Court Opinion

ID: 9349489
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-12-22 03:11:24.167647+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:46:36.700981
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF GUAM

                                     PAUL A. PEREZ,
                                      Plaintiff-Appellant,

                                              v.

                       MONKEYPOD ENTERPRISES, LLC
                          and BRYAN C. DUENAS,
                                     Defendants-Appellees.

                            Supreme Court Case No. CVA21-008
                            Superior Court Case No. CV0413-21

                                         OPINION

                                 Cite as: 2022 Guam 12

                          Appeal from the Superior Court of Guam
                          Argued and submitted on August 10, 2022
                                Via Zoom video conference

Appearing for Plaintiff-Appellant:                 Appearing for Defendants-Appellees:
Carlos L. Taitano, Esq.                            Joshua D. Walsh, Esq.
Taitano & Taitano LLP                              Razzano Walsh & Torres, P.C.
P.O. Box 326204                                    139 Murray Blvd., Ste. 100
Hagåtña, GU 96932                                  Hagåtña, GU 96910
Perez v. Monkeypod Enters., 2022 Guam 12, Opinion                                       Page 2 of 15

BEFORE: F. PHILIP CARBULLIDO, Chief Justice; KATHERINE A. MARAMAN, Associate
Justice; and JOHN A. MANGLONA, Justice Pro Tempore.

CARBULLIDO, C.J.:

[1]       Plaintiff-Appellant Paul A. Perez appeals an Order After Hearing by the Superior Court

which stayed the case pending mediation. The Superior Court held the mediation was required by

contract between the parties. Perez asserts the Superior Court abused its discretion because the

parties were not contractually obligated to mediate this dispute. We disagree with Perez and

affirm.

                      I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

[2]       This appeal comes before this court early in the litigation below; no Answer has yet been

filed to Perez’s Complaint. The following facts derive from the limited record before us and appear

uncontested by the parties.

[3]       Defendant-Appellee Monkeypod Enterprises, LLC (“Monkeypod”) is a Limited Liability

Company (“LLC”) organized under the laws of Guam. Monkeypod operates under the “Amended

Operating Agreement of Monkeypod Enterprises, LLC” (“Agreement”). The Agreement was

signed by both Perez and Defendant-Appellee Bryan C. Duenas in February 2016 and was

thereafter recorded by the Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation.

[4]       The Agreement contemplates two roles within Monkeypod: “members” and a “manager.”

Record on Appeal (“RA”), tab 9 (Decl. Duenas Supp. Mot. Dismiss, June 14, 2021), Ex. A at 3-6

(Am. Operating Agreement, Feb. 12, 2016). Members have certain rights under the Agreement;

as relevant here, members have the right to “inspect any and all records maintained by the LLC

upon reasonable notice to the LLC.” Id. at 11. The Agreement lists two members—Perez and

Duenas—and states that Perez and Duenas each hold a 50% membership interest in Monkeypod.
Perez v. Monkeypod Enters., 2022 Guam 12, Opinion                                                     Page 3 of 15

[5]     The Agreement also contemplates the role of a manager. The manager of Monkeypod is

“elected by a majority of the interest of the members qualified to vote,” and is “authorized to

conduct activities as he determines to be necessary to carry out the organization and operation of

the LLC.” Id. at 2. The Agreement installs Duenas as the initial manager of Monkeypod, and the

parties agree Duenas is still the manager today, e.g., Appellant’s Br. at 6-7 (May 10, 2022);

Appellee’s Br. at 3 (June 23, 2022).

[6]     In May 2021, Perez filed a Complaint in the Superior Court of Guam against Monkeypod

and Duenas, alleging a violation of the “Guam Limited Liability Company Act.” RA, tab 1 at 6

(Compl., May 24, 2021). Perez alleged he made a request to Monkeypod, through Duenas, to

inspect or copy certain corporate records. In response, Duenas allegedly delivered some requested

records to Perez, and then denied Perez access to the corporate premises to inspect the remaining

records. Perez’s lawsuit asks the court to order Monkeypod and Duenas to permit Perez’s

inspection and to award Perez fees and costs incurred in the litigation.

[7]     In response, Monkeypod filed a Motion to Dismiss under Guam Rule of Civil Procedure

(“GRCP”) 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6), arguing Perez’s Complaint was not yet viable because Perez had

not complied with the mandatory alternative dispute resolution provision contained in the

Agreement. The relevant portion of that provision, found at Section VIII(4), provides:

        In any dispute over the provisions of this operating agreement and in other disputes
        among the members, if the members cannot resolve the dispute to their mutual
        satisfaction, the matter shall be submitted to mediation. The terms and procedure
        for mediation shall be arranged by the parties to the dispute.

RA, tab 9 (Decl. Duenas Supp. Mot. Dismiss), Ex. A at 11 (Am. Operating Agreement) (hereafter,

“Mediation Provision”).1 Monkeypod and Duenas argued that the Complaint alleged a “dispute

        1
             After discussing mediation, Section VIII(4) provides that arbitration “may” proceed “[i]f good-faith
mediation of a dispute proves impossible or if an agreed-upon mediation outcome cannot be obtained by the members
. . . .” RA, tab 9 (Decl. Duenas Supp. Mot. Dismiss, June 14, 2021), Ex. A at 11 (Am. Operating Agreement, Feb. 12,
Perez v. Monkeypod Enters., 2022 Guam 12, Opinion                                                          Page 4 of 15

among the members” of Monkeypod, mandating alternative dispute resolution before litigation;

accordingly, Monkeypod and Duenas argued that the Superior Court lacked jurisdiction to hear

the case at this time. RA, tab 11 at 2-3 (Mot. Dismiss, June 14, 2021). Monkeypod and Duenas

primarily sought dismissal of the Complaint, but they also argued in the alternative for the case to

be “stayed and referred to mediation.” Id. at 3-4. In response, Perez argued that the alternative

dispute resolution provisions of the Agreements did not apply because his Complaint did not allege

a dispute “among the members” of Monkeypod. RA, tab 14 at 2-4 (Mem. P. & A. Opp’n Mot.

Dismiss, July 12, 2021). Instead, Perez argued his Complaint alleged a dispute “between any

member and any Manager,” which, in his view, is beyond both the express language of the

alternative dispute resolution provisions and Perez’s contractual intent when he agreed to the

provision. Id. at 8.

[8]      The Superior Court held a hearing on the motion in August 2021 and then issued the Order

After Hearing which gave rise to this appeal. The Superior Court first found that Perez and Duenas

are the “sole two members” of Monkeypod. RA, tab 18 at 1 (Order After Hr’g, Aug. 17, 2021).

The Superior Court then held that “because Perez has filed a dispute concerning the business of

Monkeypod, such dispute qualifies as a ‘dispute among the members’ under the Agreement,

thereby activating the mandatory mediation requirement.” Id. at 2. The Superior Court did not

dismiss the case, but it granted the alternative relief sought: the court stayed the case “to allow the

parties to satisfy their contractual agreement to mediate the present dispute.” Id.2

2016). The applicability of the arbitration provision is not before the court at this time. The Superior Court explicitly
reserved its ruling on “whether arbitration is mandatory should mediation be unsuccessful,” RA, tab 18 at 2 (Order
After Hr’g., Aug. 17, 2021), and we decline to address the issue of arbitration in the first instance.
         2
           At the hearing, the Superior Court clarified that it was not “ordering mediation,” but was instead staying
the case to allow the mediation to occur as required by contract. Transcript (“Tr.”) at 18-19 (Mot. Hr’g, Aug. 13,
2021).
Perez v. Monkeypod Enters., 2022 Guam 12, Opinion                                          Page 5 of 15

[9]     Perez then filed a petition for permission to file an interlocutory appeal in this court. Perez

sought review of the Superior Court’s interpretation and application of the alternative dispute

resolution provisions of the Agreement. We granted the petition, first finding jurisdiction because

the Superior Court’s stay was tantamount to an injunction, which is immediately appealable under

7 GCA § 25102(f), and further holding the issue was appropriate for interlocutory review under 7

GCA § 3108(b) because it addressed a pure question of law. Order at 4-5 (Feb. 8, 2022).

                                         II. JURISDICTION

[10]    We have jurisdiction to entertain this interlocutory appeal. See Order at 5 (Feb. 8, 2022);

see also 48 U.S.C.A. § 1424-1(a)(2) (Westlaw through Pub. L. 117-228 (2022)); 7 GCA §§

3107(a), 3108(b) (2005).       Interpreting a contractual provision governing alternative dispute

resolution “is proper for interlocutory review because such review will ‘clarify further

proceedings’ and ‘[c]larify issues of general importance in the administration of justice.’” Guam

YTK Corp. v. Port Auth. of Guam, 2014 Guam 7 ¶ 15 [hereinafter “YTK I”] (alteration in original)

(quoting Brown v. Dillingham Constr. Pac. Basin Ltd., 2003 Guam 2 ¶ 12); see also Order (Feb.

8, 2022).

                                  III. STANDARD OF REVIEW

[11]    “The standard of review in an interlocutory appeal generally is whether the . . . [trial] court

abused its discretion in granting or denying the requested relief.” YTK I, 2014 Guam 7 ¶ 16

(alterations in original) (quoting Brown, 2003 Guam 2 ¶ 6).

[12]    In granting this appeal, we likened the Superior Court’s stay of the proceedings to a grant

of injunction. See Order at 5 (Feb. 8, 2022). We review the grant of a preliminary injunction for

abuse of discretion. Gov’t of Guam v. Gutierrez ex rel. Estate of Torres, 2015 Guam 8 ¶ 12 (citing

Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp. v. Kallingal, 2005 Guam 13 ¶ 17). However, “[i]ssues of
Perez v. Monkeypod Enters., 2022 Guam 12, Opinion                                                      Page 6 of 15

law that underlie the grant of an injunction are reviewed de novo . . . .” Id. The underlying issue

of law—whether the Superior Court erred in its interpretation of the mediation provision—

involves contractual interpretation, which we perform de novo. YTK I, 2014 Guam 7 ¶ 18 (citing

Guam Hous. & Urban Renewal Auth. v. Pac. Superior Enters. Corp., 2004 Guam 22 ¶ 29

[hereinafter “GHURA”]. Further, we have held that “a trial court’s decision regarding the scope

of an arbitration clause is . . . reviewed de novo,” id., and as this opinion shall explain, a trial

court’s decision about the scope of a mediation provision is also reviewed de novo.

                                                  IV. ANALYSIS

[13]    Perez ostensibly presents one issue on appeal, although that one issue implicates separate

analyses.3 As in the Superior Court, Perez argues his Complaint does not present a dispute “among

the members” of Monkeypod, but rather a dispute “between any member and any manager” of

Monkeypod; in his view, the latter is not “among the members” of Monkeypod and does not trigger

mandatory mediation. Appellant’s Br. at 9-12. Perez argues the Superior Court made an error of

law and abused its discretion by staying the underlying case based on its misinterpretation of the

Mediation Provision. Id. at 12. We must decide two issues: first, whether the Superior Court erred

in interpreting the Mediation Provision to apply to the Complaint, and second, whether the

Superior Court erred by staying the underlying litigation.

        3
            Perez phrases his issue as follows:
                 Whether the Superior Court made an error of law or abused its discretion by staying the
        underlying case pending mediation, which the Appellant never agreed to, pursuant to the Order
        After Hearing, when the Superior Court misinterpreted the clause of the Amended Operating
        Agreement of Monkeypod Enterprises, LLC as requiring mediation “among the members” where
        the dispute, as averred in the Complaint for Inspection of Books and Records, is between Mr. Perez,
        who is a member, and the Defendant-Appellee, Bryan C. Duenas . . . solely in his capacity as the
        “Manager,” of the Defendant-Appellee, Monkeypod Enterprises, LLC . . . .
Appellant’s Br. at 2 (May 10, 2022).
Perez v. Monkeypod Enters., 2022 Guam 12, Opinion                                                            Page 7 of 15

A. The Superior Court Did Not Err in Concluding the Agreement Requires Mediation of
   this Dispute

[14]     The Mediation Provision of the Agreement provides: “In any dispute over the provisions

of this operating agreement and in other disputes among the members, if the members cannot

resolve the dispute to their mutual satisfaction, the matter shall be submitted to mediation.” RA,

tab 9 (Decl. Duenas Supp. Mot. Dismiss), Ex. A at 11 (Am. Operating Agreement). The parties

have largely confined their argument to whether Perez’s claim presents a “dispute among the

members” of Monkeypod, but we first note the claim also appears to present a “dispute over the

provisions of [the] operating agreement.”                 Id.    Section VIII(2) of the Agreement requires

Monkeypod to keep certain business records and grants its members the right to “inspect any and

all records maintained by the LLC.” Id. Perez’s right to inspect Monkeypod’s records is at least

partially grounded in the Agreement,4 and Perez alleged the substance of Section VIII(2) in

paragraphs 9 and 10 of his Complaint.

[15]     Because Perez’s Complaint is based in part on his contractual right to inspect under the

Agreement, the Complaint presents a “dispute over the provisions” of the Agreement. Courts

typically hold that “generic” alternative dispute resolution clauses—i.e., those triggered by

disputes “arising out of” or “related to” an operating agreement—should be construed broadly in

favor of alternative dispute resolution. See, e.g., Bass v. SMG, Inc., 765 N.E.2d 1079, 1085 (Ill.

App. Ct. 2002) (“[T]he parties are obligated to arbitrate any dispute that arguably arises under an

agreement containing a ‘generic’ provision.”); David Terry Invs., LLC-PRC v. Headwaters Dev.

         4
           Although Perez’s claim is also based in part on an alleged violation of the Guam Limited Liability Company
Act, a parallel statutory basis for a contractual claim does not “trump[] the contract and . . . nullif[y] the existence of
the arbitrable issue.” Alexander v. Minton, 855 So. 2d 94, 96 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2003). In other words, Perez’s
choice to ground his claim partially in a statutory violation is not dispositive as to whether the contractual agreement
to mediate is applicable. As the Minton court noted, to hold otherwise, i.e., to allow a plaintiff to artfully plead around
a valid alternative dispute resolution provision, would “abrogate th[e] public policy” favoring the enforcement of
alternative dispute resolution. Id.; see also YTK I, 2014 Guam 7 ¶ 24 (recognizing similar policy in Guam).
Perez v. Monkeypod Enters., 2022 Guam 12, Opinion                                       Page 8 of 15

Grp. Ltd. Liab. Co., 463 P.3d 117, 122-23 (Wash. Ct. App. 2020) (applying broad construction to

arbitration provision triggered by a “dispute ‘over this Agreement’”); see also PRM Energy Sys.,

Inc. v. Primenergy, L.L.C., 592 F.3d 830, 836-37 (8th Cir. 2010) (collecting federal circuit cases

reaching the same conclusion).

[16]    The “dispute over the provisions” language here is similarly “generic” and should therefore

also be interpreted broadly. Had the parties intended to exclude disputes of this nature from

mandatory mediation, they could have limited the scope of the Mediation Provision. But they did

not; the provision is written broadly and so must be interpreted broadly as well. Cf. Cnty. of Haw.

v. UNIDEV, LLC, 301 P.3d 588, 606 (Haw. 2013) (“The failure of the parties to unambiguously

limit the arbitrability of disputes suggests that they intended a longer reach for the arbitration

clauses.”); Sweet Dreams Unlimited, Inc. v. Dial-a-Mattress Int’l, Ltd., 1 F.3d 639, 643 (7th Cir.

1993) (similar). We hold that this dispute presents a “dispute over the provisions” of the

Agreement and is subject to mediation. While we could resolve the case solely on this basis, we

elect to engage with the parties’ primary arguments and analyze the “disputes among the members”

phrase in the Mediation Provision as well.

[17]    An arbitration agreement is a matter of contract. See Ass’n of Apartment Owners of Guam

Yamanoi Condo. v. Guam Yamanoi Inc., 2019 Guam 14 ¶¶ 13-14; Guam YTK Corp. v. Port Auth.

of Guam, 2019 Guam 12 ¶ 22 [hereinafter “YTK II”]; YTK I, 2014 Guam 7 ¶ 22; Gov’t of Guam v.

Pacificare Health Ins. Co. of Micr., Inc., 2004 Guam 17 ¶ 24; Brown, 2003 Guam 2 ¶ 16. We now

clarify that mediation agreements, like arbitration agreements, are also matters of contract. See,

e.g., Fisher v. GE Med. Sys., 276 F. Supp. 2d 891, 894 (M.D. Tenn. 2003) (“Principles of state

contract law determine whether a binding arbitration, or mediation, agreement exists.”); Tattoo

Art, Inc. v. Tat Int’l, LLC, 711 F. Supp. 2d 645, 650 (E.D. Va. 2010) (“[T]he mediation provision
Perez v. Monkeypod Enters., 2022 Guam 12, Opinion                                         Page 9 of 15

must be interpreted in accordance with [state] contract principles.”); Wark v. Zucker, 2021 VT 37,

¶ 12, 214 Vt. 605, 256 A.3d 55 (“[T]o determine whether a mediation clause is enforceable, we

look to contract law.”); Kirsch v. Kirsch, 933 So. 2d 623, 626 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2006) (“The

interpretation of [mediation] agreements is subject to contract law principles.”); see also 7 GCA §

43A103 (2005) (“An agreement in a writing to settle a controversy by mediation shall be valid,

irrevocable, and enforceable, save upon such grounds as exist at law or in equity for the revocation

of any contract.”).

[18]    We therefore interpret a mediation agreement, like an arbitration agreement, under

“ordinary state-law principles that govern the formation of contracts.” YTK I, 2014 Guam 7 ¶ 22

(quoting GHURA, 2004 Guam 22 ¶ 30). Guam follows the “‘plain meaning’ or traditional

approach” to contractual interpretation. Wasson v. Berg, 2007 Guam 16 ¶ 17. Under this approach,

we “discern and give legal effect to the intent of the parties at the time of contracting” by

“generally, and whenever possible” restricting our analysis to the plain meaning of the contract

terms. Id. ¶ 10; see also 18 GCA § 87105 (2005) (“When a contract is reduced to writing, the

intention of the parties is to be ascertained from the writing alone, if possible . . . .”). Further,

“[t]he whole of a contract is to be taken together, so as to give effect to every part, if reasonably

practicable, each clause helping to interpret the other.” 18 GCA § 87107 (2005).

[19]    We pause here to reject Perez’s argument that our review must be deferential to his

pleading choices. Perez cites Ukau v. Wang, 2016 Guam 26 ¶ 51, to suggest this court should

decide the meaning of the phrase “dispute among the members” while “construing the complaint

in the light most favorable to Mr. Perez, and resolving all doubts in [his] favor.” Appellant’s Br.

at 12. We disagree; Ukau does not apply here and does not compel a deferential review. The

Ukau standard affords deference when deciding whether the trial court erred in granting a motion
Perez v. Monkeypod Enters., 2022 Guam 12, Opinion                                        Page 10 of 15

to dismiss. 2016 Guam 26 ¶ 51. In that analysis, we assume the facts alleged are true so we can

focus on the separate question of whether these facts are sufficient to create a viable legal claim.

That is not the circumstance here. The Superior Court did not grant Monkeypod’s Motion to

Dismiss and did not hold that Perez failed to state a cognizable legal claim. Instead, the Superior

Court held that Perez had not satisfied a contractual obligation and stayed the matter. Thus, the

question on appeal is whether the Superior Court’s analysis of the contract was erroneous. Our

review of that question is de novo and owes no deference to the allegations of the Complaint. Cf.

Balles v. Babcock Power Inc., 70 N.E.3d 905, 911 n.12 (Mass. 2017) (“[A] court generally will

accord no deference to a party’s interpretation of a contract but, rather, will focus on the language

of the instrument to effectuate its terms.”).

[20]    On de novo review of the Agreement, we find nothing in the contract to answer whether a

dispute between a member and a member-manager should be considered a dispute “among the

members” of Monkeypod. There is no language in Section VIII(4), or any other section, which

explains the scope of a “dispute[] among the members.” The definition of “members” does not

define whether a member who is also a manager should be treated as a “member” or as a “manager”

for purposes of the phrase “disputes among the members.” We find nothing in the Agreement to

explain what the parties intended for the phrase “disputes among the members” to mean. The

phrase is ambiguous.

[21]    Although a contractual provision ideally would be interpreted only through the “four

corners” of the contract itself, extrinsic evidence can be admissible to explain ambiguous terms.

Wasson, 2007 Guam 16 ¶ 11. However, the extrinsic evidence in the record is not compelling.

The only such extrinsic evidence we are aware of is a declaration filed by Perez, which asserts

Perez “never intended” the Mediation Provision to apply to disputes between “any member and
Perez v. Monkeypod Enters., 2022 Guam 12, Opinion                                         Page 11 of 15

any Manager.” RA, tab 13 at 2 (Decl. Perez, July 12, 2021). However, we find the probative value

of this declaration to be low. See Sykes v. Melba Creek Mining, Inc., 952 P.2d 1164, 1170 n.12

(Alaska 1998) (“[T]here is little probative value to be found in self-serving testimony by parties

concerning their subjective intent upon entering into a contract.”).

[22]    We therefore resort to our well-established judicial policy favoring alternative dispute

resolution. As prior cases explain, we construe arbitration agreements broadly in favor of

arbitrability. See, e.g., Sumitomo Constr. Co. v. Zhong Ye, Inc., 1997 Guam 8 ¶ 14 (“[A]ny doubt

as to the arbitrator’s jurisdiction is resolved in favor of arbitration.”); GHURA, 2004 Guam 22 ¶

31 (“[A] court may not deny a party’s request to arbitrate an issue ‘unless it may be said with

positive assurance that the arbitration clause is not susceptible of an interpretation that covers the

asserted dispute.’” (quoting Kiefer Specialty Flooring, Inc. v. Tarkett, Inc., 174 F.3d 907, 909 (7th

Cir. 1999))). Thus, “ambiguities regarding the question of ‘whether a particular merits-related

dispute is arbitrable because it is within the scope of a valid arbitration agreement’ are construed

in favor of arbitration.” Pacificare, 2004 Guam 17 ¶ 26 (quoting First Options of Chi., Inc. v.

Kaplan, 514 U.S. 938, 944-45 (1995)); accord YTK I, 2014 Guam 7 ¶ 24; Guam Yamanoi, 2019

Guam 14 ¶ 13.

[23]    The same judicial policy favoring arbitration also favors mediation. As with arbitration,

Guam law favors mediation as an alternative to litigation. See, e.g., Guam Pub. L. 27-081:1 (Apr.

30, 2004) (Legislative Findings and Intent); Local Rules of the Superior Court of Guam,

Miscellaneous Rule (“MR”) 4.1.1 (“Purpose. The Judiciary of Guam desires to encourage the

prompt and equitable resolution of disputes, to reduce financial and emotional burdens of lengthy

litigation, to promote restorative justice and peer mediation, and to resolve cases within

recommended judicial time standards and these Rules support these principles.”). We therefore
Perez v. Monkeypod Enters., 2022 Guam 12, Opinion                                      Page 12 of 15

hold that, as with arbitration, a contractual obligation to mediate should be construed to favor

mediation unless we find “positive assurance” that the mediation agreement does not encompass

the asserted dispute. Cf. GHURA, 2004 Guam 22 ¶ 31. Thus, any doubts as to whether a

contractual provision requires mediation should be resolved in favor of mediation. Cf. Sumitomo

Constr., 1997 Guam 8 ¶ 14.

[24]    Applying those principles here, we cannot say with “positive assurance” that the Mediation

Provision does not encompass this dispute.          The phrase “disputes among the members” is

ambiguous, but also broad: the phrase is not limited by language narrowing the type of disputes or

the type of members to whom the provision applies. This counsels against a finding that the

language of the provision excludes the circumstance presented here. There is only minimal

extrinsic evidence in the record regarding the intention of the parties concerning this phrase. And

as the Superior Court noted and evidently found significant, Perez and Duenas are the only two

members of Monkeypod, and more importantly were the only members of Monkeypod when the

Agreement was executed. As Perez and Duenas were the only parties to whom this provision

could have applied when the Agreement was executed, it is plausible that the phrase “disputes

among the members” was intended to mean “disputes between Perez and Duenas.” To be clear,

we cannot and do not decide whether this was what the parties actually intended. Instead, we raise

this hypothetical to suggest there is at least one plausible interpretation of the Agreement that

brings this dispute squarely within the Mediation Provision; accordingly, it cannot be said with

“positive assurance” that the ambiguous phrase “disputes among the members” can only exclude

disputes between a member and a member-manager.

[25]    Finally, to the extent the Complaint could be construed to present a dispute between Perez

and Monkeypod itself—i.e., a dispute between a member and the LLC, not a dispute between a
Perez v. Monkeypod Enters., 2022 Guam 12, Opinion                                      Page 13 of 15

member and a member-manager—case law diverges on whether such a dispute qualifies as

“among the members.” In Sanctuary Capital, LLC ex rel. North Louisiana Bidco, LLC v. Cloud,

the Louisiana Court of Appeals held a dispute arising from a member’s request to view the LLC’s

records was not a dispute “between members.” 163 So. 3d 890, 894-95 (La. Ct. App 2015). The

Cloud court reasoned:

        [T]he right of members to view the company’s books and records is fundamentally
        a question of the rights of the members vis-a-vis the company and not a dispute
        between members and managers even though the managers may be the parties
        charged with acting on behalf of the company. Accordingly, this dispute is neither
        a dispute between members nor a true derivative action to enforce the company’s
        rights. The plaintiff members are seeking to enforce their own rights against the
        company itself. For purposes of the mediation/arbitration clause, this is not a
        dispute between members. In the absence of a genuine dispute between members,
        the arbitration clause is not triggered.

Id. By contrast, in Central Accounting Systems, Inc. v. Comprehensive Post Acute Network, Ltd.,

the Ohio Court of Appeals held a dispute between a member and the LLC was ultimately a dispute

“between members” because “[w]hile the Company may also carry an LLC designation, it is

nonetheless still comprised of Members.”. No. CA2014-03-082, 2014 WL 6148578, at *3 (Ohio

Ct. App. Nov. 17, 2014). However, as this issue was not significantly developed in the appellate

briefing, we decline to decide the issue effectively sua sponte. Cf. Allen v. Richardson, 2020 Guam

13 ¶ 23 (noting, but reserving judgment on, an issue not developed by the parties).

[26]    Analyzing Perez’s Complaint and the Agreement de novo, we conclude the Superior Court

did not make an error of law in holding that Perez alleged a “dispute among the members” of

Monkeypod. And because this was not an error of law, we reject Perez’s argument that the

Superior Court abused its discretion in so holding.

//

//
Perez v. Monkeypod Enters., 2022 Guam 12, Opinion                                                       Page 14 of 15

B. The Superior Court Did Not Err in Staying the Case Pending Mediation

[27]     We next consider whether the court abused its discretion by staying the case before

mediation. This circumstance is directly addressed by Local Rules of the Superior Court of Guam,

MR 4.1.9(c), which provides:

         A stay of all proceedings, a portion of the proceedings or of discovery may be
         ordered when the assigned judge determines a stay would be beneficial, otherwise
         no stay should be entered while a case is in mediation. All applicable limitation
         periods, including periods of prescription, shall be tolled or extended upon
         commencement of mediation, and shall remain tolled until the tenth (10th) day
         following the termination of mediation.

MR 4.1.9(c); see also Landis v. N. Am. Co., 299 U.S. 248, 254 (1936) (“[T]he power to stay

proceedings is incidental to the power inherent in every court to control the disposition of the

causes on its docket with economy of time and effort for itself, for counsel, and for litigants.”).

[28]     Under MR 4.1.9(c), the Superior Court has the power to stay litigation while mediation is

pending if the Superior Court believes a stay would be “beneficial.” Although the Superior Court’s

Order After Hearing did not explicitly hold that the stay here would be “beneficial,” that conclusion

is obvious in context. Having decided that mediation was mandatory under the contract, the

Superior Court’s stay allowed Perez to meet his contractual obligation, avoiding dismissal.5 Such

a decision was beneficial to Perez, and we do not find it erroneous. We thus conclude the Superior

Court did not abuse its discretion by staying the litigation pending mediation.

//

//

//

         5
           See Tr. at 14 (Mot. Hr’g, Aug. 13, 2021) (Superior Court: “I don’t think dismissal’s the appropriate remedy,
because they could very well amend their complaint after you’ve gone to mediation . . . so I’d be willing to stay the
matter as there is mediation that appears to be mandatory under the terms of this operating agreement, and then once
you’ve done that you can amend your complaint and say that you’ve satisfied the mediation provision, and then come
back.”).
Perez v. Monkeypod Enters., 2022 Guam 12, Opinion                                   Page 15 of 15

                                          V. CONCLUSION

[29]    The Superior Court did not abuse its discretion when it concluded that the Agreement

between the parties compelled mediation and did not abuse its discretion when it stayed the case

pending that mediation. We AFFIRM the Superior Court’s Order After Hearing.

                  /s/                                                    /s/
       KATHERINE A. MARAMAN                                  JOHN A. MANGLONA
           Associate Justice                                   Justice Pro Tempore

                                                /s/
                                      F. PHILIP CARBULLIDO
                                            Chief Justice