Court Opinion

ID: 9781642
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-30 16:58:29.035201+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:34:29.610432
License: Public Domain

JONES, Justice.,
specially concurring.
I agree with the Court’s opinion, but write to comment upon a curious argument made by Dan Wiebold, which is dealt with in Part III.E. Dan Wiebold argues that DCS waited too long to demand arbitration, therefore the arbitration agreement expired, therefore Dan Wiebold may pursue its claims against the Defendants in court. The argument references the arbitration provision of the Agreement, which requires a demand for arbitration to be made no later than one year after the claim or cause of action arises, and the limitations provision, which states that no action arising out of transactions under the Agreement may be brought by either party more than one year after the cause of action has occurred. Apparently, the assumption is that, if a demand for arbitration is not made within the one year period in the arbitration provision, the arbitration provision expires and either party can then bring their case to court. No authority is cited for this novel contention. Further, Dan Wiebold has pointed to no place on the record where this Court can determine when a demand for arbitration was made or exactly what was demanded. According to the argument, the demand was made somewhat more than a year after the district court entered its order from which the appeal was taken. Dan Wiebold can hardly expect relief on an argument where it provides neither a citation to the factual basis in the record, nor legal authority to support its argument.
The Defendants have consistently contended that Dan Wiebold’s claims must be resolved through arbitration in accordance with the terms of the Agreement. At oral argument, counsel for Defendants stated that they will proceed with arbitration as per their demand. Dan Wiebold is not without a remedy, provided it pursues that to which the parties agreed.