57 So. 3d 994
Fla. Dist. Ct. App.
2011

Lead Opinion

SHEPHERD, J.

Affirmed. See Gen. Impact Glass & Windows Corp. v. Rollac Shutter of Tex., Inc., 8 So.3d 1165, 1167 (Fla. 3d DCA 2009) (finding no valid written arbitration agreement existed when the arbitration provision was not incorporated into all’ of the parties’ documents); Rolls-Royce PLC v. Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD., 960 So.2d 768 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007); Steve Owren, Inc. v. Connolly, 877 So.2d 918, 920 (Fla. 4th DCA 2004) (“[N]o party may be forced to submit a dispute to arbitration that the party did not intend and agree to arbitrate.”).

LAGOA, J., concurs.





Dissenting Opinion

SCHWARTZ, Senior Judge

(dissenting in part).

Of the two contractual arrangements involved in this case, I disagree that that the set of disputes arising from the first one is not arbitrable. While the arbitration clause is rendered somewhat uncertain by an apparently contrary provision, I think that the ambiguity should be resolved in accordance with the usual rule that favors arbitration. See BallenIsles Country Club, Inc. v. Dexter Realty, 24 So.3d 649, 652 (Fla. 4th DCA 2009) (“Arbitration is a preferred method of dispute resolution, so any doubt regarding the scope of an arbitration clause should be resolved in favor of arbitration.”); Morales v. Perez, 952 So.2d 605, 607 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007) (“[W]e are mindful of the policy favoring arbitration and recognize that any doubts concerning the scope of arbitration should be resolved in favor of arbitration.”); Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. v. Universal Employment Agency, 664 So.2d 1107, 1108 (Fla. 3d DCA 1995) (“[A]rbitration clauses like this are to be given the broadest possible interpretation to accomplish the salutary purpose of resolving controversies out of court.”); see also Land O’Sun Realty Ltd. v. REWJB Gas Invs., 685 So.2d 870, 872 (Fla. 3d DCA 1996) (concluding trial court properly resolved conflicting contract terms). Moreover, the fact that the agreement, which was otherwise fully performed and which was even sued upon, by the appellee, was not formally signed by the other side, is no bar to that relief. See Kolsky v. Jackson Square, LLC, 28 So.3d 965 (Fla. 3d DCA 2010).

The second arrangement involves no arbitration clause and is not “interrelated” to the first. Compare Ceradini v. IGT Servs., Inc., 959 So.2d 348, 351 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007). Therefore, I agree' that, as to that set of controversies, arbitration was properly denied.