Allen D. DeArmond v. E. Jacob Construction, Inc.

• Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
• Decided: April 8, 2022
• Docket: 2021CA0981
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

STATE OF LOUISIANA COURT OF APPEAL FIRST CIRCUIT

DOCKET NUMBER 2021 CA 0981

ALLEN D. DEARMOND

VERSUS

E. JACOB CONSTRUCTION, INC.

Decision Rendered: APR 0 8 2022

APPEALED FROM THE 19th JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, SECTION 24 EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH, LOUISIANA DOCKET NUMBER 689, 599

HONORABLE DONALD R. JOHNSON, JUDGE

John Dale Powers Attorneys for Plaintiff/ Appellant Andrew P. Sellers, Jr. Allen D. DeArmond Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Nancy A. Richeaux Attorneys for Defendant/ Appellee Sharon B. Kyle E. Jacob Construction, Inc. Steven K. Schilling Baton Rouge, Louisiana

BEFORE: McDONALD, LANIER, and WOLFE, JJ. McDONALD, J.

Allen D. DeArmond appeals a judgment confirming an arbitration award in favor of

E. Jacob Construction, Inc. ( EJC). After review, we reverse the trial court judgment, modify

the May 25, 2020 arbitration award, and render judgment.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

In April 2018, Mr. DeArmond and EJC entered a contract whereby EJC agreed to

repair flood -related damages to a house Mr. DeArmond owned in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The original contract price was $ 56, 758. 20, to be paid in five installments based on

completion progress. Mr. DeArmond paid EJC two installments of at least $ 27, 210. 00. After

EJC allegedly refused to complete punch list items, Mr. DeArmond did not pay the remaining

three installments, leaving an unpaid balance of $ 29, 548. 20. EJC then filed a lien against

the project.

After EJC refused to remove the lien, Mr. DeArmond filed this breach of contract suit

against EJC. EJC answered the petition and filed a reconventional demand against Mr.

DeArmond for the remaining $ 29, 548. 20. In May 2020, the parties signed a Settlement

Agreement agreeing to retain Jerry Householder, an engineer ( the Arbitrator), to arbitrate

their dispute. The Settlement Agreement pertinently provided:

1) In order to avoid the inherent risks and uncertainties of litigation the Parties hereby settle all of their respective claims and irrevocably bind themselves to the following ... :

Jerry L. Householder, P. E.[,] shall be retained at the parties' mutual and equal cost to inspect the Property, the contract between the parties, contract accounting, and the inspection report prepared by William H. Cress, Jr., A. I. A. (" Cress Report"). After said inspection( s), Dr. Householder shall determine:

A. Whether the alleged defects or deficiencies identified in the Cress Report Items") comply with industry standards and/ or whether same were included in [ EJC' s] scope of work;

B. For any item not in compliance with industry standards, whether same is included in EJC' s scope of work and should therefore result in a credit to [ DeArmond] and if so, the value of that credit;

C. Whether [DeArmond] is due any credit for work not performed and the value of same; and

D. Given all of the above, the amount of the payment, if any, [ DeArmond] shall pay to [ EJC] for the value of work performed. Or, if applicable, the amount of any payment [EJC] shall make to [ DeArmond] to correct or complete items in [ EJC' s] scope of work.

Said independent determination by Dr. Householder shall be binding on both parties. 2 According to the parties, the Arbitrator conducted an on- site arbitration hearing at

the house that was the subject of the dispute. On May 25, 2020, the Arbitrator wrote a

letter to counsel for both parties setting forth his decision. He noted that the undisputed

unpaid balance was $ 29, 548. 20, before adjustments for deficiencies or incomplete work.

He addressed eight punch list items identified by Mr. DeArmond. He found in EJC' s favor

on all but two of the items. The Arbitrator reduced the $ 29, 548. 20 unpaid balance by

860. 00 for those two items, awarded EJC $ 10, 000. 00 in attorney fees, and $ 1, 830. 00 in

interest on unpaid invoices, resulting in a final award in EJC' s favor, and against Mr.

DeArmond, of $40, 598. 20. 1

On June 9, 2020, pursuant to the Louisiana Arbitration Law, La. R. S. 9: 4210, etseq.,

Mr. DeArmond filed a Motion to Vacate, Modify, or Correct Arbitration Award, claiming the

Arbitrator was evidently partial or had so imperfectly executed his powers that a mutual,

final, and definite award was not made. EJC responded with a Motion to Confirm Arbitration

Award, contending none of the exclusive statutory grounds for vacating, modifying, or

correcting the award existed. The trial court held a hearing on the motions, and at the

hearing' s conclusion, directed the parties to submit proposed findings of fact and conclusions

of law. After those submissions, the trial court signed a judgment on June 7, 2021, denying

Mr. DeArmond' s motion, granting EJC' s motion, and confirming the Arbitrator' s May 25, 2020

arbitration award.

Mr. DeArmond appealed from the adverse judgment. After the appeal was lodged,

this court issued an interim order instructing the trial court to sign an amended judgment

and to attach the arbitration award. The trial court complied; thus, this court supplemented

the appellate record with the amended judgment, and maintained the appeal.

On appeal, Mr. DeArmond contends the trial court erred in confirming the arbitration

award. He claims the Arbitrator's award should be vacated because: ( 1) the award shows

evident partiality; ( 2) the Arbitrator exceeded his powers in awarding EJC attorney fees

under the Louisiana Open Account Statute and in awarding ECJ interest on unpaid invoices;

and, ( 3) the award shows a material mathematical miscalculation.

1 We address a mathematical error in the award later in this opinion. 3 LOUSIANA ARBITRATION LAW

As a matter of public policy, Louisiana strongly favors arbitration; thus, arbitration

awards are presumed valid. Crescent Prop. Ptrs, LLC v. American Mfrs Mut. Ins Co., 14-

0969 ( La. 1/ 28/ 15), 158 So. 3d 798, 803. A court may vacate, modify, or correct an

arbitration award based only on the exclusive grounds specified in La. R. S. 9: 4210 and 4211,

which do not include errors of law or fact. Id, at 803- 04. Of relevance here, under La. R. S.

9: 4210B and D, the trial court shall vacate an arbitration award where the arbitrator was

evidently partial or corrupt, or where the arbitrator exceeded his powers or so imperfectly

executed them that he did not make a mutual, final, and definite award upon the subject

matter.2 And, under La. R. S. 9: 4211A, a trial court shall modify or correct an arbitration

award where the award contains an evident material miscalculation of figures. A court,

however, is not entitled to substitute its judgment for that of the arbitrator chosen by the

parties. Crescent Prop. Ptrs, LLC, 158 So. 3d at 803. Rather, a court's determination is

limited to whether the party challenging the award has proven one or more of the specific

statutory grounds for invalidation. Id, at 804; St. George Fire Prot. Dist. No. 2 v. J. Reed

Constr., Inc., 17- 1006 ( La. App. 1 Cir. 2/ 20/ 18), 243 So. 3d 145, 148. An appellate court

conducts a de novo review of a trial court judgment confirming or vacating an arbitration

award. Goodrich Petroleum Co., LLC v. MRC Energy Co., 13- 1435 ( La. App. 4 Cir. 4/ 16/ 14),

137 So. 3d 200, 207.

Evident Partiality

Mr. DeArmond first contends we should vacate and/ or modify the arbitration award

because the Arbitrator's adverse decision regarding several items on the punch list shows

he was evidently partial. Specifically, Mr. DeArmond challenges the Arbitrator's decision in

favor of ECJ regarding the installation of cabinet doors, alleged uninstalled hardware and

switch plates, and a missing microwave hood/ vent.

To constitute evident partiality, it must clearly appear that the arbitrator was biased,

prejudiced, or personally interested in the dispute. Firmin v. Garber, 353 So. 2d 975, 978

2 While other circuit courts have adopted a " manifest disregard for the law" as an additional basis for vacating an arbitration award, this court has adhered to the statutory standard established by La. R. S. 9: 4210. Bergeron v. Patel, 16- 0600 ( La. App. 1 Cir. 5/ 17/ 17), 2017 WL 2170142, * 4, n. 3, and cases cited therein. 4 La. 1977). Proof of evident partiality requires more than an appearance of bias. A

challenging party must show that a reasonable person would have to conclude that an

arbitrator was partial to the other party to the arbitration. In re Arbitration Between U.5.

Turnkey Expl., Inc. & PSI, Inc., 577 So. 2d 1131, 1135 ( La. App. 1 Cir. 1991). After our de

novo review of the record, we conclude Mr. DeArmond has failed to produce evidence

showing that a reasonable person would have to conclude that the Arbitrator was evidently

partial to ECJ. The fact that the Arbitrator ruled against Mr. DeArmond on the punch list

items is not evidence that he was partial to ECJ. See Bell Aerospace Co, Div, of Textron,

Inc. v. Local 516, Intern. Union, 500 F. 2d 921, 923 ( 2nd Cir. 1974) and DeVore v, IHC

Hospitals, Inc., 884 P. 2d 1246, 1257 ( Utah 1994) ( both cases noting that an arbitrator' s

conclusions in the winning party's favor do not establish partiality); also see Crescent Prop.

Ptrs, LLC, 158 So. 3d at 808 ( explaining that an arbitrator is not guilty of misconduct merely

because he could have rendered a different award). And, even if the Arbitrator's decision

included legal or factual errors as to the punch list items, such grounds do not merit vacating

his award. Id., 158 So. 3d at 804; also see Mack Energy Co. v. Expert Oil and Gas, LLC, 14-

1127 ( La. 1/ 28/ 15), 159 So. 3d 437, 442. The parties agreed to be bound by the Arbitrator's

decision regarding their dispute, and this court may not substitute its judgment for the

Arbitrator' s judgment. Crescent Prop. Ptrs, LLC, 158 So. 3d at 803. This assignment of

error is without merit.

Attorney Fees and Interest

Mr. DeArmond also contends the Arbitrator exceeded his powers by awarding ECJ

attorney fees and interest on unpaid invoices.

Regarding attorney fees, it is undisputed that neither the parties' contract nor their

Settlement Agreement provided for the recovery of attorney fees by a prevailing party.

However, attorney fees may be awarded if allowed by statute. In his award, the Arbitrator

awarded $ 10, 000. 00 in attorney fees to ECJ under the Louisiana Open Account Statute, La.

R. S. 9: 2781, et seq.

Louisiana Revised Statutes 9: 2781D defines an open account as " any account for

which a part or all of the balance is past due, whether or not the account reflects one or

0 more transactions and whether or not at the time of contracting the parties expected future

transactions." If a debtor fails to pay an open account within 30 days after the claimant

sends written demand therefor correctly setting forth the amount owed, the debtor " shall

be liable to the claimant for reasonable attorney fees ... when judgment on the claim is

rendered in favor of the claimant." La. R. S. 9: 2781A. Citation and service of a petition

shall be deemed written demand for the purpose of La. R. S. 9: 2781A.

Under the plain reading of La. R. S. 9: 27811), there is no requirement that there must

be more than one transaction between the parties, nor is there any requirement that the

parties anticipate future transactions. Frey Plumbing Co., Inc. v. Foster, 07- 1091 ( La.

2/ 26/ 08), 996 So. 2d 969, 972 ( per cunam). Under Frey, which directs us to apply the

language of La. R. S. 9: 2781D as written, an open account includes " any account" and

nowhere in the statute are construction accounts or contracts specifically excluded.

Advanced Leveling & Concrete Solutions v. Lathan Co., Inc., 20- 0040 ( La. App. 1 Cir.

12/ 10/ 20), 316 So -3d 509, 513- 14; SBL Constr., LLC v. Eymard, 18- 1691 ( La. App. 1 Cir.

11/ 12/ 19), 289 So. 3d 1079, 1083; R.L. Drywall, Inc. v. B& CElec., Inc., 13- 1592 ( La. App.

1 Cir. 5/ 2/ 14), 2014 WL 3559390, * 5- 6.

In this case, ECJ filed a reconventional demand ( deemed a " written demand" under

La. R. S. 9: 2781A) against Mr. DeArmond alleging he owed ECJ a past due contractual

balance of $ 29, 548. 20, and Mr. DeArmond did not pay ECJ within 30 days of that written

demand. The Arbitrator reduced the amount demanded by $ 860. 00, due to defective or

incomplete work involving painting and a cabinet door, resulting in an award to ECJ for

28, 688. 20. Under a plain reading of La. R. S. 9: 2781, as interpreted by Frey and its

progeny, when the Arbitrator rendered that judgment in ECJ' s favor, Mr. DeArmond became

liable to ECJ for reasonable attorney fees under La. R. S. 9: 2781A. Accordingly, the

Arbitrator did not exceed his powers by awarding ECJ reasonable attorney fees under the

Louisiana Open Account Statute.

Regarding the interest award, the Arbitrator's decision states, " I calculate that the

interest on the unpaid invoices [ is] $ 1, 830. 00." Mr. DeArmond contends the Arbitrator

exceeded his powers in awarding interest, because the parties' contract did not provide for

11 such, the Arbitrator gave no statutory authority for the interest award, nor did he give

authority for his reliance on " unpaid invoices" to calculate interest when the agreed upon

price was based on a contract, not invoices.

As earlier noted, a court may vacate, modify, or correct an arbitration award based

only on the exclusive grounds specified in La. R. S. 9: 4210 and 4211, and those grounds do

not include errors of law or fact. Crescent Prop. Ptrs, LLC, 158 So. 3d at 803- 04. In their

Settlement Agreement, the parties agreed that the Arbitrator would evaluate their respective

claims and determine the amount Mr. DeArmond owed EJC " for the value of the work

performed" or, conversely, the amount EJC owed Mr. DeArmond "' to correct or complete

items in [ EJC' s] scope of work." In fulfilling his duty, the Arbitrator found Mr. DeArmond

owed EJC and apparently determined that the " value of the work EJC performed" included

interest on unpaid invoices. Even in the absence of a contractual or statutory provision

authorizing such, and even if an error of law or fact, the Arbitrator's interest award does not

meet one of the exclusive grounds for vacating, modifying, or correcting an arbitration award

specified in La. R. S. 4210 and 4211. See St. Tammany Manor, Inc. v. Spartan Bldg. Corp.,

509 So. 2d 424, 427 ( La. 1987) ( even if arbitrator incorrectly applied law as to when interest

should accrue, such is insufficient to invalidate an award fairly and honestly made); X

Developments, LLC v. Amtek ofta., Inc,, 07- 1825 ( La. App. 1 Cir. 3/ 26/ 08), 985 So. 2d 199,

203- 04 ( affirming judgment that declined to vacate arbitrator's interest award). To hold

otherwise would expand the remedy available by statute and defeat the purpose of

arbitration. X Developments, LLC, 985 So. 2d at 204. This assignment of error is without

merit.

Material Mathematical Miscalculation

Mr. DeArmond next argues that the arbitration award contains a material

miscalculation in the amount awarded to ECJ. Under La. R. S. 9: 4211A, a court is required

to modify or correct an arbitration award containing an evident material miscalculation of

figures. As earlier stated, the Arbitrator reduced the $ 29, 548. 20 unpaid balance by $ 860. 00

for two items, awarded EJC $ 10, 000. 00 in attorney fees, and $ 1, 830. 00 in interest on unpaid

invoices, and then awarded EJC $ 40, 598. 20. At the hearing on this matter, EJC' s counsel

7 conceded that the above amounts total $ 40, 518. 20, not $ 40, 598. 20, which is a difference

of $80. 00.

When a court confirms, modifies, or corrects an arbitration award, it may enter

judgment in conformity therewith. See La. R. S. 9: 4212. Accordingly, we modify the

arbitration award to correct the evident mathematical error and to render judgment

accordingly, under La. R. S. 9: 4212, for the correct amount of $40, 518. 20 ($ 29, 548. 20, less

860. 00, plus $ 10, 000. 00, plus $ 1, 830. 00). See King Co., Ltd. P'ship v. MBD Const. Co.,

Inc., 10- 0902 ( La. App. 1 Cir. 10/ 29/ 10), 2010 WL 4273003, * 7.

CONCLUSION

For the above reasons, we reverse the trial court judgment. We modify the

Arbitrator's May 25, 2020 award to correct a mathematical error. We render judgment in

favor of ECJ, and against Allen D. DeArmond, for $40, 518. 20. We assess costs of the appeal

to Allen D. DeArmond.

TRIAL COURT JUDGMENT REVERSED; ARBITRATOR' S MAY 25, 2020 AWARD MODIFIED; JUDGMENT RENDERED.

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