changes are made.

       {¶ 34} Article 8 of the Prime Contract addresses how the Prime Contractor and

Corporex shall handle changes in work and the procedure required if they are unable to

agree. The relevant portions state:

               8.1 Changes in Work Including reduction in scope or quality of

               material, Prime Contractor Compensation or Project Schedule may
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00075                                                     13

               only be effectuated by execution of a written Change Order. A

               Change Order is a written instrument signed by the Prime Contractor

               and Corporex, * * * stating their agreement upon a change in the

               Work, the GMP, Prime Contractor Compensation and/or the Project

               Schedule. Any request for a Change Order(s) from Prime Contractor

               shall be accompanied by all Subcontractor documentation required

               by Corporex. The amount to be paid to Subcontractor or Design

               Professionals, or adjustment to General Conditions, if any, shall be

               negotiated for each change.

               8.2 In the event Prime Contractor and Corporex cannot agree to a

               Change Order relating to a change in the Work, Corporex shall have

               the right, if it elects to order Prime Contractor to proceed with the

               change in the Work and the terms of the accompanying Change

               Order will be resolved in accordance with the terms of Article 12.

                                           Arguments

       {¶ 35} Corporex argues paragraph 7 of the Standard Conditions applies to dispute

resolution in this matter. Rorick’s responds that because its case involves the reduction

of its scope of work on the Project, the arbitration provisions in Article 12 of the Prime

Contract apply, and further, since this dispute involves more than $100,000, it is not

subject to arbitration and is instead entitled to a jury trial.
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00075                                                        14

                                          Analysis

       {¶ 36} Here, the trial court found the matter was not referable to arbitration

because the Prime contract rather that the Subcontract governed arbitration between the

parties. We disagree.

       {¶ 37} The Assignment is the only document signed by Rorick’s. That document

does not contain an arbitration clause. Instead, the competing arbitration clauses at issue

here are contained within Article 12 of the Prime Contract which is the limited arbitration

clause, and paragraph 7 of the Standard Conditions to the Subcontract, which is the

unlimited arbitration clause. The Assignment incorporated all of the Standard Conditions

and those portions of the Prime Contract relating to Rorik’s scope of work on the Project.

       {¶ 38} The Subcontract indicates that the Subcontract, Standard Conditions, and

plans and specifications represent "the entire agreement between the parties."

Paragraph 7 of the Standard Conditions contains a broad, plainly worded arbitration

provision; "Any claim related to this Subcontract shall be subject to arbitration." (Emphasis

added.)

       {¶ 39} Article 12 of the Prime Contract plainly sets forth the parties covered by that

article – "Corporex and Prime Contractor." As Corporex notes, and the record reflects,

Rorick’s never signed the Prime Contract and was never the Prime Contractor. Article 12

does not reference the Subcontractor. The Prime Contractor was BCM. Article 12 applies

by its plain language therefore, to disputes between BCM and Corporex. By signing the

Assumption agreement, Rorick’s agreed to the substitution of Corporex for BCM. Rorick’s

did not, as it argues, replace BCM in the Prime Contract.
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00075                                                      15

       {¶ 40} Rorick’s also argues, and the trial court found, that the language of item 1

of the Subcontract, contained in paragraph 29 above – "Subcontractor shall be

responsible for contract terms per attached Exhibit 1 [Prime Contract]" incorporates all

the terms of Prime contract. Yet paragraph 2 of the Assignment agreement signed by

Rorick’s states it includes the terms and conditions of the Prime Contract only "to the

extent applicable to [Rorick’s] Project work under the [Subcontract]." It further required

Rorick’s “assume towards Corporex directly all of the duties and responsibilities that

[BCM], in turn, assumed towards Corporex relative to your scope of work including,

without limitation, any warranty obligations, project close-out obligations, and compliance

of the work with Project plans and specifications and applicable law.” (Emphasis added.)

The trial court found this language broad enough to incorporate general contract terms of

the Prime contract, including those applicable to arbitration.

       {¶ 41} Neither Corporex nor Rorick’s provide us with any further commentary on

what "scope of work" means or includes, but the above passage appears self-

explanatory, encompassing manner and character of work – those things involved in

Rorick’s specific piece of the project.

       {¶ 42} According to Rorick’s, because its scope of work was narrowed by

subtraction of the first floor work on the Project, and because Corporex allegedly

conceded it changed Rorick’s scope of work pursuant to Article 8 of the Prime contract,

the arbitration clause of the Prime contract applies. We disagree.

       {¶ 43} First, to interpret the language of item 1 of the Subcontract, and paragraph

2 of the Assignment to mean that the entire Prime contract applies to Rorick’s creates a

manifest absurdity. It would mean that Rorick’s would also be bound by dozens of other
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00075                                                      16

obligations contained in the 43-page Prime Contract such as obtaining building permits,

handling labor disputes and so on.

       {¶ 44} Second, there is a provision in both the Subcontract and the Prime Contract

governing changes in scope of work. Paragraph 4 of the Standard Conditions addresses

how the prime contractor and the subcontractor shall handle change orders, while Article

8 of the Prime contract addresses how the Prime Contractor and Corporex shall handle

change orders. By its plain language, Article 8 applies to the handling of change orders

between Corporex and the Prime Contractor, BCM. As we have already stated above,

Rorick’s never became the Prime Contractor. Further, contrary to the trial court’s finding

and Rorick’s argument here, the record does not support a finding that Corporex

conceded at the hearing that Article 8 applied to this dispute. Instead, as Corporex points

out, Article 8 was referenced to demonstrate that scope of work could change for both the

Prime Contractor through Article 8 and the Subcontractor through Paragraph 4 of the

Standard Conditions. March 6, 2017 T. at 126. In other words, everyone’s scope of work

was subject to change. Indeed, Rorick's scope of work was at one point expanded to

include work on the tower floors of the Project.

       {¶ 45} Finally, as to the date discrepancy on the Standard Conditions, O’Donnell,

testifying for Corporex at the hearing, indicated this was a typographical error. March 6,

2017 T. at 127. Further, Rorick’s, a sophisticated company negotiating a million-dollar

contract, signed the Assignment and Assumption Agreement indicating its agreement

with the Standard Terms and Conditions attached to that document and thereby, the

arbitration clause contained therein. Rorick’s was obviously aware of the arbitration
Stark County, Case No. 2017CA00075                                                    17

agreement, yet never challenged the matter with Corporex and chose to sign the

Assignment rather than take other action to obtain payment.

      {¶ 46} Because Rorick’s is not a party to the Prime Contract and was never the

prime contractor, and because Article 12 of the Prime Contract specifically names who

that provision applies to – Corporex and BCM, we find Article 12 inapplicable to the

dispute between Rorick’s and Corporex. Paragraph 7 of the Subcontract governs disputes

between Corporex and Rorick’s and as such, the matter is subject to arbitration

regardless of the amount in controversy.

                                           II

      {¶ 47} Based on our resolution of the first assignment of error, we find Corporex’s

second assignment of error moot.

By Wise, Earle, J.

Delaney, P.J. and

Hoffman, J. concur.

EEW/sg 106