Court Opinion

ID: 9939617
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-11 08:16:10.384642+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:41:38.162854
License: Public Domain

Reversed and Remanded and Majority and Concurring Opinions filed
February 8, 2024.

                                       In The

                        Fourteenth Court of Appeals

                               NO. 14-23-00090-CV

                   PEARLAND URBAN AIR, LLC, Appellant

                                          V.

             ABIGAIL DALILA CERNA A/N/F OF R.W., Appellee

                     On Appeal from the 11th District Court
                             Harris County, Texas
                       Trial Court Cause No. 2022-33992

                            CONCURRING OPINION

      The majority concludes that Cerna’s Texas Arbitration Act argument is one
for the arbitrator to decide—and not the courts. I respectfully disagree. In my mind,
this is a contract formation question, which is for the courts to decide.

      Under the TAA, a claim for personal injury may not be subject to an
arbitration agreement unless the arbitration agreement is signed by each party and
each party’s attorney. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 171.002(a)(3), (c). Here,
it is undisputed that the agreement was not signed by each party’s attorneys. While
it may be a valid signed agreement, it is not a valid signed arbitration agreement
under the TAA.

       However, it is also undisputed that the agreement states that the Federal
Arbitration Act applies. And the FAA preempts the state law requirement of
signatures by each party’s attorneys. See ReadyOne Indus., Inc. v. Lopez, 551
S.W.3d 305, 316 (Tex. App—El Paso 2018, pet. denied) (personal injury case); In
re Olshan Foundation Repair, Co., 328 S.W.3d 883 (Tex. 2010) (consumer case).

       While the majority delegates this issue to the arbitrator, I believe it is for the
courts. I would hold that the FAA preempted the signature requirement and therefore
it is not a defense to arbitration.

                                         /s/       Tracy Christopher
                                                   Chief Justice

Panel consists of Chief Justice Christopher and Justices Wise and Jewell.

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