Court Opinion

ID: 5121359
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-10-27 06:14:50.168654+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:22:22.136437
License: Public Domain

Reversed and Remanded and Opinion Filed October 22, 2021

                                In The
                         Court of Appeals
                  Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                          No. 05-20-00380-CV
                          No. 05-20-00387-CV
                          No. 05-20-00388-CV
                          No. 05-20-00389-CV
                          No. 05-20-00390-CV

PRESTONWOOD TRADITION, LP; TRADITION MANAGEMENT, LLC;
      PRESTONWOOD TSL, LP; PRESTONWOOD TSL GP, LLC;
    TRADITION SENIOR LIVING, L.P.; TRADITION SL, LLC; AND
                   JONATHAN S. PERLMAN,
                      Appellants / Relators
                                V.
 MARY JO JENNINGS, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS THE INDEPENDENT
  EXECUTRIX AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BENEFICIARIES OF
       THE ESTATE OF LEAH ALICE CORKEN; LISA CULLEN,
     INDIVIDUALLY; MATT CORKEN, INDIVIDUALLY; DIANNE
TANNERY, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS THE INDEPENDENT EXECUTRIX
 AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE ESTATE
OF JUANITA PURDY; THOMAS DUCKER, INDIVIDUALLY; SHERRIL
  KERR, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS THE INDEPENDENT EXECUTRIX
 AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE ESTATE
   OF GLENNA DAY; GREGORY B. DAY, INDIVIDUALLY; MARSHA
 SPRING REPP AND STEPHEN SPRING, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS THE
CO-EXECUTORS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BENEFICIARIES
  OF THE ESTATE OF SOLOMON H. SPRING; MICHAEL SOLOMON,
       MATTHEW ABRAMOWITZ, AND PAUL ABRAMOWITZ,
        INDIVIDUALLY AND AS THE CO-EXECUTORS AND
  REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE ESTATE OF
JOYCE ABRAMOWITZ; AND MARC ABRAMOWITZ, INDIVIDUALLY,
                Appellees / Real Parties in Interest
   On Appeal and Original Proceeding from the County Court at Law No. 2
                           Dallas County, Texas
                  Trial Court Cause Nos. CC-19-03747-B
                              CC-19-03737-B
                              CC-19-03754-B
                              CC-19-03757-B
                              CC-19-03745-B

                                     OPINION
             Before Justices Partida-Kipness, Pedersen, III, and Goldstein
                           Opinion by Justice Pedersen, III
       Appellants-relators1 bring this appeal and petition for writ of mandamus

challenging the trial court’s orders granting a stay of arbitration and denying

appellants’ plea in abatement, which sought an order for the parties to attend

arbitration. On appeal, appellants raise four issues, contending that the trial court

abused its discretion in (i) deciding the arbitrability issues, (ii) staying arbitration,

(iii) declining to order the parties to arbitration, and (iv) striking a supporting

affidavit attached to appellants’ plea in abatement. In their petition for writ of

mandamus, appellants assert the trial court abused its discretion in issuing its orders

because the claims can be arbitrated under Texas common law.

       We agree with appellants and reverse the trial court’s orders. We remand the

causes with instructions to order the parties to arbitration and stay the underlying

cases pending the outcome of the arbitration. We dismiss appellants’ petition for writ

of mandamus as moot.

   1
       Prior to submission, we consolidated relators’ original proceeding, cause number 05-20-00619-CV,
into the 05-20-00380-CV cause.
                                                 –2–
                                I.     BACKGROUND

      A. Parties and History Before Litigation

      In 2016, Leah Corken, Juanita Purdy, Glenna Day, Solomon Spring, and

Joyce Abramowitz died while they were residents of The Tradition-Prestonwood, a

senior living community owned and operated by appellants. The decedents had

signed written leases with appellants, which provide:

      7.     Your Rights and Responsibilities
      ....
             E.     Waiver of Jury Trial. Pursuant to the Arbitration
      Agreement set forth in Section 8 below, EACH PARTY HERETO
      WAIVES ITS RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY AND AGREES TO
      SUBMIT TO BINDING ARBITRATION in any action, proceeding or
      counterclaim brought by any party against any other party.
      ....
      8.     Arbitration Agreement
             A.     Agreement To Arbitrate. Should a dispute arise between
      us, we desire to avoid costly and time-consuming litigation. Landlord
      and You agree that any claims, controversies, or disputes arising
      between us and in any way related to or arising out of the relationship
      created by this Agreement shall be resolved exclusively by binding
      arbitration. . . . . Accordingly, neither Landlord nor You will be
      permitted to pursue court action regarding these claims, controversies,
      or disputes.
             B.     Conduct Of The Arbitration. The arbitration shall be
      conducted by a panel of either one or three neutral arbitrators (the
      “Panel”), said number being chosen by You. The member(s) of the
      Panel shall be chosen by the American Arbitration Association
      (“AAA”) or by mutual agreement between the parties. . . . . The Panel
      shall follow the current Commercial Arbitration Rules of the AAA.
      ....
             E.     Waiver Of Jury Trial. Any claim, controversy, or dispute
      between the parties for which arbitration is not allowed by law shall be
      brought in an appropriate court before a judge. Both You and Landlord
      waive your rights to a trial by jury.

                                        –3–
             F.     Applicability To Related Parties. You and Your
      Authorized Representative agree that this Agreement, in particular this
      Section 8, shall be binding upon them personally. This Agreement shall
      be binding upon and inure to the benefit of all persons whose claim is
      derived through or on behalf of You, including that of the [sic] Your
      family, heirs, guardian, executor, administrator and assigns. This
      Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Landlord,
      Tradition Management, LLC, and its subsidiaries and their respective
      directors, officers, employees, representatives, or agents.
      THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS BOTH AN ARBITRATION
      PROVISION AND A WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL, WHICH MAY
      BE ENFORCED BY THE PARTIES.
      9.     MISCELLANEOUS
      ....
             G.     Governing Law. Except as noted above, this Agreement
      shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of Texas.
(emphasis in original).

      Appellees-real parties in interest are individuals and representatives of the

estates of the decedents who sought to resolve claims against appellants related to

the decedents’ deaths. The parties attended mediation, and appellants invoked the

above arbitration agreements. On June 17, 2019, appellants filed arbitration actions

with the AAA. On June 25, 2019, appellees responded to the arbitration action before

the AAA and filed five separate suits in Dallas County Court.

      B. Procedural History of Litigation

      Appellees sued appellants—both individually as wrongful death beneficiaries

and as executors of the respective estates—for (i) declaratory judgment;

(ii) negligent undertaking; (iii) premises liability; (iv) general negligence; and

(v) negligent hiring, training, and supervision. The claims for declaratory judgment

sought a declaration that appellees’ claims were not subject to arbitration. Appellees
                                         –4–
further moved to stay the arbitrations in each case. Appellants answered in the trial

court and filed pleas in abatement in each case, requesting that the trial court abate

the case so that arbitration could proceed.

        The record does not indicate that an arbitrator or arbitration panel was ever

selected. However, on June 28, 2019, the AAA responded to the arbitration

communications as follows:

        Upon review of the parties’ contentions, the AAA has made an
        administrative determination that it will not proceed with the
        administration of the submissions unless the parties mutually agree, or
        until the issue of arbitrability is decided by the Dallas County, Texas
        Court (“Court”).

        The parties submitted arguments and attached evidence in support of their

respective motions and responses regarding arbitration. Appellees objected to and

moved to strike an affidavit from appellants. On September 30, 2019, the trial court

heard the arbitration motions. Regarding the AAA’s administrative determination,

the trial court stated, “I don’t think that’s an end all be all on the outcome.” After the

hearing, the parties submitted further arguments and authorities related to the

arbitration dispute; appellants responded to appellees’ objections to their affidavit.

On February 28, 2020, the trial court granted appellees’ requests for stay of

arbitration and denied appellants’ requests for abatement.2

              IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiffs’ Motions to Stay
        Arbitration in each of the above-captioned matters are GRANTED,

    2
     At the time of the September 30, 2019 hearing, the Salomon/Abramowitz and Repp/Spring cases had
not been transferred into the trial court. However, both of those cases were transferred to the trial court,
along with all of the other three cases, before the trial court’s February 28, 2020 order.
                                                   –5–
      and the arbitration proceeding with the American Arbitration
      Association that is currently pending between Plaintiffs and Defendants
      is STAYED.
            IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant’s Pleas in
      Abatement in each of the above-captioned matters are DENIED [.]

These interlocutory appeals followed. See TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN.

§ 171.098. Appellants further petitioned for writs of mandamus. We have

consolidated each original proceeding into the corresponding interlocutory appeal.

                                  II.   ISSUES RAISED

      On appeal, appellants raise four issues to our Court:

      1. The trial court abused its discretion when it decided the arbitrability
         issues, because federal and Texas law require that determination of
         arbitrability issues be referred to the arbitrator, and the Leases
         specifically provide for AAA arbitration.

      2. To the extent the trial court based its decision to stay the arbitrations
         on the Texas Arbitration Act, such decision was an abuse of
         discretion because the FAA, not the TAA, applies.

      3. The trial court abused its discretion when it declined to order the
         parties to AAA arbitration, because the uncontroverted evidence
         established Appellants were entitled to arbitration under the FAA.

      4. The trial court abused its discretion when it struck the affidavit
         supporting of Appellants’ pleas in abatement, as Appellees failed to
         timely object and their objections are without legal basis.

      On petition for writ of mandamus and apart from asserting they have no

adequate remedy at law, appellants raise one issue to our Court:

      1. If this Court holds the statutory arbitration schemes argued in such
         appeals do not apply, the trial court nevertheless abused its
         discretion in issuing such Order because the claims can be arbitrated
         under Texas common law.

                                          –6–
       Because our resolution of appellants’ first issue obviates the need to discuss

the remaining issues, we limit our discussion accordingly. See TEX. R. APP. 47.1

(“The court of appeals must hand down a written opinion that is as brief as

practicable but that addresses every issue raised and necessary to final disposition of

the appeal.”).

                                  III.    STANDARD OF REVIEW

       “Arbitration agreements can be enforced under either statutory provisions or

the common law.” Royston, Rayzor, Vickery, & Williams, LLP v. Lopez, 467 S.W.3d

494, 499 (Tex. 2015) (citing L. H. Lacy Co. v. City of Lubbock, 559 S.W.2d 348,

351 (Tex. 1977)).3 We review a trial court’s order on a motion to stay arbitration for

an abuse of discretion. Henry v. Cash Biz, LP, 551 S.W.3d 111, 115 (Tex. 2018)

(citing In re Labatt Food Serv., L.P., 279 S.W.3d 640, 642–43 (Tex. 2009) (orig.

proceeding)). We review the trial court’s legal determinations de novo. In re Labatt

Food Serv., 279 S.W.3d at 643.

   3
    “[A] dual system of arbitration has existed in Texas, and the statutory method has been viewed as
cumulative of the common law.” L. H. Lacy Co., 559 S.W.2d at 351.
                                                –7–
                                   IV.    DISCUSSION

Issue One: Whether the Trial Court Abused Its Discretion When It Decided the
Arbitrability Issues

      i.     Decedents’ Agreement to Arbitrate

      “[W]hen a party seeks to compel arbitration based on a contract, the first

question is whether there is a contract between the parties at all.” HomeAdvisor, Inc.

v. Waddell, No. 05-19-00669-CV, 2020 WL 2988565, at *3 (Tex. App.—Dallas

June 4, 2020, no pet.) (mem. op.) (citing Arnold v. HomeAway, Inc., 890 F.3d 546,

550 (5th Cir. 2018)).

      Under Texas law, a binding contract requires: (1) an offer;
      (2) acceptance in strict compliance with the terms of the offer; (3) a
      meeting of the minds (mutual assent); (4) each party’s consent to the
      terms; and (5) execution and delivery of the contract with intent that it
      be mutual and binding.

HomeAdvisor, 2020 WL 2988565, at *3 (citation omitted).

      Here, it is undisputed that decedents agreed to the leases by signature. Each

lease shows the decedent agreed to arbitrate and expressly bound “all persons whose

claim is derived through or on behalf of [decedent], including that of the [decedent’s]

family, heirs, guardian, executor, administrator and assigns.” In Texas, the death of

a natural person does not ordinarily extinguish his or her contracts. Solomon v.

Greenblatt, 812 S.W.2d 7, 17 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1991, no writ) (citation omitted).

                                         –8–
      Appellees have brought claims that derive from the decedents’ allegedly

wrongful deaths. See CIV. PRAC. & REM. § 71.004. In In re Labatt Food Service, the

Texas Supreme Court explained:

      While it is true that damages for a wrongful death action are for the
      exclusive benefit of the beneficiaries and are meant to compensate them
      for their own personal loss, the cause of action is still entirely derivative
      of the decedent’s rights. TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE §§ 71.003(a),
      .004(a); Russell, 841 S.W.2d at 347. Thus, regardless of the fact that
      [decedent]’s beneficiaries are seeking compensation for their own
      personal loss, they still stand in [decedent]’s legal shoes and are bound
      by [his or her] agreement.

279 S.W.3d at 646. Thus, regarding appellees’ wrongful death claims, they are

bound by the decedents’ agreements. See In re Golden Peanut Co., L.L.C., 298

S.W.3d 629, 631 (Tex. 2009) (orig. proceeding) (per curiam) (wrongful death

beneficiaries are bound by decedent’s pre-death arbitration agreement “because,

under Texas law, the wrongful death cause of action is entirely derivative of the

decedent’s rights”); Arredondo v. Dugger, 347 S.W.3d 757, 764 (Tex. App.—Dallas

2011), aff’d on other grounds, 408 S.W.3d 825 (Tex. 2013) (“A statutory wrongful

death claim is wholly derivative of the decedent’s claim and is subject to any defense

that would have been available against the decedent had they survived.”).

      In addition, appellees asserted survival claims that derive from the decedent’s

rights. See CIV. PRAC. & REM. § 71.021. “The purpose of the survival statute is to

continue a decedent’s cause of action beyond death to redress the decedent’s estate

for decedent’s injuries.” Stevenson v. Ford Motor Co., 608 S.W.3d 109, 131 (Tex.

                                          –9–
App.—Dallas 2020, no pet. h.). “The survival action, as it is sometimes called, is

wholly derivative of the decedent’s rights.” Russell v. Ingersoll-Rand Co., 841

S.W.2d 343, 345 (Tex. 1992) (explaining that if decedent’s action for injuries would

have been barred by limitations had it been asserted immediately prior to his death,

survival action and wrongful death actions based on same alleged wrong are likewise

barred); see also Brown v. Shwarts, 968 S.W.2d 331, 334 (Tex. 1998) (explaining

parents’ survival action “as wholly derivative of [child]’s, the injury is that which he

suffered, and the damages are those he sustained while he was alive”). “A defendant

can raise the same defenses in the survivorship action that it could assert against the

injured person.” Waters ex rel. Walton v. Del-Ky, Inc., 844 S.W.2d 250, 254 (Tex.

App.—Dallas 1992, no writ). Arbitration and award is an affirmative defense, which

appellants (i) have raised against appellees and (ii) could have asserted against the

decedents. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 94; see, e.g., Nabors Drilling USA, LP v. Pena, 385

S.W.3d 103, 109 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2012, pet. denied) (explaining

decedent’s family’s wrongful death and survival actions against employer were

subject to arbitration agreement between decedent and employer); In re Jindal Saw

Ltd., 264 S.W.3d 755, 766–67 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2008, orig.

proceeding), (explaining that decedent’s arbitration agreement with his employer

stating to bind his “heirs, beneficiaries and assigns” bound decedent’s widow to the

arbitration agreement) mand. granted, 289 S.W.3d 827 (Tex. 2009) (per curiam).

                                         –10–
        As appellees’ survival actions arise from the decedents’ rights—brought on

behalf of the decedents—those claims are subject to the decedents’ arbitration

agreements. See Waters ex rel. Walton, 844 S.W.2d at 254. Furthermore, as Section

8.F. indicates, the leases expressly anticipated such a result. Thus, regarding

appellees’ survival actions, they are bound by the decedents’ agreements.

Accordingly, we must conclude that appellees are bound by the decedents’

arbitration agreements in the leases.

        ii.      Arbitrability

        A trial court generally determines the arbitrability of an arbitration agreement,

unless the parties clearly and unmistakably provide otherwise. First Options of

Chicago, Inc. v. Kaplan, 514 U.S. 938, 944, (1995).4 “Where the parties’ contract

clearly and unmistakably delegates the arbitrability question to the arbitrator, the

court possesses no power to decide the arbitrability issue.” HomeAdvisor, 2020 WL

2988565, at *5 (citing Robinson v. Home Owners Mgmt. Enters., Inc., 590 S.W.3d

518, 532 (Tex. 2019)).

        Appellants assert that the language in the leases incorporated (i) “any claims,

controversies, or disputes” and (ii) the AAA’s Commercial Arbitration Rules by

reference, such that arbitrability is an issue for the arbitrator to decide. In response,

    4
       See also RSL Funding, LLC v. Newsome, 569 S.W.3d 116, 120 (Tex. 2018) (“The U.S. Supreme
Court has explained that there are three types of disagreements in the arbitration context: (1) the merits of
the dispute; (2) whether the merits are arbitrable; and (3) who decides the second question. . . . The default
rule for the third question is that arbitrability is a threshold matter for the court to decide.” (first citing First
Options, 514 U.S. at 942, and then citing Forest Oil Corp. v. McAllen, 268 S.W.3d 51, 61 (Tex. 2008))).
                                                       –11–
appellees, without authority, assert that the threshold question of arbitrability

necessitates a determination of whether the FAA or the TAA applies. Appellees

incorrectly rely on RSL Funding, LLC v. Newsome to assert that the trial court—and

not the arbitrator—must determine that threshold issue before any jurisdiction or

authority can even arguably be delegated to an arbitrator. 569 S.W.3d 116, 121–24

(Tex. 2018).

       To the contrary, in RSL Funding, the Texas Supreme Court explained:

       Arbitrators are competent to decide any legal or factual dispute the
       parties agree to arbitrate.
       ....
       [A]s parties have a right to contract as they see fit, they may agree to
       arbitral delegation clauses that send gateway issues such as arbitrability
       to the arbitrator.
       ....
        [W]e have held that parties may contract to arbitrate issues even when
       the law vests some related exclusive power in a court.
       ....
       Here, the courts below have not questioned the validity of parties’
       arbitration clause. We thus have no choice but to send this dispute to
       arbitration for the arbitrator to at least decide arbitrability.

569 S.W.3d at 121–23 (internal citations omitted, emphasis added).5 In

HomeAdvisor, we addressed arbitrability of a contract that incorporated the AAA’s

Commercial Arbitration Rules:

       [A]rbitration procedures specified that any arbitration would be
       administered by the AAA and governed by the AAA’s Commercial
       Arbitration Rules. The AAA rules expressly delegate the issue of
       arbitrability to the arbitrator. This Court and many others have held that

   5
    We note the arbitration provision in RSL Funding did not involve the AAA or incorporate its
Commercial Arbitration Rules. See generally RSL Funding, 569 S.W.3d at 119.
                                            –12–
         a bilateral agreement to arbitrate under the AAA rules constitutes clear
         and unmistakable evidence of the parties’ intent to delegate the issue of
         arbitrability to the arbitrator. Arnold, 890 F.3d at 553; Saxa Inc. v. DFD
         Architecture Inc., 312 S.W.3d 224, 229-30 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010,
         pet. denied).

2020 WL 2988565, at *5.

         As in HomeAdvisor, the record here shows the decedents’ leases, which were

bilateral agreements, included an arbitration provision that clearly informed, with

emphasized text, the decedents that (i) they were waiving their right to jury trial and

(ii) their rights would be determined by a panel of either one or three neutral

arbitrators. However, no arbitrator was selected. The scope of the arbitration

provisions expressly included that “any claims, controversies, or disputes arising

between us and in any way related to or arising out of the relationship created by this

Agreement shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration.” As in

HomeAdvisor, the arbitration provisions in the leases specify that any arbitration

would be administered by the AAA and governed by the AAA’s Commercial

Arbitration Rules.6

         Thus, we must conclude appellants have established the existence of an

arbitration agreement between them and appellees. Appellants have established that

   6
       The record includes the AAA’s Commercial Arbitration Rule R-7, which provides, in part:
         The arbitrator shall have the power to rule on his or her own jurisdiction, including any
         objections with respect to the existence, scope, or validity of the arbitration agreement or
         to the arbitrability of any claim or counterclaim.
See, e.g., Saxa Inc. v. DFD Architecture Inc., 312 S.W.3d 224, 228 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2010, pet. denied)
(discussing AAA rules); PER Group, L.P. v. Dava Oncology, L.P., 294 S.W.3d 378, 386 (Tex. App.—
Dallas 2009, no pet.) (discussing Commercial Arbitration Rule R-7).
                                                   –13–
all defenses to arbitration, including validity of the arbitration provision, were

delegated to the arbitrator. The record shows no arbitrator decided arbitrability.

Accordingly, the trial court erred in granting appellees’ motions to stay arbitration

and in denying appellants’ pleas in abatement. See HomeAdvisor, 2020 WL

2988565, at *5. We resolve appellants’ first issue in their favor. Because of our

resolution of this issue, we pretermit further discussion on and do not reach the

remaining issues on appeal and the sole issue on petition for writ of mandamus.7

                                V.      DISSENT ACKNOWLEDGMENT

         The Dissent asserts that our adjudication of the issues in this case conflicts

with our prior opinion in Roe v. Ladymon, 318 S.W.3d 502, 513 (Tex. App.—Dallas

2010, no pet.).8 Relying on Roe, the Dissent opines that, because appellees did not

individually sign the decedents’ leases, appellees (i) were non-signatories to the

contract (ii) without clear and unmistakable evidence that they authorized an

arbitrator to decide the gateway question of arbitrability. We limit our discussion to

distinguishing Roe from the case at bar and offer no discussion on the remaining

issues in this case.

         In Roe, we considered who had the primary power to decide whether

appellants could compel the appellees to arbitrate claims: a court or an arbitrator.

   7
      Not only is further discussion unnecessary, imparting further opinion risks providing an advisory
opinion when it is not our question to decide.
   8
       We note neither appellants nor appellees rely upon Roe.
                                                  –14–
See Roe, 318 S.W.3d at 511. Roe contracted with Metro LLP to renovate her home,

and Ladymon signed the contract “in his capacity as a partner of Metro LLP.” Id. at

507.9 This contract included an arbitration provision. Id. “Unsatisfied with the

remodeling work, Roe demanded arbitration against both Metro LLP and Ladymon.”

Id. at 508. The parties attended arbitration, and the arbitrator ultimately signed an

award in favor of Roe against Metro LLP and Ladymon—jointly and severally liable

for Roe’s damages. Id. at 509. The trial court confirmed the arbitration award but

stated the following as to the award against Ladymon, individually:

       Defendant Ladymon timely and properly objected to the arbitrator
       regarding the arbitrator’s lack of jurisdiction over him in a personal
       capacity. Furthermore, whether or not Defendant Ladymon was
       personally liable for the debts of defendant [Metro LLP] is a separate
       issue from whether or not Defendant Ladymon was bound by the
       arbitration clause.

Id. at 509. The trial court further held

       that the arbitrator exceeded his authority in rendering an award against
       Ladymon individually, stating: “The arbitrator was without jurisdiction
       and the determination of the arbitrator’s jurisdiction is a matter of
       arbitrability under First Options of Chicago, Inc. v. Kaplan, 514 U.S.
       938, 115 S. Ct. 1920 [131 L.Ed.2d 985] (1995) and is exclusively
       reserved to this Court.”

Id. In first addressing the applicability of an arbitration agreement, we explained:

       Disputes about the scope of an arbitration agreement are resolved in
       favor of arbitration. However, this presumption favoring arbitration
       arises only after the party seeking to compel arbitration proves that a
       valid arbitration agreement exists.

   9
     Metro LLP later converted to a limited partnership, with Ladymon serving as a limited partner. Roe,
318 S.W.3d at 507–08.
                                                –15–
         Like other contracts, nonparties are normally not bound by arbitration
         agreements between others. But just as other contracts can become
         binding on nonparties, principles of contract law and agency may bind
         a non-signatory to an arbitration agreement. Thus non-signatories to a
         contract containing an arbitration clause may be required to arbitrate if
         rules of law or equity would bind them to the contract generally. See In
         re Labatt Food Serv., L.P., 279 S.W.3d 640, 644 (Tex. 2009); see also
         In re Weekley Homes, L.P., 180 S.W.3d 127, 131 (Tex. 2005) (“Indeed,
         if Texas law would bind a nonparty to a contract generally, the FAA
         would appear to preempt an exception for arbitration clauses alone.”)

Id. at 511 (internal citations and quotations omitted).10 In Roe, we further discussed

whether a non-signatory to an arbitration agreement could be required to arbitrate.

         [A] court should decide whether an arbitration contract binds a person
         who did not sign the contract.

         While non-signatories to an arbitration agreement can be bound to
         arbitrate under principles of contract and agency law, such issues—
         dealing as they do with non-signatories—are gateway “issues of
         arbitrability” that the courts are primarily responsible for deciding—
         not the arbitrator. And only if the non-signatory has “clearly and
         unmistakably agreed” to submit that issue to arbitration will the courts
         be bound to a deferential review of the arbitrator’s decision that the
         non-signatory is bound by the arbitration agreement.

Id. at 515 (internal citations omitted). We concluded Roe had not shown that

Ladymon “‘clearly agreed to have the arbitrator [ ] decide (i.e., to arbitrate) the

question of arbitrability.’” Id. at 517 (quoting First Options, 514 U.S. at 946,). We

    10
      Unlike the contract claims in Roe, In re Labatt Food Services and In re Weekley Homes involved
wrongful death and personal injury. In re Labatt Food Serv., 279 S.W.3d at 649 (holding “the arbitration
provision in an agreement between a decedent and his employer requires the employee’s wrongful death
beneficiaries to arbitrate their wrongful death claims against the employer even though they did not sign
the agreement”); In re Weekley Homes, L.P., 180 S.W.3d 127, 135 (Tex. 2005) (recognizing that a
“nonparty may be compelled to arbitrate if it deliberately seeks and obtains substantial benefits from the
contract itself” in discussion of a personal injury claim where claimant demanded compliance with the
contract).
                                                 –16–
rejected the argument that Ladymon’s execution of the contract on behalf of Metro

LLP was evidence that “he clearly and unmistakably agreed the arbitrator could

decide whether he is bound to arbitrate claims against him individually.” Id. at 516

(emphasis added).

      The Dissent opines that appellees in this case are in the same position as

Ladymon in Roe because “both are non-contracting parties because they did not sign

the leases.” See id. at 517. The result of the Dissent’s rule suggests that nonparties

to a contract containing an arbitration provision can never be bound by arbitration

agreements they did not individually sign—an argument the Texas Supreme Court

has repeatedly rejected. See In re Labatt Food Serv., 279 S.W.3d at 644; see also In

re Weekley Homes, L.P., 180 S.W.3d 127, 131 (Tex. 2005). Here, appellees’

positions in the instant case are distinguishable from that of Ladymon in Roe.

      Unlike Roe—in which neither Metro LLP nor Ladymon agreed to subject

Ladymon to the contract—the decedents here agreed to arbitrate and explicitly bind

“all persons whose claim is derived through or on behalf of [decedent], including

that of the [decedent’s] family, heirs, guardian, executor, administrator and assigns”

to the leases. Unlike Ladymon—who sought to avoid liability under a contract he

was not a party to—appellees’ claims of wrongful death and survival action derive

from the respective decedents, who each agreed to arbitration. Thus, appellees are

not acting as non-signatories to the decedents’ agreements with appellants. Instead,

appellees have asserted claims that can only be raised (i) by stepping into the

                                        –17–
decedents’ legal shoes or (ii) by the decedents—as appellees have done on behalf of

the decedents’ estates. See In re Labatt Food Serv., 279 S.W.3d at 646; Stevenson,

608 S.W.3d at 131. Therefore, Ladymon’s position in Roe as a non-signatory to an

agreement is not comparable to appellees’ positions in this case. As we conclude

above, appellees are subject to the decedents’ agreements, including the arbitration

provision and its incorporation of the AAA’s Commercial Arbitration Rules, which

delegate arbitrability questions to the arbitrator.

                                   VI.    CONCLUSION

      We reverse the trial court’s orders granting a stay of arbitration and denying

appellants’ plea in abatement. We remand the causes with instructions to order the

parties to arbitration and to stay the underlying causes pending the outcome of the

arbitrations. We dismiss appellants’ petition for writ of mandamus as moot.

                                             /Bill Pedersen, III//
200380f.p05                                  BILL PEDERSEN, III
200387f.p05                                  JUSTICE
200388f.p05
200389f.p05
200390f.p05

                                          –18–
                            Court of Appeals
                     Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                  JUDGMENT

PRESTONWOOD TRADITION,                        On Appeal from the County Court at
LP; TRADITION MANAGEMENT,                     Law No. 2, Dallas County, Texas
LLC; PRESTONWOOD TSL, LP;                     Trial Court Cause No. CC-19-03747-
PRESTONWOOD TSL GP, LLC,                      B.
TRADITION SENIOR LIVING,                      Opinion delivered by Justice
L.P.; TRADITION SL, LLC; AND                  Pedersen, III. Justice Goldstein
JONATHAN S. PERLMAN,                          participating. Justice Partida-Kipness
Appellants                                    delivered a Dissenting Opinion.

No. 05-20-00380-CV          V.

MARY JO JENNINGS,
INDIVIDUALLY AND AS THE
INDEPENDENT EXECUTRIX
AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
BENEFICIARIES OF THE ESTATE
OF LEAH ALICE CORKEN; LISA
CULLEN, INDIVIDUALLY; AND
MATT CORKEN, INDIVIDUALLY
Appellees

       In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the orders of the trial
court are REVERSED and this cause is REMANDED to the trial court for further
proceedings consistent with this opinion.

      It is ORDERED that appellants PRESTONWOOD TRADITION, LP;
TRADITION MANAGEMENT, LLC; PRESTONWOOD TSL, LP;
PRESTONWOOD TSL GP, LLC, TRADITION SENIOR LIVING, L.P.;
TRADITION SL, LLC; AND JONATHAN S. PERLMAN recover their costs of this
appeal from appellee Mary Jo Jennings, Individually and as the Independent

                                       –19–
Executrix and Representative of the Beneficiaries of the Estate of Leah Alice
Corken; appellee Lisa Cullen, Individually; and appellee Matt Corken, Individually.

Judgment entered this 22nd day of October, 2021.

                                       –20–
                            Court of Appeals
                     Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                  JUDGMENT

PRESTONWOOD TRADITION,                        On Appeal from the County Court at
LP; TRADITION MANAGEMENT,                     Law No. 2, Dallas County, Texas
LLC; PRESTONWOOD TSL, LP;                     Trial Court Cause No. CC-19-03737-
PRESTONWOOD TSL GP, LLC,                      B.
TRADITION SENIOR LIVING,                      Opinion delivered by Justice
L.P.; TRADITION SL, LLC; AND                  Pedersen, III. Justice Goldstein
JONATHAN S. PERLMAN,                          participating. Justice Partida-Kipness
Appellants                                    delivered a Dissenting Opinion.

No. 05-20-00387-CV          V.

DIANNE TANNERY,
INDIVIDUALLY AND AS THE
INDEPENDENT EXECUTRIX
AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
BENEFICIARIES OF THE ESTATE
OF JUANITA PURDY; AND
THOMAS DUCKER,
INDIVIDUALLY Appellees

       In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the orders of the trial
court are REVERSED and this cause is REMANDED to the trial court for further
proceedings consistent with this opinion.

      It is ORDERED that appellants PRESTONWOOD TRADITION, LP;
TRADITION MANAGEMENT, LLC; PRESTONWOOD TSL, LP;
PRESTONWOOD TSL GP, LLC, TRADITION SENIOR LIVING, L.P.;
TRADITION SL, LLC; AND JONATHAN S. PERLMAN recover their costs of this
appeal from appellee Dianne Tannery, Individually and as the Independent

                                       –21–
Executrix and Representative of the Beneficiaries of the Estate of Juanita Purdy; and
appellee Thomas Ducker, Individually.

Judgment entered this 22nd day of October, 2021.

                                       –22–
                            Court of Appeals
                     Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                  JUDGMENT

PRESTONWOOD TRADITION,                        On Appeal from the County Court at
LP; TRADITION MANAGEMENT,                     Law No. 2, Dallas County, Texas
LLC; PRESTONWOOD TSL, LP;                     Trial Court Cause No. CC-19-03754-
PRESTONWOOD TSL GP, LLC,                      B.
TRADITION SENIOR LIVING,                      Opinion delivered by Justice
L.P.; TRADITION SL, LLC; AND                  Pedersen, III. Justice Goldstein
JONATHAN S. PERLMAN,                          participating. Justice Partida-Kipness
Appellants                                    delivered a Dissenting Opinion.

No. 05-20-00388-CV          V.

SHERRIL KERR, INDIVIDUALLY
AND AS THE INDEPENDENT
EXECUTRIX AND
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
BENEFICIARIES OF THE ESTATE
OF GLENNA DAY; AND
GREGORY B. DAY,
INDIVIDUALLY, Appellees

       In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the orders of the trial
court are REVERSED and this cause is REMANDED to the trial court for further
proceedings consistent with this opinion.

      It is ORDERED that appellants PRESTONWOOD TRADITION, LP;
TRADITION MANAGEMENT, LLC; PRESTONWOOD TSL, LP;
PRESTONWOOD TSL GP, LLC, TRADITION SENIOR LIVING, L.P.;
TRADITION SL, LLC; AND JONATHAN S. PERLMAN recover their costs of this
appeal from appellee Sherril Kerr, Individually and as the Independent Executrix

                                       –23–
and Representative of the Beneficiaries of the Estate of Glenna Day; and appellee
Gregory B. Day, Individually.

Judgment entered this 22nd day of October, 2021.

                                      –24–
                            Court of Appeals
                     Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                  JUDGMENT

PRESTONWOOD TRADITION,                        On Appeal from the County Court at
LP; TRADITION MANAGEMENT,                     Law No. 2, Dallas County, Texas
LLC; PRESTONWOOD TSL, LP;                     Trial Court Cause No. CC-19-03757-
PRESTONWOOD TSL GP, LLC,                      B.
TRADITION SENIOR LIVING,                      Opinion delivered by Justice
L.P.; TRADITION SL, LLC; AND                  Pedersen, III. Justice Goldstein
JONATHAN S. PERLMAN,                          participating. Justice Partida-Kipness
Appellants                                    delivered a Dissenting Opinion.

No. 05-20-00389-CV          V.

MARSHA SPRING REPP AND
STEVEN SPRING,
INDIVIDUALLY AND AS THE
CO-EXECUTORS AND
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
BENEFICIARIES OF THE ESTATE
OF SOLOMON H. SPRING,
Appellees

       In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the orders of the trial
court are REVERSED and this cause is REMANDED to the trial court for further
proceedings consistent with this opinion.

      It is ORDERED that appellants PRESTONWOOD TRADITION, LP;
TRADITION MANAGEMENT, LLC; PRESTONWOOD TSL, LP;
PRESTONWOOD TSL GP, LLC, TRADITION SENIOR LIVING, L.P.;
TRADITION SL, LLC; AND JONATHAN S. PERLMAN recover their costs of this
appeal from appellees Marsha Spring Repp and Steven Spring, Individually and as

                                       –25–
the Co-Executors and Representatives of the Beneficiaries of the Estate of Solomon
H. Spring.

Judgment entered this 22nd day of October, 2021.

                                      –26–
                            Court of Appeals
                     Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                  JUDGMENT

PRESTONWOOD TRADITION,                        On Appeal from the County Court at
LP; TRADITION MANAGEMENT,                     Law No. 2, Dallas County, Texas
LLC; PRESTONWOOD TSL, LP;                     Trial Court Cause No. CC-19-03745-
PRESTONWOOD TSL GP, LLC,                      B.
TRADITION SENIOR LIVING,                      Opinion delivered by Justice
L.P.; TRADITION SL, LLC; AND                  Pedersen, III. Justice Goldstein
JONATHAN S. PERLMAN,                          participating. Justice Partida-Kipness
Appellants                                    delivered a Dissenting Opinion.

No. 05-20-00390-CV          V.

MICHAEL SOLOMON,
MATTHEW ABRAMOWITZ, AND
PAUL ABRAMOWITZ,
INDIVIDUALLY AND AS THE
CO-EXECUTORS AND
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
BENEFICIARIES OF THE ESTATE
OF JOYCE ABRAMOWITZ; AND
MARC ABRAMOWITZ,
INDIVIDUALLY, Appellees

       In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the orders of the trial
court are REVERSED and this cause is REMANDED to the trial court for further
proceedings consistent with this opinion.

    It is ORDERED that appellants PRESTONWOOD TRADITION, LP;
TRADITION MANAGEMENT, LLC; PRESTONWOOD TSL, LP;
PRESTONWOOD TSL GP, LLC, TRADITION SENIOR LIVING, L.P.;
TRADITION SL, LLC; AND JONATHAN S. PERLMAN recover their costs of this

                                       –27–
appeal from appellees Michael Solomon, Matthew Abramowitz, and Paul
Abramowitz, Individually and as the Co-Executors and Representatives of the
Beneficiaries of the Estate of Joyce Abramowitz, and Marc Abramowitz,
Individually.

Judgment entered this 22nd day of October, 2021.

                                      –28–