Court Opinion

ID: 4365814
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-02-08 01:39:20.533864+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:48:28.413967
License: Public Domain

NO. 12-18-00256-CV

                           IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

               TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT

                                       TYLER, TEXAS

 FIRST AVENUE, INC., D/B/A                        §      APPEAL FROM THE 7TH
 HIGHLAND COMMERCIAL
 ROOFING CO.,
 APPELLANT
                                                  §      JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
 V.

 JKS-TYLER 1044, LLC,
 APPELLEE                                         §      SMITH COUNTY, TEXAS

                                      MEMORANDUM OPINION
        First Avenue, Inc. d/b/a Highland Commercial Roofing Co. filed this interlocutory appeal
following the trial court’s denial of its motion to compel arbitration against JKS-Tyler 1044, LLC.
In one issue, Highland argues that the trial court abused its discretion in denying the motion to
compel arbitration. We affirm.

                                          BACKGROUND
        JKS entered into a contract with Highland to install a water proof membrane over an
existing roof on a commercial building it owned in Tyler, Texas. Pursuant to the contract,
Highland warranted that the roof would be leak free for fifteen years. The contract also contained
an arbitration agreement and a clause setting forth that the governing law for any disputes would
be that of the state of California.
        Within five years of its installation, the roof developed a leak. JKS contacted Highland
and asked it to honor the warranty on the membrane. Highland refused, arguing that a third party
hired to maintain climate control units on the roof (the HVAC contractor) improperly maintained
the units, which caused the membrane to be damaged, resulting in the leak.
         JKS initiated the arbitration process in California, but later filed the underlying lawsuit
against Highland and others. Highland moved to compel arbitration, and JKS responded that the
case should be tried in Smith County, Texas, pursuant to Section 1281.2(c) of the California
Arbitration Act. The trial court denied Highland’s motion to compel, and this interlocutory appeal
followed. 1

                             DENIAL OF MOTION TO COMPEL ARBITRATION
         In its sole issue, Highland argues that the trial court abused its discretion in denying its
motion to compel arbitration because JKS failed to meet its burden of proof under Section
1281.2(c).
Standard of Review
         We review a trial court’s order denying a motion to compel arbitration for abuse of
discretion. Henry v. Cash Biz, LP, 551 S.W.3d 111, 115 (Tex. 2018); In re Labatt Food Serv.,
L.P., 279 S.W.3d 640, 642–43 (Tex. 2009). 2 We defer to the trial court’s factual determinations
if they are supported by evidence but review its legal determinations de novo. Henry, 551 S.W.3d
at 115. Whether the claims in dispute fall within the scope of a valid arbitration agreement and
whether a party waived its right to arbitrate are questions of law, which are reviewed de novo. Id.;
Perry Homes v. Cull, 258 S.W.3d 580, 598 & n.102 (Tex. 2008). Where, as in the instant case,
the trial court did not make findings of fact or conclusions of law, we must uphold the trial court’s
decision if it is supported by any legal theory asserted. See Shamrock Foods Co. v. Munn &
Assocs. Ltd., 392 S.W.3d 839, 844 (Tex. App.–Texarkana 2013, no pet.).
Governing Law
         In applying a contractual choice-of-law provision, Texas courts apply the substantive law
of the choice-of-law provision but apply Texas law to matters of remedy and procedure.
CMA-CGM (America), Inc. v. Empire Truck Lines, Inc., 416 S.W.3d 495, 507 (Tex. App.–
Houston [1st Dist.] 2013, no pet.). Here, the parties agree that, as a result of the forum selection

       1
         See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 171.098(a)(1) (West 2011); Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s of
London v. Celebrity, Inc., 988 S.W.2d 731, 732 (Tex. 1998).
         2
           In applying a contractual choice-of-law provision, Texas courts apply the substantive law of the choice-of-
law provision but apply Texas law to matters of remedy and procedure, such as standards of review. See McAfee,
Inc. v. Agilysys, Inc., 316 S.W.3d 820, 824 (Tex. App.–Dallas 2010, no pet.)

                                                          2
clause in their contract, California state law applies to the trial court’s determination on Highland’s
motion to compel arbitration.
       Section 1281.2 of the California Arbitration Act provides, in pertinent part, as follows:

               On petition of a party to an arbitration agreement alleging the existence of a written
       agreement to arbitrate a controversy and that a party to the agreement refuses to arbitrate that
       controversy, the court shall order the petitioner and the respondent to arbitrate the controversy if it
       determines that an agreement to arbitrate the controversy exists, unless it determines that:

                  ....

                 (c) A party to the arbitration agreement is also a party to a pending court action . . . with a
       third party, arising out of the same transaction or series of related transactions and there is a
       possibility of conflicting rulings on a common issue of law or fact. For purposes of this section, a
       pending court action or special proceeding includes an action or proceeding initiated by the party
       refusing to arbitrate after the petition to compel arbitration has been filed, but on or before the date
       of the hearing on the petition. [3]

CAL. CIV. PROC. CODE § 1281(c) (West, Westlaw through 2018 Reg. Sess.). Thus, JKS was
required to prove that (1) it was a party to a pending court action with a third party, (2) the court
action arose out of the same transaction or series of related transactions as the dispute upon which
arbitration is sought, and (3) there is a possibility of conflicting rulings on a common issue of fact
or law between the pending court action and the dispute, were it to proceed to arbitration. See id.
Analysis
       At oral argument of this cause, Highland stated that the focus of our inquiry should be on
the third element of Section 1281.2(c). We agree.
       It is uncontested that this appeal arises from a pending court action involving JKS,
Highland, and other third parties.              Moreover, the underlying matter arises from the same
transaction as the dispute on which Highland seeks to compel arbitration, i.e., the alleged failure
of the roofing system. Indeed, in its motion to compel, Highland states that “[b]oth the California
arbitration and [the underlying] lawsuit in Texas involve the alleged failure of the same roofing
system” and, “[i]n both actions, . . . JKS seeks the same recovery for a variety of alleged contract
and construction deficiencies under theories of negligence, breach of contract[,] and breach of
warranty.” See Merch v. PHH Mortg. Corp., No. 12-12-00261-CV, 2013 WL 5593493, at *2
(Tex. App.–Tyler Oct. 9, 2013, no pet.) (mem. op.) (assertions of fact, not pleaded in alternative,

       3
           While JKS initiated arbitration proceedings, the record reflects that arbitration has not yet occurred.

                                                           3
in party’s live pleadings of party regarded as formal judicial admissions, are conclusively
established, are binding on party, and are “taken as true” by court). Highland further sets forth in
its motion to compel that the underlying proceedings “involve the same project, the same alleged
roofing defect, and the same damages as those set forth by JKS” in its arbitration demand against
Highland. See id.
       Thus, we consider whether JKS met its burden of proof regarding whether there is a
possibility of conflicting rulings on a common issue of fact or law between the underlying action
and the dispute, were it to proceed to arbitration. We first note that Highland stated in its motion
to compel arbitration that “a ruling in [the underlying] litigation would have a critical impact on
the matters subject to arbitration.” See id. It is not difficult for us to divine a scenario in which
the dispute between JKS and Highland proceeds to arbitration and the arbitrator determines that a
third party, such as the HVAC contractor as Highland averred, is liable for the damage to the
membrane.     Continuing under this hypothetical situation, it is possible that the trial court,
meanwhile, could determine that none of the third parties are liable for the damage to the
membrane. Thus, we conclude that there is a possibility of conflicting rulings on a common issue
of fact or law between the pending court action and the dispute subject to arbitration. See CAL.
CIV. PROC. CODE § 1281.2(c).
       Highland further argues that the trial court’s order did not comport with one of the four
appropriate rulings listed in Section 1281.2 when a court determines that the elements of
Subsection (c) have been proven. We disagree. If the court determines that a party to the
arbitration is also a party to litigation in a pending court action or special proceeding with a third
party as set forth under subdivision (c), the court may refuse to enforce the arbitration agreement
and may order the intervention or joinder of all parties in a single action. See id. § 1281.2. Here,
in overruling Highland’s motion to compel, the trial court refused to enforce the arbitration
agreement. At oral argument of this matter, JKS’s attorney represented to this court that all
necessary parties have been joined in the underlying suit. Highland did not dispute this assertion.
Thus, we conclude that the trial court’s order complies with Section 1281.2
       Based on the foregoing, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by
overruling Highland’s motion to compel. Highland’s sole issue is overruled.

                                                  4
                                                  DISPOSITION
         Having overruled Highland’s sole issue, we affirm the trial court’s order.

                                                                JAMES T. WORTHEN
                                                                   Chief Justice

Opinion delivered February 6, 2019.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.

                                                   (PUBLISH)

                                                          5
                                    COURT OF APPEALS

      TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                            JUDGMENT

                                           FEBRUARY 6, 2019

                                          NO. 12-18-00256-CV

       FIRST AVENUE, INC., D/B/A HIGHLAND COMMERCIAL ROOFING CO.,
                                   Appellant
                                      V.
                             JKS-TYLER 1044, LLC,
                                    Appellee

                                    Appeal from the 7th District Court
                           of Smith County, Texas (Tr.Ct.No. 17-2116-A)

                        THIS CAUSE came to be heard on the oral arguments, appellate record and
briefs filed herein, and the same being considered, it is the opinion of this court that there was no
error in the trial court’s order.
                        It is therefore ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED that the order of
the court below be in all things affirmed, and that all costs of this appeal are hereby adjudged
against the Appellant, FIRST AVENUE, INC., D/B/A HIGHLAND COMMERCIAL
ROOFING CO., for which execution may issue, and that this decision be certified to the court
below for observance.
                     James T. Worthen, Chief Justice.
                     Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.