Court Opinion

ID: 9788741
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 01:17:06.407301+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:16.378021
License: Public Domain

ADAMS, J.,
dissenting.
T1 Although the majority correctly concludes, in my opinion, that the parties' relationship with the National Association of Realtors®, and their subscription to its Code of Ethics, constitutes a contract, its analysis does not adequately examine the impact of that conclusion on whether the terms of the contract, i.e., Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the National Association of Realtors® (the Code), requires arbitration of this dispute.
{ 2 Under the majority's analysis, any dispute between two Realtors® 1 involving their real estate activities is covered by the arbitration clause contained in Article 17 of the Code. This interpretation runs counter to the precise language which delineates the disputes which are arbitrable and renders the exclusive listing of "specific non-contractual disputes" in Standard of Practice 17-4 ineffective.
T3 In doing so, the majority fails to follow the Legislature's command in 15 0.9.2001 § 157 that we give "effect to every part" of a contract where possible. Our task in following that statute is to adopt an interpretation, whenever possible, which gives effect to all provisions of the contract. Buck's Sporting Goods, Inc. of Tulsa v. First National Bank & Trust Company of Tulsa, 1994 OK 14, 868 P.2d 693.
T4 In order to give effect to the Code's language concerning "specific non-contractual disputes," the phrase "contractual disputes" contained in the first paragraph of Article 17 cannot include disputes where the only contractual relationship between the Realtors® is the one created by their common membership in the National Association. The dispute between these parties is not a dispute concerning a contract involving these parties, as that term is used in Article 17, and it is not a "specific non-contractual dispute" identified in Standard of Practice 17-4. Plaintiff was not required to arbitrate this dispute, and I respectfully dissent.

. I use this appellation to designate real estate professionals who, like the ones involved here, are members of the National Association and subscribe to its Code of Ethics.