DR Horton, Inc. v. Green

96 P.3d 1159, 120 Nev. 549, 120 Nev. Adv. Rep. 63, 2004 Nev. LEXIS 83
CourtNevada Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 13, 2004
Docket40102
StatusPublished
Cited by31 cases

This text of 96 P.3d 1159 (DR Horton, Inc. v. Green) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nevada Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
DR Horton, Inc. v. Green, 96 P.3d 1159, 120 Nev. 549, 120 Nev. Adv. Rep. 63, 2004 Nev. LEXIS 83 (Neb. 2004).

Opinion

96 P.3d 1159 (2004)

D.R. HORTON, INC., a Texas Corporation Doing Business in the State of Nevada, Appellant,
v.
Michael GREEN, an Individual; and John Velickoff and Tracy Velickoff, Individually and as Husband and Wife, Respondents.

No. 40102.

Supreme Court of Nevada.

September 13, 2004.

*1160 Mead & Pezzillo, LLP, and Leon F. Mead II, Las Vegas, for Appellant.

Canepa Riedy Rubino & Lattie and Scott K. Canepa and Terry W. Riedy, Las Vegas, for Respondents.

Before BECKER, AGOSTI and GIBBONS, JJ.

OPINION

PER CURIAM.

Appellant D.R. Horton, Inc., a real property developer, and respondents Michael Green, John Velickoff, and Tracy Velickoff (jointly the Homebuyers) entered into home purchase agreements containing a mandatory binding arbitration provision.[1] In the ensuing dispute over the provision's validity, the district court found that the arbitration clause was adhesive and unconscionable. On appeal, Horton argues that the district court erred in concluding that the arbitration clause was unenforceable. We disagree. We conclude that the clause is void as unconscionable and affirm the district court's order *1161 denying Horton's motion to compel arbitration.[2]

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

The arbitration clause dispute arose from a construction defect controversy between the Homebuyers and Horton. These parties entered into home purchase agreements containing a mandatory arbitration provision. In each case, a two-page form sales agreement constituted the agreement between the parties. The agreement was printed in a very small font. The front page contained the sales price, other financial information, and the signature lines. A clause at the bottom in capitalized bold letters stated that:

PARAGRAPHS 10 THROUGH 27 CONSTITUTE A PART OF THIS CONTRACT.[3]

The back page included, among other things, a limited warranty clause and a mandatory binding arbitration provision. The font size on the back page was smaller than the font utilized on the front page. The arbitration provision read as follows:

11. THIS CONTRACT IS SUBJECT TO THE NEVADA ARBITRATION RULES GOVERNED UNDER NEVADA REVISED STATUTE CHAPTER 38 AND THE FEDERAL ARBITRATION ACT.
Buyer and Seller agree that any disputes or claims between the parties, whether arising from a tort, this Contract, any breach of this Contract or in any way related to this transaction, including but not limited to claims or disputes arising under the terms of the express limited warranty referenced in Paragraph 10 of this Contract, shall be settled by binding arbitration under the direction and procedures established by the American Arbitration Association "Construction Industry Arbitration Rules" except as specifically modified herein or dictated by applicable statutes including the Nevada Revised Statute Chapter 38 and/or the Federal Arbitration Act. If Buyer does not seek arbitration prior to initiating any legal action, Buyer agrees that Seller shall be entitled to liquidated damages in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00). Any dispute arising from this Contract shall be submitted for determination to a board of three (3) arbitrators to be selected for each such controversy. The decision of the arbitrators shall be in writing and signed by such arbitrators, or a majority of them, and shall be final and binding upon the parties. Each party shall bear the fees and expenses of counsel, witnesses and employees of such party, and any other costs and expenses incurred for the benefit of such party. All other fees and expenses shall be divided equally between Buyer and Seller.

With the exception of the paragraph title, which was in bold capital letters like the other contract headings, nothing drew special attention to this provision.

Green testified that he only read the first page of the document. He indicated that he did not read the second page because "it was all fine print" and Horton's agent told him that it was a standard contract. The Velickoffs indicated that they read both sides of the contract, including the arbitration provision. They testified, however, that they did not understand that the provision constituted a waiver of their right to a jury trial or that it impacted their statutory rights under NRS Chapter 40 involving construction defect claims. Neither Green nor the Velickoffs understood that they would be required to fund one-half of the expenses of the arbitration and that these expenses could be more costly than standard litigation.

In 2000, the Homebuyers notified Horton that they intended to bring various construction defect claims against Horton, and the matter proceeded to mediation pursuant to NRS 40.680. The mediator concluded that the mediation process was unsuccessful because Horton acted in bad faith. On September 14, 2001, Horton sought arbitration of the Homebuyers' construction defect claims. The Homebuyers answered Horton's demand for arbitration and requested punitive damages in addition to monetary damages for the defects. On October 5, 2001, while the parties *1162 were disputing the list of potential arbitrators, the Homebuyers filed a complaint against Horton in district court for declaratory relief, requesting that the district court proclaim the arbitration provision unenforceable. Horton moved to compel arbitration, which the Homebuyers opposed.

After hearing arguments and conducting an evidentiary hearing, the district court denied Horton's motion to compel arbitration, essentially granting judgment in favor of the Homebuyers on the declaratory relief action. The district court ruled that the arbitration clause was adhesive and fell short of Nevada's standards regarding jury trial waivers.[4] The district court also determined that the clause was procedurally and substantively unconscionable because, if enforced, it operated to waive the right to a jury trial without even mentioning that right, and it failed "to inform homeowners of the costs associated with arbitration and the substantial difference between arbitration fees and filing fees for suits filed under Chapter 40." The district court struck the arbitration clause, reasoning that absent such disclosures, the Homebuyers could not give an informed consent. This appeal followed.

DISCUSSION

Standard of review

Under NRS 38.247(1)(a), an order denying a motion to compel arbitration is directly appealable. The party moving to enforce an arbitration clause has the burden of persuading the district court that the clause is valid.[5] Contractual unconscionability involves mixed questions of law and fact.[6] A trial court's factual findings in support of a finding of unconscionability are accepted upon review so long as they are supported by substantial evidence.[7] Whether, given the trial court's factual findings, a contractual provision is unconscionable is a question of law subject to de novo review.[8]

Unconscionability

Strong public policy favors arbitration because arbitration generally avoids the higher costs and longer time periods associated with traditional litigation.[9] Nevertheless, courts may invalidate unconscionable arbitration provisions.[10]

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Bluebook (online)
96 P.3d 1159, 120 Nev. 549, 120 Nev. Adv. Rep. 63, 2004 Nev. LEXIS 83, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dr-horton-inc-v-green-nev-2004.