{1} This case requires us to determine the validity of an arbitration agreement that binds only the employee to arbitration and that was signed by the employee after she was hired. Because we hold that the agreement to arbitrate is illusory in this case, we affirm the trial court’s denial of the employer’s motion to compel arbitration.
I. BACKGROUND
{2} On or about March 10, 1999, Melissa Heye (Plaintiff) applied for a position in the pro shop at the Paradise Hills Golf Course, a club managed by American Golf Corporation, Inc. (AGC). She was hired several days later. On March 19,1999, after Plaintiff was hired but before she began working on March 22,1999, AGC gave Plaintiff a number of documents, including the Co-Worker Alliance Handbook (the handbook). Page 20 of the handbook contained information about AGC’s arbitration policy; page 23 of the handbook included an acknowledgment form with a statement that the employee agrees “to be bound by the arbitration policy set forth on page 20 of this handbook.” Plaintiff signed the form. She worked for AGC until January 24, 2000. Plaintiff then filed a charge of employment discrimination with the New Mexico Human Rights Division.
{3} Defendants moved to compel binding arbitration pursuant to the acknowledgment form Plaintiff signed. Plaintiff argued for denial of the motion on several grounds: (1) that the agreement was illusory and not supported by consideration; (2) that the alleged agreement is unconscionable because it fails to provide Plaintiff with a reasonable means to resolve her claims; and (3) even if the agreement were valid, its scope does not cover all of Plaintiffs claims. After a hearing on the merits, the trial court issued a letter ruling on April 14, 2001, granting Defendants’ motion. That letter was not made part of the record. Shortly thereafter, Plaintiff filed a motion for reconsideration, citing “recently decided legal authority” — specifically, Zamprelli v. American Golf Corp., No. CIV 00-181 BB/RLP (D. N.M. April 12, 2001), an unreported ease in which United States District Judge Black denied AGC’s motion to compel arbitration based on an identical agreement. At the September 12, 2001, motion hearing, Plaintiff raised a second case: Dumais v. American Golf Corp.,
II. DISCUSSION
A. Standard of Review
{4} We agree with the parties that the appropriate standard of review for a trial court’s grant or denial of a motion to compel arbitration is de novo. Dumais II,
B. The Handbook and Arbitration Agreement
{5} There are two pages in the handbook that form the basis for the dispute as to whether a valid, enforceable arbitration agreement exists. Page 20 in the handbook discusses arbitration and states in pertinent part:
I agree that any claim of unlawful harassment or discrimination or claims of wrongful discharge, arising out of my employment with AGC, including public policy claims, contract claims and claims involving any applicable Federal, State, or Local statute, ordinance or regulation relating to the termination of my employment, employment discrimination, harassment or retaliation, will be resolved exclusively by final and binding arbitration and not by court action.... I acknowledge that I am knowingly and voluntarily waiving my right to pursue such claims in court and instead will pursue them through arbitration____This arbitration shall be the exclusive means of resolving any dispute(s) listed in this agreement and no other action will be brought in any court or administrative forum.
{6} We reproduce the text of the acknowledgment form on Page 23 in its entirety:
Acknowledgment
My signature below indicates that I have read this AGC Co-Worker Alliance Agreementand handbook and promise and agree to abide by its terms and conditions.
I further understand that the Company reserves the right to amend, supplement, rescind or revise any policy, practice, or benefit described in this handbook — other than employment at-will provisions- — as it deems appropriate.
I acknowledge that my employment is at-will, which means that either the Company or I have the absolute right to end the employment relationship at any time with or without notice or reason. I further understand that the president of American Golf Corporation is the only authorized representative of the Company who can modify this at-will employment relationship and the contents of this handbook, and that any such modifications must be made in writing.
I further acknowledge that I have read and agree to be bound by the arbitration policy set forth on page 20 of this handbook.
{7} Defendants contend that the terms of the agreement compel Plaintiff to arbitrate her claims. Since Defendants discuss both the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), 9 U.S.C. §§ 1-16 (2000), and the New Mexico Uniform Arbitration Act (NMUAA), NMSA 1978, §§ 44-7-1 to -22 (1971, repealed by NMSA 1978, §§ 44-7A-1 to -32 (2001)), in then-motion to compel, we proceed under the assumption that they intend both acts to govern.
{8} We agree with Defendants that the federal and state acts portend a policy favoring the enforcement of arbitration agreements. See Gilmer v. Interstate/Johnson Lane Corp.,
{9} We interpret an arbitration agreement under the rules of state contract law. First Options,
C. AGC’s Agreement to Arbitrate
{10} The trial court’s order denying Defendants’ motion to compel arbitration states
{11} We observe that in Dumais II, the Tenth Circuit joined other circuits “in holding that an arbitration agreement allowing one party the unfettered right to alter the arbitration agreement’s existence or its scope is illusory.” Id. at 1219 (citing Floss v. Ryan’s Family Steak Houses, Inc.,
{12} “A valid contract must possess mutuality of obligation. Mutuality means both sides must provide consideration.” Bd. of Educ. v. James Hamilton Constr. Co.,
{13} AGC points to language on page 20 of the handbook, stating that arbitration is the “exclusive means of resolving any disputéis),” and argues that this language does not allow AGC to modify or ignore the agreement to arbitrate. Plaintiff counters that the language on page 20 conflicts with that of the acknowledgment form on page 23; the language on page 23 provides “that the Company reserves the right to amend, supplement, rescind or revise any policy, practice, or benefit described in this handbook — other than employment at-will provisions — as it deems appropriate.” As a result, Plaintiff contends, AGC is “free to amend, supplement, rescind or revise the policy regarding arbitration at its whim.” Plaintiff concludes that “[a]t best, [AGC] is left with conflicting, and therefore ambiguous, terms regarding its ability to unilaterally change the contract.”
{14} We construe the language of the entire contract as a whole. Allsup’s Convenience Stores, Inc. v. N. River Ins. Co.,
{15} The contract at issue in this case is a preprinted form contract. We think it fair to assume it was drafted by AGC; there is no suggestion that AGC sought or received any input from Plaintiff in connection with the drafting of the language. Therefore, we construe the arbitration agreement against AGC as the drafter. We disagree with AGC that it was “equally obligated to ... arbitrate all claims.” To the contrary, the agreement provided in effect that only one thing would remain unchangeable, namely, Plaintiff’s at-will employment status. It expressly reserved for itself the “right to amend, supplement, rescind or revise any policy, practice, or benefit described in this handbook — other than employment at-will provisions — as it deems appropriate.” The agreement, in essence, gives AGC unfettered discretion to terminate arbitration at any time, while binding Plaintiff to arbitration. AGC remains free to selectively abide by its promise to arbitrate; the promise, therefore, is illusory. See Lukoski,
D. Other Consideration
{16} AGC also argues that other consideration — specifically, Plaintiffs employment and continued employment — provides the necessary consideration to make the agreement enforceable. We disagree because we determine that there is no other consideration that can support the arbitration agreement. We find it unnecessary to resolve this issue because AGC’s part of the arbitration promise is illusory.
E. Motion to Reconsider
{17} Finally, Defendants argue that the trial court abused its discretion when granting the motion to reconsider. “An abuse of discretion occurs when the ruling is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances of the case. We cannot say the trial court abused its discretion by its ruling unless we can characterize it as clearly untenable or not justified by reason.” State v. Rojo,
F.Issues Not Addressed
{18} Plaintiff urges this Court to apply the collateral estoppel doctrine and argues that the question of the validity of AGC’s arbitration agreement was actually litigated and decided in Zamprelli, Dumais I, and Dumais II and that AGC had a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue in the previous cases. We agree with Defendants that Plaintiff did not raise this argument below. We also recognize that, generally, an appellee may raise any ground for affirmance on appeal and need not preserve the issue. State v. Todisco,
III. CONCLUSION
{19} For the above reasons, we affirm the trial court’s denial of Defendants’ motion to compel arbitration.
{20} IT IS SO ORDERED.
Notes
. The Tenth Circuit later affirmed Judge Vasquez's decision in Dumais v. American Golf Corp.,
