Court Opinion

ID: 4512988
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-03-05 15:06:39.182352+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:39:33.351369
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                               APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
        This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court." Although it is posted on the
     internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

                                                         SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                                         APPELLATE DIVISION
                                                         DOCKET NO. A-4725-18T2

FOULKE MANAGEMENT
CORPORATION,

          Plaintiff-Appellant,

v.

DOMESTIC LINEN SUPPLY CO.,
INC., a New Jersey Corporation,

     Defendant-Respondent.
_____________________________

FOULKE MANANGEMENT
CORPORATION,

          Plaintiff,

v.

DOMESTIC LINEN SUPPLY CO.,
INC., a Pennsylvania Corporation,
and AMERICAN ARBITRATION
ASSOCIATION,

     Defendants.
_____________________________

                    Argued January 28, 2020 – Decided March 5, 2020
            Before Judges Yannotti and Firko.

            On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law
            Division, Camden County, Docket Nos. L-4057-13 and
            L-2354-14.

            Laura D. Ruccolo argued the cause for appellant
            (Capehart & Scatchard PA, attorneys; Laura D.
            Ruccolo and Laura M. Danks, on the briefs).

            Joseph D. Di Guglielmo argued the cause for
            respondent (Burton Neil & Associates, and Joseph D.
            Di Guglielmo, attorneys; Joseph D. Di Guglielmo, of
            counsel and on the brief).

PER CURIAM

      This matter is before us for the third time. Plaintiff Foulke Management

Corporation (Foulke) appeals from an order entered by the trial court on March

25, 2019 finding Foulke entered into contracts with Domestic Linen Supply Co.,

Inc. (Domestic PA) and an order entered on June 19, 2019, which compelled

Foulke to arbitrate its dispute with defendant, Domestic PA. We affirm both

orders.

                                       I.

      We derive the following facts from the parties' motion papers and the facts

established at the evidentiary hearing. There are two businesses with the name

Domestic Linen Supply Co., Inc. One of those businesses is a New Jersey

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corporation, Domestic Linen NJ, and the other is a Pennsylvania corporation

that is authorized to conduct business in New Jersey, Domestic Linen PA.

        Foulke engaged in three automobile dealerships known as Cherry Hill

Triplex, Cherry Hill Dodge, and Cherry Hill Mitsubishi. In March of 2010,

Foulke entered into three uniform supply service contracts with an entity called

Domestic Linen Supply Co., Inc. to rent uniforms for its businesses. All three

contracts list Domestic PA's address as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and require

arbitration of disputes when the amount in controversy exceeds $10,000. The

contracts state that they should be construed in accordance with Pennsylvania

law, and notices should be sent to the company's manager in Philadelphia.

        In 2013, Foulke filed a complaint against Domestic Linen NJ, in which it

asserted claims of breach of contract, common law fraud, and violations of the

New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.1 Domestic Linen NJ filed a motion to dismiss

the complaint, arguing that Foulke entered into the contracts with Domestic

Linen PA, not Domestic Linen NJ. The prior trial judge did not rule on that

issue and ordered Foulke to arbitrate the dispute, as required by the agreements

set forth in the contracts.

1
    N.J.S.A. 56:8-1 to -210.
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                                        3
      Domestic Linen PA then filed a demand for arbitration, asserting it was

the party that entered into the subject contracts with Foulke. In response, Foulke

filed an action to enjoin the arbitration proceeding on the ground that another

trial judge had ruled that Domestic Linen NJ was the proper contracting party.

The prior trial judge restrained Domestic Linen PA from proceeding with the

arbitration. Domestic Linen PA appealed that decision.

      We reversed both orders, consolidated the cases, and remanded to the trial

court for an evidentiary hearing to determine whether Domestic Linen PA or

Domestic Linen NJ was the party with whom Foulke had entered into the

contracts. Foulke Mgmt. Corp. v. Domestic Linen Supply Co., No. A-0752-14

(App. Div. Mar. 14, 2016).

      On remand, the prior trial judge did not comply with our mandate and

issued an order on February 2, 2018, compelling a jury trial to determine the

proper parties. He also denied Domestic NJ's motion for reconsideration on

March 15, 2018. We reversed and vacated the February 2, 2018 and March 15,

2018 orders and remanded to the trial court for a non-jury evidentiary hearing

on the issue as to which defendant was the party to the contract with Foulke.

Foulke Mgmt. Corp. v. Domestic Linen Supply Co., No. A-3219-17 (App. Div.

Dec. 5, 2018).

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      On the second remand, a different trial judge conducted an evidentiary

hearing on February 22, 2019. In a March 22, 2019 oral opinion, the trial judge

found that Foulke's service manager, Joe Scicili, now deceased, negotiated three

uniform rental agreements with Domestic PA's service manager, Lawrence

Messineo. The trial court also found that William Kopp, Foulke's general

manager and representative, "signed each agreement but never read page [two]

which contains both a choice of law clause (Pennsylvania) and arbitration

clause." In conclusion, the judge found Foulke entered into the contracts with

Domestic PA.

      In an April 18, 2019 order, the trial judge permitted Foulke to file a motion

for leave to file and serve an amended complaint to bring its claims against

Domestic PA applying retroactively to the initial filing date of the complaint in

2013. The motion was granted, and Foulke filed its amended complaint on April

2, 2019.   Domestic PA then moved to dismiss the complaint and compel

arbitration as per the arbitration provisions set forth in the contracts. On June

19, 2019, the trial judge ordered the parties to arbitrate their dispute and

dismissed the complaint.

      The contracts include an arbitration clause at paragraph fifteen, which

states:

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            In the event of any controversy or claim in excess of
            $10,000.00 arising out of or relating to this agreement,
            including but not limited to questions regarding the
            authority of the persons who have executed this
            agreement, the question, controversy or dispute shall be
            submitted to and settled by arbitration to be held in the
            city closest to the city in which the branch office of the
            [c]ompany which serves the [c]ustomer is located. Said
            arbitration shall be held in accordance with the then
            prevailing commercial arbitration rules of the
            American Arbitration Association [(AAA)] except any
            rules which require the parties to use the [AAA] as their
            sole [a]rbitration [a]dministrator. Judgment upon and
            award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any
            court having jurisdiction thereof. The filing party may
            use either court or arbitration where the claim is less
            than $10,000.00. Venue for any court proceeding shall
            be in the county of the [c]ompany's branch office
            servicing the [c]ustomer. The judge or arbitrator shall
            include as part of the award all costs including
            reasonable attorney fees and arbitration fees of the non-
            breaching party where it is determined that one of the
            parties has breached the agreement.

      Foulke argued that it was not made aware of these terms and signed the

contracts, but Kopp, its signatory, did not read the second page where the

arbitration clause was printed. Additionally, Foulke argued that the arbitration

clause was unconscionable and lacked mutual assent. Domestic argued that both

the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), 9 U.S.C. §§ 1 to 16, and the New Jersey

Arbitration Act, N.J.S.A. 2A:23B-1 to -32. controlled, thus the arbitration

agreement here was enforceable.

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      In his June 19, 2019 oral opinion, the trial judge found there was mutual

assent and waiver of the statutory right to adjudicate the parties' dispute in court.

The judge also explained there was "plain meaning in the language" that claims

in excess of $10,000 shall be settled by arbitration with the AAA. However, the

judge noted that "[t]he filing party may use either court or arbitration where the

claim is less than $10,000." In conclusion, the judge stated that these parties are

"two rather large companies with experience in the area of contracting" and

"experience in the area of arbitration clauses."

      On appeal, Foulke argues that: (1) the arbitration agreement is

unenforceable because there was no mutual assent; (2) it was not provided with

proper notice of the arbitration agreement; (3) the arbitration language does not

address statutory claims; (4) the arbitration agreement is unconscionable and

was fraudulently induced; (5) the trial court erred by admitting parol evidence

to "reform" the agreement and by permitting "surprise witnesses" to testify at

the hearing; and (6) the trial court's finding that Domestic PA is the contracting

party is against the weight of the evidence.

                                         II.

      We apply a de novo standard when reviewing a motion judge's

determination of the enforceability of a contract. Goffe v. Foulke Mgmt. Corp.,

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238 N.J. 191, 207 (2019). When reviewing arbitration clauses within contracts,

"[t]he enforceability of arbitration provisions is a question of law; therefore, it

is one to which we need not give deference to the analysis by the trial court

. . . ." Ibid.

       We begin by recognizing the Federal and New Jersey Arbitration Acts

express a general policy favoring arbitration. Atalese v. U.S. Legal Servs. Grp.,

L.P., 219 N.J. 430, 440 (2014); see also 9 U.S.C. §§ 1 to 16; N.J.S.A. 2A:23B-

1 to -32. "The public policy of this State favors arbitration as a means of settling

disputes that otherwise would be litigated in a court." Badiali v. N.J. Mfrs. Ins.

Grp., 220 N.J. 544, 556 (2015) (quoting Cty. Coll. of Morris Staff v. Cty. Coll.

of Morris Staff Ass'n, 100 N.J. 383, 390 (1985)). Although enforcement is

generally favored, it "does not mean that every arbitration clause, however

phrased, will be enforceable." Atalese, 219 N.J. at 441.

       A valid arbitration clause "must state its purpose clearly and

unambiguously." Id. at 435. Further, an arbitration agreement "must be the

product of mutual assent," which "requires that the parties have an

understanding of the terms to which they have agreed." Id. at 442 (quoting

NAACP of Camden Cty. E. v. Foulke Mgmt., 421 N.J. Super. 404, 424 (App.

Div. 2011)).

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      Our Supreme Court clearly set forth that a party "cannot be required to

arbitrate when it cannot fairly be ascertained from the contract's language that

[he or] she knowingly assented to the provision's terms or knew that arbitration

was the exclusive forum for dispute resolution." Kernahan v. Home Warranty

Adm'r of Fla., Inc., 236 N.J. 301, 322 (2019).

      In its brief, Foulke contends the reverse sides of the contracts contain

paragraphs five through twenty-one, mostly consisting of small font letters with

no headings. Kopp testified that he did not see the back of the contracts and did

not read, sign, or initial them. Foulke also asserts that the arbitration agreement

language fails to state clearly that it was waiving its right to a jury trial.

      The FAA governs the enforceability of arbitration agreements in contracts

involving interstate commerce. Section two of the FAA states:

             A written provision in . . . a contract evidencing a
             transaction involving commerce to settle by arbitration
             a controversy thereafter arising out of such contract or
             transaction, or the refusal to perform the whole or any
             part thereof . . . shall be valid, irrevocable, and
             enforceable, save upon such grounds as exist at law or
             in equity for the revocation of any contract.

             [9 U.S.C. §2]

      We have stated that "New Jersey law comports with its federal counterpart

in striving to enforce arbitration agreements." Foulke, 421 N.J. Super. at 424.

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                                          9
"An agreement relating to arbitration should thus be read liberally to find

arbitrability if reasonably possible." Ibid. (quoting Frumer v. Nat'l Home Ins.,

420 N.J. Super. 7 (App. Div. 2011)).

      "An agreement to arbitrate, like any other contract, 'must be the product

of mutual assent, as determined under customary principles of contract law.'"

Atalese, 219 N.J. at 442 (citation omitted). "This requirement of a 'consensual

understanding' about the rights of access to the courts that are waived in the

agreement has led our courts to hold that clarity is required." Moore v. Woman

to Woman Obstetrics & Gynecology, L.L.C., 416 N.J. Super. 30, 37 (App. Div.

2010) (citation omitted).

      "By its very nature, an agreement to arbitrate involves a waiver of a party's

right to have [its] claims and defenses litigated in court." Atalese, 219 N.J. at

442 (citation omitted). However, "an average member of the public may not

know—without some explanatory comment—that arbitration is a substitute for

the right to have one's claim adjudicated in a court of law." Ibid.

      Here, paragraph fifteen of the agreement expressly instructed the parties

to choose between court or arbitration where the claim is less than $10,000 , but

states that in the event of any controversy or claim in excess of $10,000, as in

the case here, the controversy or dispute shall be submitted to and settled by

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                                       10
arbitration. Moreover, the section states that the arbitration shall be held in

accordance with the then prevailing commercial arbitration rules of the AAA.

        Furthermore, paragraph fifteen emphasized that judgment upon any award

rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. And,

venue for arbitration was the city closest to the city in which the branch office

of the company which serves the customer is located.

        Unlike the plaintiff in Atalese, neither Foulke nor Domestic PA's

representatives were "an average member of the public."         Ibid. Kopp was

sophisticated enough to serve as Foulke's general manager for three automobile

dealerships since 2001.    Furthermore, Kopp testified that in 2009, he was

personally involved in addressing "consumer complaints that result in

litigation," and "had been involved in several arbitrations with dissatisfied

customers." He testified on behalf of Foulke in other matters in support of

enforcing arbitration clauses, before he executed the agreements at issue in this

case.

        Moreover, Kopp admitted he read paragraph four of the contracts, which

states "[t]he [c]ustomer also warrants that he has read the entire contract, front

and back . . . ." We note this was not "a consumer contract of adhesion where

[one party] . . . possessed superior bargaining power and was the more

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                                       11
sophisticated party in the transaction." Delta Funding Corp. v. Harris, 189 N.J.
28, 40 (2006). Rather, it was a negotiated agreement between sophisticated

business entities where the owners' representatives chose arbitration.

Additionally, Kopp assented to the terms of the contracts upon the

recommendation of Scicili, who negotiated the contracts on behalf of Foulke

with Domestic PA.

      Nonetheless, Foulke incorrectly claims this case resembles Atalese. In

Atalese, a consumer seeking debt relief entered into a contract containing an

arbitration provision which "made no mention that plaintiff waived her right to

seek relief in court." 219 N.J. at 435, 437. The Court held "[t]he absence of any

language in the arbitration provision that plaintiff was waiving her statutory

right to seek relief in a court of law renders the provision unenforceable." Id. at

436. Here, the contracts made clear that Foulke was choosing arbitration for

claims in excess of $10,000 rather than seeking relief in court.

      The Court "emphasize[d] that no prescribed set of words must be included

in an arbitration clause to accomplish a waiver of rights." Id. at 447. "Whatever

words" are chosen, "they must be clear and unambiguous that a consumer is

choosing to arbitrate disputes rather than have them resolved in a court of law."

Ibid. "[T]he parties must know that there is a distinction between resolving a

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dispute in arbitration and in a judicial forum." Id. at 445. Here, the contracts

informed the parties there was a distinction between resolving certain disputes

in arbitration and in court.

      "In Atalese, the Court provided several examples of language sufficient to

meet these expectations." Barr v. Bishop Rosen & Co., 442 N.J. Super. 599,

606 (App. Div. 2015).          The Court noted our Griffin decision "upheld an

arbitration clause, which expressed that '[b]y agreeing to arbitration, the parties

understand and agree that they are waiving their rights to maintain other

available resolution processes, such as a court action or administrative

proceeding, to settle their disputes.'" Atalese, 219 N.J. at 445 (alteration in

original) (quoting Griffin v. Burlington Volkswagen, Inc., 411 N.J. Super. 515,

518 (App. Div. 2010)). Like the arbitration clause approved in Griffin and

Atalese, the arbitration provision here made clear the parties were choosing to

use arbitration to solve their disputes in excess of $10,000 rather than a court

action.

      The Court also cited another example, where the arbitration clause stated,

"the plaintiff agreed 'to waive [her] right to a jury trial,'" id. at 444 (alteration in

original) (citation omitted), and a third example where the arbitration clause

stated: "Instead of suing in court, we each agree to settle disputes . . . only by

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                                         13
arbitration," where "[t]here's no judge or jury." Id. at 445 (citation omitted).

The Court stated an arbitration "clause, at least in some general and sufficiently

broad way, must explain that the plaintiff is giving up her right to bring her

claims in court or have a jury resolve the dispute." Id. at 447.

      Foulke relies on this last phrase and argues that mutual assent requires

that the parties have full knowledge of the terms they agreed upon. Here, the

arbitration clause amply notifies the parties that their claims are arbitrable if the

amount in dispute exceeds $10,000.           Moreover, the Court approved both

Griffin's reference to the right to bring claims in court and other examples

referring to the right to have a jury. Id. at 444-46. The Court stated Griffin and

the other examples "show that, without difficulty and in different ways, the point

can be made that by choosing arbitration one gives up the 'time-honored right to

sue.'" Id. at 445.

      Atalese simply requires a contract "to explain in some minimal way that

arbitration is a substitute for a consumer's right to pursue relief in a court of law

. . . ." Morgan v. Sanford Brown Inst., 225 N.J. 289, 294 (2016). In Morgan,

the plaintiffs—students—complained "they did not know that the arbitration

provision denied them their right of access to a judicial forum and to a jury trial."

Id. at 300-01. The Court noted the provision did not "explain that arbitration is

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                                        14
a substitute for bringing a claim before a court or jury." Id. at 306. The Court

reiterated that "[n]o magical language is required to accomplish a waiver of

rights in an arbitration agreement" and again cited the arbitration clause in

Griffin, which did not mention a jury. Id. at 309.

      Thus, we reject Foulke's claim that the contracts' arbitration clause cannot

be enforced because it did not also advise about a right to a jury trial. Neither

Foulke nor Domestic PA claims to be ignorant that waiver of the right to seek

relief in court would waive the component right to a jury, and they are not

consumers.

      We are satisfied that the arbitration provision here dictated it would be

conducted under a specified set of rules, namely the AAA, which sophisticated

parties, such as Foulke and Domestic PA, could consult if needed. Foulke

argues its sophistication must be construed under Garfinkel v. Morristown

Obstetrics Gynecology Assocs., P.A., 168 N.J. 124 (2001). Foulke's argument

is misplaced. In Garfinkel, the Court ruled a statutory claim was not waived by

an arbitration clause because it was "silent in respect of plaintiff 's statutory

remedies." 168 N.J. at 135. The Court found the clause's failure to encompass

the claim was not offset by plaintiff being a doctor. "Irrespective of plaintiff 's

status or the quality of his counsel, the Court must be convinced that he actually

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                                       15
intended to waive his statutory rights. An unambiguous writing is essential to

such a determination." Id. at 136.

      Here, unlike Garfinkel, the arbitration provision was not inadequate or

unconscionable because it clearly informed the parties they waived litigation in

court for disputes exceeding $10,000 in favor of arbitration. In determining

whether Foulke and Domestic PA understood their choice, it was obviously

relevant to the trial judge that they were sophisticated.

      Foulke also contends Domestic PA did not give proper notice of its

intention to enforce arbitration of all claims because the arbitration clause was

hidden and not conspicuous. However, Kopp admitted reading the front page of

the contract, which states that he read the entire contract, front and back. Thus,

we are unpersuaded by Foulke's argument that there "is no warning on the front

of the document" about the arbitration clause printed on the reverse side. The

trial judge also found Kopp signed the contracts outside the presence of

Domestic PA's representative. Hence, we discern no fraudulent inducement as

alleged by Foulke.

      Likewise, Foulke's claim that it did not have the opportunity to have

counsel review the agreement is entirely without merit. Nothing in the record

suggests Foulke or its representatives were under duress to sign the contracts or

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were dissuaded from having legal representation prior to executing the contracts.

We note that Foulke and its current attorney have repeatedly sought to enforce

Foulke's own arbitration agreements over the past decades. 2 Thus, Foulke was

no stranger to contracts or arbitration agreements. For these reasons, we affirm

the trial judge's decision to compel arbitration.

                                        III.

      Next, Foulke argues that the trial judge erred in allowing parol evidence

to reform the terms of the contract to apply to Domestic PA. In support of its

argument, Foulke asserts the contracts identify defendant as, "Domestic Linen

Supply Co., Inc. D/B/A Domestic Uniform Rental" and since Domestic NJ is

registered to Domestic Linen Supply Co., Inc. in New Jersey, Domestic NJ must

be the proper party to the contracts. We reject Foulke's argument.

      The record shows that Domestic PA was registered to conduct business in

Pennsylvania under the name, "Domestic Uniform Rental." In its contracts with

Foulke, Domestic PA used its properly registered name, "Domestic Linen

Supply Co., Inc. D/B/A Domestic Uniform Rental."

2
  Corchado v. Foulke Mgmt. Corp., No. 15-6600, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21457
(D.N.J. Feb. 14, 2017).
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      N.J.S.A. 14A:2-2.1 governs alternate names of corporations in New

Jersey. The statue provides that, "[a]ny corporation may adopt and use any

alternate name, including any which would be unavailable as the name of a

domestic or foreign corporation because of the prohibitions of paragraph 14A:2 -

2(1)(b),… by filing a certificate of registration of a corporate alternate name

with the Secretary of State executed on behalf of the corporation." N.J.S.A.

14A:2-2.1(2).

      Additionally, the registration of an alternate name does not grant the

registrant exclusive rights to use the alternate name, as argued by Foulke:

            (4) Nothing in this section [governing alternate name
            registrations] shall be construed

            (a) To grant to the registrant of an alternate name any
            right in the name as against any prior or subsequent user
            of the name, regardless of whether used as a trademark,
            trade name, business name, or corporate name; or

            (b) To interfere with the power of any court to enjoin
            the use of any such name on the basis of the law of
            unfair competition or on any other basis except the
            mere fact of identity or similarity of the alternate name
            to any other corporate name.

            [N.J.S.A. 14A:2-2.1(4)].

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      We discern nothing untoward about the use of "Domestic Uniform Rental"

in New Jersey, and the trial judge correctly concluded that Domestic PA was the

proper party to the contracts.

      Foulke argues the trial judge erred by going beyond the four corners of

the contracts and admitting parol evidence at the hearing relative to the parties '

course of conduct after the contracts were executed to reform them to reflect

Domestic PA as the proper party. At the hearing, Kopp testified that he intended

to contract with a New Jersey company. Messineo, Domestic PA's former

employee who signed the contracts on its behalf, testified about the

circumstances surrounding the signing of the contracts.

      The parol evidence rule is a rule of substantive law and is not a rule of

evidence. Conway v. 287 Corp. Ctr. Assocs., 187 N.J. 259, 268 (2006). "In

general, the parol evidence rule prohibits the introduction of evidence that tends

to alter an integrated written document." Ibid.; see Restatement (Second) of

Contracts § 213 (Am. Law Inst. 1981). Our Supreme Court, however, has

adopted the "expansive view of the parol evidence rule, which was adopted in

the Second Restatement of Contracts," Conway, 187 N.J. at 268-69, that permits

            a broad use of extrinsic evidence to achieve the ultimate
            goal of discovering the intent of the parties. Extrinsic
            evidence may be used to uncover the true meaning of
            contractual terms. It is only after the meaning of the

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            contract is discerned that the parol evidence rule comes
            into play to prohibit the introduction of extrinsic
            evidence to vary the terms of the contract.

            [Id. at 270.]

      "Where the parties have made [a] writing the sole repository of their

bargain, there is the integration which precludes evidence of antecedent

understandings and negotiations to vary or contradict the writing. This is in

essence the 'parol evidence rule' . . . ." Atl. N. Airlines, Inc. v. Schwimmer, 12
N.J. 293, 303 (1953); see also Filmlife, Inc. v. Mal "Z" Ena, Inc., 251 N.J. Super.
570, 573 (App. Div. 1991).

      A determination as to whether a contract is integrated is based upon "the

conduct and language of the parties and the surrounding circumstances. The

document alone will not suffice."      Schwimmer, 12 N.J. at 304 (quoting 9

Wigmore on Evidence, §§ 2413, 2430, 2431 (Chadbourn rev. 1981)). Whether

there is an integrated agreement between the parties, however, is an issue the

court must decide "preliminary to determination of . . . [the] application of the

parol evidence rule." Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 209. Where the court

determines there is only partial integration of an agreement in a written contract,

a court can properly consider the parol evidence to determine the complete terms

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of the agreement. Zone Co. v. Serv. Transp. Co., 137 N.J.L. 112, 118-19 (Sup.

Ct. 1948); Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 210.

      Here, the trial judge did not rely upon parol evidence to alter an integrated

document. See Conway, 187 N.J. at 268. Instead, the judge relied upon the

testimony of the witnesses, Domestic PA's Pennsylvania corporate registration

and fictitious name registration, invoices, payments, and other items to identify

the party with whom Foulke contracted. Based upon our review of the record,

we are satisfied there was substantial credible evidence supporting the trial

judge's conclusion that Domestic PA was the party to the contracts with Foulke.

                                       IV.

      Finally, we address Foulke's argument that the trial judge abused his

discretion by allowing Messineo and George Chumas, the general manager for

Domestic NJ, to testify on thirty-eight hours prior notice to Foulke. In its brief,

Foulke claims it was "surprised" by Domestic PA's failure to name these two

witnesses in discovery.

      Messineo negotiated and signed the contracts for Domestic PA.            The

record shows Foulke knew about Messineo since 2010, but it did not subpoena

him. Foulke's attorney did not depose Chumas, however, he did not have any

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factual knowledge concerning the contracts at issue because Domestic Linen NJ

was not a party to the contract.

      The trial court's decision to hear relevant testimony is entitled to

deference, in the interest of its factfinding at the hearing. Haven Sav. Bank v.

Zanolini, 416 N.J. Super. 151, 161-62 (App. Div. 2010). We discern no abuse

of discretion by the trial judge in permitting Messineo and Chumas to testify.

Messineo's signature appears on the agreement with the title of "Regional Sales

Manager" printed underneath.

      Clearly, Foulke had actual notice of Messineo's identity and role in this

matter since the agreement was signed on March 30, 2010. Foulke's claim that

it was taken by "surprise" by his testimony is devoid of merit. Chumas had no

knowledge of the issues pertinent to the judge's decision. Therefore, we discern

no prejudice to Foulke.

      Any arguments asserted by Foulke that we have not expressly addressed

lack sufficient merit to warrant discussion in a written opinion.      R. 2:11-

3(e)(1)(E).

      Affirmed.

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