Easterling v. ROYAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING

963 So. 2d 399, 7 La.App. 3 Cir. 192, 2007 La. App. LEXIS 1153, 2007 WL 1611138
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedJune 6, 2007
Docket07-192
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 963 So. 2d 399 (Easterling v. ROYAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Easterling v. ROYAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING, 963 So. 2d 399, 7 La.App. 3 Cir. 192, 2007 La. App. LEXIS 1153, 2007 WL 1611138 (La. Ct. App. 2007).

Opinion

963 So.2d 399 (2007)

Chad EASTERLING, et al.
v.
ROYAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING, LLC, et al.

No. 07-192.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit.

June 6, 2007.

*400 Lamont Paul Domingue, Voorhies & Labbe, Bruce David Beach, Ungarino & Eckert, L.L.C., F. Douglas Ortego, Juneau Law Firm, Lafayette, LA, for Defendant/Appellant-Royal Manufactured Housing, LLC.

Andrea D. Aymond, Riddle & Moreau, L.L.C., Marksville, LA, for Plaintiffs/Appellees-Chad Easterling and Lisa Easterling.

Court composed of ULYSSES GENE THIBODEAUX, Chief Judge, JIMMIE C. PETERS, and ELIZABETH A. PICKETT, Judges.

THIBODEAUX, Chief Judge.

This case involves a challenge to an arbitration agreement between the plaintiff in a redhibition suit, Chad Easterling ("Easterling"), and the defendant who sold Easterling a manufactured home, Royal Manufactured Homes, L.L.C. ("Royal"). Following a hearing in June of 2006 on Royal's Motion to Compel Arbitration, the trial court entered a judgment denying the defendant's motion based upon confusion created by the arbitration document which tied it to a specific "contemporaneously" executed transaction that did not exist. Subsequently, Royal filed a Motion for Reconsideration that was also denied. For the following reasons, we affirm the trial court's judgment denying Royal's Motion to Compel Arbitration, and the trial court's denial of Royal's Motion for Reconsideration.

I.

ISSUES

We must decide whether the trial court erred as a matter of law in denying Royal's Motion to Compel Arbitration and its Motion for Reconsideration.

II.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On February 16, 2004, Chad Easterling signed an agreement to purchase a particular manufactured home from Royal after viewing the home on Royal's lot. The agreement provided the serial number and model name of the home, the "Brandywine" model, and provided a breakdown of the base price of the unit and the price of each piece of optional equipment, such as skirting, foundation, pole, hook-ups, etc., for a total "Cash Purchase Price" of $85,080.00. The document was also signed by Danny Richard, agent for Royal, and further provided that "[t]his agreement contains the entire understanding between you and me and no other representation or document, verbal or written, has been made which is not contained in this contract." The agreement also provided that part of the deposit would be retained by Royal if Easterling failed to complete the purchase. However, no money changed hands that day; no deposit or down-payment was indicated; and the full balance due was shown as $85,080.00. The document further provided that if the buyer did not complete a cash transaction, he would enter into a retail installment contract with the seller. That never occurred. Easterling obtained financing elsewhere and paid cash for the home five months later in July 2004. Between February and July, Easterling's wife, Lisa, apparently made frequent calls to Royal to make sure that the home they had selected was still on the lot.

On February 23, 2004, Easterling signed a Placement and Service Agreement along with several one-page information sheets *401 outlining the requirements for permits, installation, skirting, hook-up, debris removal, air conditioning, etc. One of the documents contained an acceptance of the "Brandywine" model as seen on the lot. The last document consisted of one page as well, and was entitled "Arbitration Agreement Addendum." The first paragraph of the agreement states as follows:

This Arbitration Agreement ("Agreement") is executed contemporaneously with, and becomes part of, the Retail Installment of Sales Contract ("Contract") for the purchase of a manufactured home ("Home") as described in the Contract by the purchaser ("Purchaser") from the selling retailer ("Retailer"). This Agreement is for, and inures to, the benefit of the parties here, their successors and assigns, and additionally for the benefit of the manufacturer of the Home, and of the lender or mortgagee which provides the financing for the purchase of the Home, their successors and assigns, as fully as if the manufacturer and lender mortgagee were signatories hereto. The lender or mortgagee may elect at any time not to submit to binding arbitration by providing written notice to the Retailer and Purchaser at the addresses set forth in this Agreement.

The second paragraph of the document states as follows:

The parties agree that all claims, disputes, and controversies arising out of or relating in any way to the sale, purchase, occupancy of the Home including, but not limited to, any negotiations between the parties, the design, construction, performance, delivery, condition, installation, financing, repair or servicing of the Home and any warranties, either express or implied, pertaining to the Home, and including claims for equitable relief or claims based on contract, tort, statue [sic], common law or any alleged breach, default, or misrepresentation, will be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under its Commercial Arbitration Rules. The parties acknowledge that this Agreement evidences a transaction involving interstate commerce. Any contests to the validity or enforceability of this Agreement shall be determined by the provisions of the Federal Arbitration Act and the rules of the AAA. Copies of the rules may be obtained by writing the AAA at 13455 Noel Road, Suite 1750 Dallas, Texas XXXXX-XXXX.

On July 2, 2004, after Easterling had obtained financing from the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, he signed a "Construction Contract" for delivery and set up of the home wherein Royal agreed to start work the next day, on July 3rd, and complete the installation by August 31, 2004, for one lump sum cash payment of the purchase price of $85,080.00. This set of documents also contained a Description of Materials with charts and diagrams, and a sheet explaining the U.S. Department of Agriculture's requirements for proof of immobilization, which changes the manufactured home from a "mobile" home to a permanent construction that exempts the buyer from paying sales tax on the purchase.

After the Easterling family moved into the home, it began to exhibit various defects such as water leaks and excessive condensation on the interior walls, which the Easterlings attributed to improper caulking and venting. Some of these conditions allegedly caused the growth of toxic mold and caused the air conditioner to run excessively. Apparently, repairs were attempted by Royal on behalf of the manufacturer, but the results were not satisfactory. *402 In December of 2005, Chad and Lisa Easterling filed a redhibition suit alleging latent and hidden defects in the home at the time of manufacture by Indies House, and also alleging deficiencies in the set up of the home by Royal. Additionally, the Easterlings alleged personal injuries to the family members due to their exposure to the toxic mold.

Royal filed a Motion to Compel Arbitration based upon the Arbitration Agreement Addendum signed by Chad Easterling on February 23, 2004. The Easterlings opposed the motion arguing that they obtained financing for the home through Rural Development, not Royal, and that no "Retail Installment of Sales Contract" was ever executed, as referenced in Royal's arbitration agreement.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Stewart Interior Contractors, L.L.C. v. Metalpro Industries, L.L.C.
130 So. 3d 485 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2014)
Powers v. Royal Manufactured Homes, LLC
50 So. 3d 254 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2010)
Méndez-Acevedo v. Nieves Rivera
179 P.R. Dec. 359 (Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, 2010)
Jacob Floyd v. Palm Harbor Homes, Inc.
Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2008
Coleman v. Jim Walter Homes, Inc.
982 So. 2d 341 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2008)
Shaun Coleman v. Jim Walter Homes, Inc.
Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2008
Fontenot v. Southern Energy Homes, Inc.
978 So. 2d 549 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2008)
Nco Portfolio Management Inc. v. Gougisha
985 So. 2d 728 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2008)
Sutton Steel & Supply v. Bellsouth Mobility
971 So. 2d 1257 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2007)
Easterling v. Royal Manufactured Housing, LLC
963 So. 2d 408 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2007)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
963 So. 2d 399, 7 La.App. 3 Cir. 192, 2007 La. App. LEXIS 1153, 2007 WL 1611138, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/easterling-v-royal-manufactured-housing-lactapp-2007.