EquiFirst Corporation v. Melvin Jackson ( 2004 )


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  •                        IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
    NO. 2005-CA-00621-SCT
    EQUIFIRST CORPORATION
    v.
    MELVIN JACKSON, XAVIER MANNING AND
    BRENDA MANNING
    DATE OF JUDGMENT:                           12/08/2004
    TRIAL JUDGE:                                HON. W. ASHLEY HINES
    COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED:                  LEFLORE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
    ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT:                    WILLIAM CLINTON PENTECOST
    SHERYL BEY
    ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEES:                    FRANK S. THACKSTON, JR.
    C. W. WALKER, III
    NATURE OF THE CASE:                         CIVIL - CONTRACT
    DISPOSITION:                                REVERSED AND REMANDED - 02/02/2006
    MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
    MANDATE ISSUED:
    EN BANC.
    EASLEY, JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:
    PROCEDURAL HISTORY
    ¶1.    Melvin Jackson (Jackson) and Xavier and Brenda Manning (the Mannings), collectively
    known as “the Borrowers,” filed suit against EquiFirst Corporation (EquiFirst) and Mortgage
    Stop, Inc., (Mortgage Stop) in the Circuit Court of Leflore County, Mississippi.           The
    Borrowers alleged various causes of actions associated with the contention that Mortgage
    Stop, with EquiFirst’s knowledge, consent, and encouragement, targeted individuals to purchase
    homes at inflated values. EquiFirst removed the case to federal court where EquiFirst filed its
    first motion to compel arbitration.       The case was remanded to the Circuit Court of Leflore
    County.
    ¶2.       EquiFirst then filed another motion seeking to compel arbitration.           After conducting
    a hearing, the trial court denied the motion to compel arbitration.           The trial court’s order
    provided that the motion to compel arbitration was “denied without prejudice to [the]
    Defendant’s right to assert the arbitration issue after discovery is complete.”        EquiFirst sought
    permission for interlocutory appeal of the order denying the motion to compel arbitration
    from the trial court.     The trial court certified its ruling for interlocutory appeal. EquiFirst filed
    its notice of appeal to this Court.
    ¶3.       On appeal, EquiFirst raises the following issue: whether the trial court erred in denying
    EquiFirst’s motion to compel arbitration.
    FACTS
    ¶4.       Jackson contacted Kenneth Ellis (Ellis) regarding a house for sale at 118 Sycamore
    Street, Greenwood, Mississippi.       Jackson obtained Ellis’s name from a Coldwell Banker’s “for
    sale” sign in front of the house.           Jackson contacted Mortgage Stop, a third-party, retail
    mortgage broker, in Jackson, Mississippi, about purchasing the home.                  Mortgage Stop
    submitted Jackson’s application to various wholesale mortgage lenders, including EquiFirst.
    EquiFirst accepted the terms and conditions and entered into a mortgage with Jackson at the
    loan closing.    Ellis arranged the loan closing at the Fisher Law Office.         Bobby Fisher is a
    Greenwood attorney selected by EquiFirst to act as its closing attorney.          Jackson was present
    at the loan closing along with Ellis, Fisher, and the home sellers.
    2
    ¶5.     Similarly, the Mannings contacted Ellis about helping them purchase a home. The
    Mannings decided they would purchase a home at 205 Fitzhugh in Itta Bena, Mississippi. The
    Mannings contend Ellis supplied the name of someone at Mortgage Stop in Jackson for
    financing.     Mortgage Stop submitted the Mannings’ application to various wholesale mortgage
    lenders, including EquiFirst.    EquiFirst accepted the terms and conditions and entered into a
    mortgage with the Mannings at the loan closing. Ellis arranged the loan closing at the Fisher
    Law Office. The Mannings were present at the closing along with Ellis, Fisher, Lee Pruitt, and
    two unknown men.
    DISCUSSION
    ¶6.     EquiFirst contends the trial court erred in failing to compel arbitration because the
    parties agreed to arbitrate the disputes in question.       EquiFirst maintains the signed arbitration
    provisions, arbitration riders, are not prohibited by a statute or policy or any external legal
    constraints.     The Borrowers contend the trial court properly denied the motion to compel
    arbitration.    The Borrowers do not contest that they signed the arbitration provisions.        The
    Borrowers state they were told the “title/name” of each document and told that they had to sign
    each document and that one of the documents mentioned to them was an arbitration rider. The
    Borrowers do not contend anyone prevented them from reading the documents. However, they
    admit they did not read the provisions or any of the documents signed at the loan closing.
    ¶7.     Each of the arbitration riders were on a separate document and contained the following
    language:
    3
    Any claim, dispute or controversy (whether in contract, tort or otherwise)
    arising from or related to the loan evidenced by the Note, including but not
    limited to all statutory claims, any claim, dispute or controversy that may arise
    out of or is based on the relationships which result from the Borrower’s
    application to the lender for the loan, the closing of the loan, or the servicing of
    the loan, or any dispute or controversy over the applicability or enforceability
    of this arbitration agreement or the entire agreement between Borrower and
    Lender (collectively “claims”), shall be resolved, upon the election of either
    Borrower or Lender, by binding arbitration, and not by court action.
    ¶8.     Furthermore,    directly   above    the   Borrowers’   signatures,   all   capital, bold-face
    typesetting, the additional language provided:
    NOTICE:   WHEN YOU SIGN THIS ARBITRATION RIDER, YOU ARE
    AGREEING THAT EVERY DISPUTE DESCRIBED ABOVE MAY BE
    DECIDED EXCLUSIVELY BY ARBITRATION. YOU ARE GIVING UP
    RIGHTS YOU MIGHT HAVE TO LITIGATE THOSE CLAIMS AND
    DISPUTES IN A COURT OR JURY TRIAL OR TO PARTICIPATE AS A
    REPRESENTATIVE OR MEMBER OF ANY CLASS OF CLAIMANTS IN
    CONNECTION WITH A CLAIM OR DISPUTE.       DISCOVERY IN
    ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS IS LIMITED IN THE MANNER
    PROVIDED BY THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RULES OF
    ARBITRATION. THE ARBITRATOR’S DECISION WILL GENERALLY
    BE FINAL AND BINDING. OTHER RIGHTS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE
    IF YOU WENT TO COURT MAY ALSO NOT BE AVAILABLE IN
    ARBITRATION. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ THIS ENTIRE
    ARBITRATION AGREEMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING THIS
    ARBITRATION RIDER.
    BY SIGNING BELOW, Borrower accepts and agrees to the provisions
    contained in this Rider.
    ¶9.     The decision to grant or deny a motion to compel arbitration is reviewed by this Court
    de novo. Doleac v. Real Estate Professionals, LLC., 
    911 So. 2d 496
    , 501 (Miss. 2005); East
    Ford, Inc. v. Taylor, 
    826 So. 2d 709
    , 713 (Miss. 2002). "[A]rbitration is a matter of contract
    and a party cannot be required to submit to arbitration any dispute which he has not agreed so
    4
    to submit." Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. v. Battle, 
    873 So. 2d 79
    , 83 (Miss. 2004) (quoting
    AT & T Technologies, Inc. v. Communications Workers of America, 
    475 U.S. 643
    , 648, 
    106 S. Ct. 1415
    , 1418, 
    89 L. Ed. 2d 648
     (1986)).
    ¶10.   “This Court has consistently recognized the existence of ‘a liberal federal policy
    favoring arbitration agreements.’” Terminix International, Inc. v. Rice, 
    904 So. 2d 1051
    ,
    1054-55 (Miss. 2004) (quoting Russell v. Performance Toyota, Inc., 
    826 So. 2d 719
    , 722
    (Miss. 2002)). Arbitration is firmly embedded in both our federal and state laws.            Pass
    Termite & Pest Control, Inc. v. Walker, 
    904 So. 2d 1030
    , 1032-33 (Miss. 2004) (citing
    Russell, 
    826 So. 2d 719
     (Miss. 2002); East Ford, 
    826 So. 2d 709
     (Miss. 2002); IP
    Timberlands Operating Co. v. Denmiss Corp., 
    726 So. 2d 96
     (Miss. 1998)).
    I.      WHETHER THE ARBITRATION RIDER IS PART OF A
    CONTRACT EVIDENCING INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
    ¶11.   In Battle, 873 So. 2d at 82, the Court stated:
    The Federal Arbitration Act provides:
    A written provision in any . . . contract evidencing a transaction
    involving commerce to settle by arbitration a controversy
    thereafter arising out of such contract or transaction . . . shall be
    valid, irrevocable, and enforceable, save upon such grounds as
    exist at law or in equity for the revocation of any contract.
    
    9 U.S.C. § 2
    . This Court "will respect the right of an individual or an entity to agree in advance
    of a dispute to arbitration or other alternative dispute resolution." Russell, 826 So. 2d at 721-
    22(¶ 6) (citing IP Timberlands, 726 So. 2d at 104 (¶ 29)). This Court has endorsed the
    undisputed province of the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § § 1-16 (FAA), and recognized
    5
    its clear authority to govern agreements formed in interstate commerce wherein a contractual
    provision provides for alternative dispute resolution. IP Timberlands, 726 So. 2d at 107.
    ¶12.      This Court has held:
    In determining the validity of a motion to compel arbitration under the Federal
    Arbitration Act, courts generally conduct a two-pronged inquiry. The first prong
    has two considerations: (1) whether there is a valid arbitration agreement and (2)
    whether the parties' dispute is within the scope of the arbitration agreement." .
    . . The second prong considers "whether legal constraints external to the parties'
    agreement foreclosed arbitration of those claims.
    Doleac, 911 So. 2d at 501 (citing Sullivan v. Mounger, 
    882 So. 2d 129
    , 132 (Miss. 2004)).
    ¶13.      In Vicksburg Partners, L.P. v. Stevens, 
    911 So. 2d 507
    , 514-15 (Miss. 2005), we
    stated:
    A threshold determination which must be considered is whether the
    parties' admission agreement falls within the provisions of § 2 of the Federal
    Arbitration Act. The FAA requires "that 'we rigorously enforce agreements to
    arbitrate.' " East Ford, 826 So. 2d at 713 (citing Shearson/Am. Exp. Inc. v.
    McMahon, 
    482 U.S. 220
    , 226, 
    107 S. Ct. 2332
    , 2337, 
    96 L.Ed.2d 185
     (1987)).
    Specifically, § 2 of the Federal Arbitration Act, relates to the enforceability of
    arbitration provisions . . . .
    In Allied-Bruce Terminix Companies v. Dobson, 
    513 U.S. 265
    , 
    115 S. Ct. 834
    , 
    130 L. Ed. 2d 753
     (1995), . . . the Supreme Court concluded that the
    phrase "involving commerce" is to be interpreted broadly and was the functional
    equivalent of the phrase "affecting commerce", which signals Congress' intent
    to exercise its Commerce Clause powers to the fullest extent. 
    Id. at 273-74
    ,
    
    115 S. Ct. 834
    .
    In 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court once again sought to quantify the broad
    effect of the FAA as implemented through Congress' Commerce Clause power.
    In Citizens Bank v. Alafabco, Inc., 
    539 U.S. 52
    , 
    123 S. Ct. 2037
    , 
    156 L. Ed. 2d 46
     (2003), . . . the U.S. Supreme Court held that "Congress' Commerce Clause
    power 'may be exercised in individual cases without showing any specific effect
    upon interstate commerce' if in the aggregate the economic activity in question
    6
    would represent 'a general practice . . . subject to federal control.' " 
    539 U.S. at 56-57
    , 
    123 S. Ct. at
    2040 (citing Mandeville Island Farms, Inc. v. Am. Crystal
    Sugar Co., 
    334 U.S. 219
    , 236, 
    68 S. Ct. 996
    , 
    92 L. Ed. 1328
     (1948)). See also
    Perez v. United States, 
    402 U.S. 146
    , 154, 
    91 S. Ct. 1357
    , 
    28 L. Ed. 2d 686
    (1971); Wickard v. Filburn, 
    317 U.S. 111
    , 127-128, 
    63 S. Ct. 82
    , 
    87 L. Ed. 122
     (1942).
    This case clearly falls within the broad purview of the Federal Arbitration
    Act. Accordingly, singular agreements between care facilities and care patients,
    when taken in the aggregate, affect interstate commerce. As stated in Alafabco,
    "[o]nly the general practice need bear on interstate commerce in a substantial
    way." 
    539 U.S. at 57
    , 
    123 S. Ct. at
    2040 (citing Maryland v. Wirtz, 
    392 U.S. 183
    , 196-97 n. 27, 
    88 S. Ct. 2017
    , 
    20 L. Ed. 2d 1020
     (1968); NLRB v. Jones
    & Laughlin Steel Corp., 
    301 U.S. 1
    , 37-38, 
    57 S. Ct. 615
    , 
    81 L. Ed. 893
    (1937)).
    ¶14.    Here, as in Vicksburg Partners, the contract in the aggregate involves economic
    activity affecting interstate commerce.    Id. at 515.      Furthermore, the Borrowers are all
    resident citizens of Mississippi, and EquiFirst is a North Carolina corporation with its
    principal place of business in North Carolina. Therefore, we find the Federal Arbitration Act
    is applicable. Id.
    II.     WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING
    EQUIFIRST’S MOTION TO COMPEL ARBITRATION.
    ¶15.    We have distinguished between procedural and substantive unconscionability.            East
    Ford, 826 So. 2d at 714. In East Ford, this Court stated:
    The courts have recognized "two types of unconscionability, procedural
    and substantive." Pridgen v. Green Tree Fin. Servicing Corp., 
    88 F. Supp.2d 655
     (S.D. Miss.2000) (quoting York v. Georgia-Pac. Corp., 
    585 F. Supp. 1265
    ,
    1278 (N.D. Miss.1984)). Procedural unconscionability may be proved by
    showing "a lack of knowledge, lack of voluntariness, inconspicuous print, the use
    of complex legalistic language, disparity in sophistication or bargaining power
    7
    of the parties and/or a lack of opportunity to study the contract and inquire about
    the contract terms." 
    Id.
    Substantive unconscionability may be proven by showing the terms of the
    arbitration agreement to be oppressive. York, 585 F. Supp. at 1278.
    Substantively unconscionable clauses have been held to include waiver of choice
    of forum and waiver of certain remedies.
    ¶16.    Here, the Borrowers’ allegations fall into the category of procedural unconscionability.
    The substance of the Borrowers’ claims made in the affidavits of Melvin Jackson and Brenda
    Manning are that they did not read the documents they signed at the loan closing, including the
    arbitration rider, to purchase their homes and they were told that they had to sign each
    document.     The Borrowers admit in their affidavits they were told the “title/name” of each
    document and that one of the documents was called an arbitration rider. Their contention is that
    “no one told us we had the right to read any of the documents or to ask questions.” However,
    nothing indicates that anyone prevented them from reading the documents or asking any
    questions.1
    ¶17.    In McKenzie Check Advance of Mississippi, L.L.C. v. Hardy, 
    866 So. 2d 446
    , 455
    (Miss. 2004), we stated:
    It is well settled under Mississippi law that a contracting party is under a legal
    obligation to read a contract before signing it.       First Family Financial
    Services, Inc. v. Fairley, 
    173 F. Supp. 2d 565
    , 572 (S.D. Miss. 2001). See
    Godfrey, Bassett & Kuykendall Architects, Ltd. v. Huntington Lumber &
    Supply Co., 
    584 So. 2d 1254
    , 1257 (Miss. 1991). See also Koenig v. Calcote,
    1
    The Borrowers also argue that the attorney hired to handled the loan closing for
    EquiFirst, Fisher, had an obligation to explain the contracts to them. However, the Borrowers
    acknowledge Fisher was acting as agent for EquiFirst and that he was hired by EquiFirst.
    8
    
    199 Miss. 435
    , 
    25 So. 2d 763
     (1946); McCubbins v. Morgan, 
    199 Miss. 153
    ,
    
    23 So. 2d 926
     (1945).
    ¶18.    Jackson alleged in his affidavit that he had a twelfth grade education. Jackson contended
    that, despite his education level, he has difficulty reading.     However, Jackson does not claim
    that he informed anyone at the loan closing that he had difficulty reading.         Brenda Manning
    alleged in her affidavit that she felt hurried because the loan closing could not be rescheduled
    after 5:00 p.m. to accommodate her husband’s work schedule. She stated that her husband did
    not get off work until 5:00 p.m. However, she stated they had approximately a week’s notice
    of the loan closing date and time. Furthermore, her husband attended the loan closing.
    ¶19.     In Northwest Fin. Miss., Inc. v. McDonald, 
    905 So.2d 1187
    , 1194 (Miss. 2005), this
    Court addressed a similar situation where the borrowers claimed the lenders did not explain
    what arbitration was and did not tell the borrowers they were giving up their rights to a jury
    trial. The Court held:
    In Washington Mutual Fin. Group, LLC v. Bailey, 
    364 F.3d 260
     (5th Cir.
    2004), the court ruled that under Mississippi law, the inability of borrowers to
    read did not render them incapable of possessing adequate knowledge of the
    arbitration agreement they signed. 
    Id. at 264-65
    . The court also concluded
    that the trial court erred by finding the agreeme nt unconscionable under
    Mississippi law because the lenders failed to specifically inform the
    plaintiffs that they were signing an arbitration agreeme nt. In the present
    case, each borrower signed a single-page arbitration agreement, written in plain
    language. None of the borrowers claimed to be unable to read. There is no
    claim that the borrowers asked anyone to explain the process of
    arbitration or to explain what arbitration meant; the borrowers simply
    state that no one informed them that they were signing an arbitration agreement,
    or told them what an arbitration agreement was. Any reasonable person
    reading this document prior to signing it would expect to be subject to
    arbitration and would know that they were waiving their right to a jury
    9
    trial. There is also no evidence that a reasonable person would not sign
    this document in return for a desired loan.
    Northwest, 905 So. 2d at 1194 (emphasis added).
    ¶20.    As previously stated, the language clearly stated in bold typesetting above the signature
    line that by signing the arbitration rider they were waiving their right to litigate those claims
    and disputes in a court or jury trial or to participate as a representative or member of any class
    of claimants in connection with a claim or dispute.          The provision further stated that other
    rights they would have if they went to court may also not be available in arbitration.      Clearly,
    a review of the arbitration rider reveals it was conspicuous, and the language was not
    convoluted. In Russell, we held:
    The arbitration agreement in the Purchase Agreement is preceded by boldface
    and capitalized headings and was almost immediately succeeded by the signature
    line. In Mississippi, a person is charged with knowing the contents of any
    document that he executes. J.R. Watkins Co. v. Runnels, 
    252 Miss. 87
    , 96,
    
    172 So. 2d 567
    , 571 (1965) ("A person cannot avoid a written contract
    which he has entered into on the ground that he did not read it or have it
    read to him.").
    826 So. 2d at 726 (emphasis added).
    ¶21.    Based on the analysis above, we find the trial court erred in denying EquiFirst’s motion
    to compel arbitration under the arbitration rider signed by the Borrowers.
    CONCLUSION
    ¶22.    The trial court erred in denying EquiFirst's motion to compel arbitration. The
    transaction involved interstate commerce, and the Borrowers signed the arbitration agreement.
    The Federal Arbitration Act is applicable to the agreement between the parties. There was no
    10
    evidence presented that the Borrowers did not knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waive
    their constitutional right to a jury trial when they signed the arbitration agreement with
    EquiFirst. Therefore, the judgment of the Circuit Court of Leflore County is reversed, and this
    case is remanded to the trial court to compel arbitration.
    ¶23.    REVERSED AND REMANDED.
    SMITH, C.J., WALLER, P.J., CARLSON AND DICKINSON, JJ., CONCUR.
    COBB, P.J., CONCURS IN RESULT ONLY. GRAVES, J., DISSENTS WITHOUT
    SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION. DIAZ AND RANDOLPH, JJ., NOT PARTICIPATING.
    11