Court Opinion

ID: 9608535
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 03:14:26.392689+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:02:46.434373
License: Public Domain

DON BURGESS, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. The majority holds the trial court abused his discretion on the issue of waiver. The Texas Supreme Court in Walker v. Packer, 827 S.W.2d 833, 839-40 (Tex.1992), guides us in this standard of review:
With respect to resolution of factual issues or matters committed to the trial court’s discretion, for example, the reviewing court may not substitute its judgment for that of the trial court. See Flores v. Fourth Court of Appeals, 777 S.W.2d 38, 41-42 (Tex.1989) (holding that determination of discoverability under Tex.R.Civ.P. 166b (3)(d) was within discretion of trial court); Johnson [v. Fourth Court of Appeals], 700 S.W.2d [916,] at 918 [Tex.1985] (holding that trial court was within discretion in granting a new trial “in the interest of justice and fairness”). The relator must establish that the trial court could reasonably have reached only one decision. Id. at 917. Even if the reviewing court would have decided the issue differently, it cannot disturb the trial court’s decision unless it is shown to be arbitrary and unreasonable. Johnson, 700 S.W.2d at 918.
The majority relies upon EZ Pawn Corp. v. Mancias, 934 S.W.2d 87 (Tex.1996), as a comparison of activity in determining waiver. In reviewing EZ Pawn, I find:
The record reveals very little activity in the case before EZPawn’s arbitration demand. EZPawn answered the suit, participated in a court-ordered telephonic docket control conference, sent Gonzalez interrogatories and request for production, noticed his deposition, and entered into an agreed order resetting *252the case for a later trial date than originally scheduled.
EZ Pawn, 934 S.W.2d at 90.
According to an affidavit filed on behalf of Ms. Anderson, in June 2001, the depositions of John Waymon Brown, Larry Robert Hammond, Russell Vance Buras and Michael Kirk Ross were taken without any objection or any reservation of rights under the arbitration agreement. In November 2001, Brown, Buras and Ross each responded to a request for production of documents; again without objection or any reservation of rights under the arbitration agreement. Each of the individual defendants answered interrogatories in March 2002; again without objection or any reservation of rights under the arbitration agreement. In April 2002, the defendants began their own discovery by requesting the depositions of Ms. Anderson, Bob Gus-tavsen and Rod Desroches. In June they noticed the depositions of Anderson and Gustavsen and took Ms. Anderson’s deposition. Since that deposition, the defendants served: a request for disclosure, a Rule 11 agreement for extension of time to respond to a request for production, a first set of interrogatories and a request for production, a first request for admissions, two depositions on written questions, a notice to depose Rod Desroches, a designation of expert witnesses, an amended notice to take Desroches’ deposition and a response to request for production.
The affidavit also avers the plaintiff had incurred legal expenses in excess of $63,000; which included expenses which would not have been allowed under arbitration procedures. Under the rules and procedures of the American Arbitration Association “the arbitrator may direct (i) the production of documents or other information, and (ii) the identification of any witnesses to be called.” There is no provision for admissions, interrogatories or depositions.
The trial judge was within reason to determine the defendants had substantially invoked the judicial process prior to requesting arbitration and that this had prejudiced the plaintiff. I do not believe the trial judge abused his discretion in denying the arbitration demand. I would affirm the court below.