Lagrone Construction, LLC v. Landmark, LLC

40 F. Supp. 3d 769, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 117179, 2014 WL 4197575
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Mississippi
DecidedAugust 22, 2014
DocketNo. 3:13-CV-224-DMB-JMV
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 40 F. Supp. 3d 769 (Lagrone Construction, LLC v. Landmark, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Mississippi primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lagrone Construction, LLC v. Landmark, LLC, 40 F. Supp. 3d 769, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 117179, 2014 WL 4197575 (N.D. Miss. 2014).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

DEBRA M. BROWN, District Judge.

This action arises from disputes associated with a construction project in Oxford, Mississippi. The general contractor on the project, Apex Construction Services, LLC (“Apex”), has filed a motion to stay the proceedings and compel arbitration or, in the alternative, to dismiss the case for improper venue, based on an arbitration clause in the subcontract it entered with [773]*773Landmark, LLC, and Landmark Drywall & Painting, LLC (collectively, “Landmark”). Apex requests that this Court enforce the arbitration clause against not only Landmark but also Landmark’s subcontractor, Lagrone Construction, LLC (“Lagrone”), though Lagrone is not a party to the subcontract. For the reasons below, the Court finds that the claims between Apex and Landmark are subject to arbitration; the claims asserted by and against Lagrone are not bound by the arbitration clause; the proceedings should not be stayed as to the claims by and against Lagrone but, as to the claims between Apex and Landmark, should be stayed pending the outcome of arbitration; and dismissal based on improper venue is inappropriate.

I. Facts and Procedural History

Apex was the general contractor on the construction project in Oxford, Mississippi, known as Grove Hill (“Project”). Pursuant to a subcontract agreement dated April 30, 2013, Apex hired Landmark as a framing subcontractor on the Project. The subcontract included a dispute resolution clause, which provided in relevant part:

15.1 The first step in the resolution of any dispute between Subcontractor and Contractor shall be a meeting to discuss and attempt to resolve the dispute. If both parties agree, the dispute can be settled by agreement. If not, the next step is consideration of mediation. If both parties agree, the dispute will be submitted to mediation under paragraph 15.2.3. If the dispute is not resolved by agreement or by mediation, then the dispute shall be resolved as follows:
15.1.1 Disputes solely between Contractor and Subcontractor shall be resolved by arbitration.
15.1.2 Disputes between the Contractor, Subcontractor, or other Subcontractors, sub-subcontractors and suppliers shall be resolved by arbitration.
15.2 With respect to any dispute arising out of or related to this Subcontract, the following provisions shall apply:
15.2.1 Choice of Law. The laws of the State of Tennessee shall govern this Subcontract.
15.2.2 Choice of Forum. The parties specifically submit to the jurisdiction of the Chancery Court for Davidson County, Tennessee, for bringing any litigation arising under this agreement. Apex Construction Services, LLC and Landmark Framing waive any objections to personal jurisdiction. Landmark Framing agrees not to bring any suit against Apex Construction Services, LLC in a court other than the Chancery Court of Davidson County, Tennessee.

Subcontract Agreement [10-1] at 12.

After contracting with Apex, Landmark hired Lagrone to perform framing work on the Project. ' Landmark and Lagrone did not enter a written contract for the framing work. In May 2013, a dispute arose between Landmark and Lagrone concerning payment for services rendered on the Project. As a result, Lagrone filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of Lafayette County, Mississippi, against Landmark for breach of an oral contract, unjust enrichment, or alternatively for a suit on an open account. See State Court Compl. [8-1]. Lagrone alleges that it had an oral contract with Landmark to perform framing work on the Project; that it satisfied its obligations under the oral contract; and that Landmark failed to pay the agreed upon amount for the work performed. Id. at 3. Lagrone seeks $35,108.94 in actual damages, unspecified consequential and punitive damages, prejudgment interest, [774]*774post judgment interest, attorney’s fees, and costs. Id.

On September 4, 2013, Landmark removed the case to this Court based on federal diversity of citizenship. See Notice of Removal [lj. The next day, Landmark filed a third party complaint against Apex seeking indemnification in the event it is found liable to Lagrone and seeking payment for any unpaid invoices owed by Apex. See Third Party Complaint [4] at 2-3. On October 29, 2013, Apex filed an answer to the third party complaint and counterclaims against Landmark for breach of contract, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranties, negligence, and attorney’s fees. Apex Answer [10] at 11-15. Apex also filed crossclaims against Lagrone for breach of implied warranties, negligence, and attorney’s fees. Id. at 13-15. On November 18, 2013, Landmark filed an answer to the counterclaims and asserted a cross-claim against Lagrone for indemnification if it is found liable to Apex because, Landmark argues, any liability would stem from Lagrone’s work on the Project. Landmark Answer [13] at 9-10.

On November 20, 2013, Apex filed the instant motion to stay and compel arbitration or, in the alternative, motion to dismiss. Mot. [14]. Landmark and Lagrone have responded in opposition to Apex’s motion. The motion has been fully briefed, and this matter is now ripe for decision.

II. Jurisdiction

Under 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a), any civil lawsuit filed in state court involving matters over which federal district courts have original jurisdiction may be removed to the district court embracing the area where the state action is pending. Federal district courts have original subject matter jurisdiction over all civil cases where the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs, and is between citizens of different states. See id. § 1332(a). Landmark removed Lagrone’s complaint to this Court based on federal diversity of citizenship. Federal diversity is also the basis for jurisdiction over Landmark’s third party complaint, Landmark’s cross-claim, and Apex’s counterclaims and cross-claims. See Third Party Complaint [4] at 2; Apex Answer [10] at 9; Landmark Answer [13] at 8.

“The party seeking to invoke the jurisdiction of the federal court has the burden of proving that jurisdiction exists.” Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Hillman, 796 F.2d 770, 775 (5th Cir.1986) (citations omitted). Lawson v. Chrysler, LLC, No. 4:08-cv-19, 2009 WL 961226, at *3 (S.D.Miss. Apr. 7, 2009). Landmark invoked the jurisdiction of this Court when it removed the case from state court and when it filed a third party complaint and cross-claim. Apex invoked the jurisdiction of this Court when it filed counterclaims against Landmark and cross-claims against Lagrone. Because Landmark and Apex are the parties invoking federal jurisdiction, they bear the burden of proving that jurisdiction exists.

After the motion was briefed by the parties, the Court issued a show cause order directing Landmark and Apex, the parties invoking federal jurisdiction, to explain why the case should not be remanded and/or dismissed for lack of diversity under § 1332.' Order [27].

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Bluebook (online)
40 F. Supp. 3d 769, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 117179, 2014 WL 4197575, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lagrone-construction-llc-v-landmark-llc-msnd-2014.