Simbajon v. Gentry

914 P.2d 1386, 81 Haw. 193, 1996 Haw. App. LEXIS 34
CourtHawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 24, 1996
Docket17267
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 914 P.2d 1386 (Simbajon v. Gentry) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Simbajon v. Gentry, 914 P.2d 1386, 81 Haw. 193, 1996 Haw. App. LEXIS 34 (hawapp 1996).

Opinion

KIRIMITSU, Judge.

Plaintiffs-Appellants Leonardo M. Simba-jon, Gaudelia R. Simbajon, Nelson R. Simba-jon and Noel R. Simbajon (collectively, “the Simbajons”) challenge the circuit court’s order granting the motion to stay the proceedings pending arbitration and for an order compelling arbitration brought by Defendants-Appellees Prime Properties, Inc. and Virginia C. Eji (collectively, Appellees). We affirm.

I. BACKGROUND

On April 30, 1991, Plaintiff-Appellant Gaudelia R. Simbajon offered to purchase the home of Theodore and Shandra Carvalho (Seller) by submitting a Deposit Receipt Offer and Acceptance (DROA) form. Included with the DROA is an addendum containing the following mediation/arbitration provision:

6.3 Mediation And Arbitration. If any dispute or claim in law or equity arises out of this DROA, Buyer and Seller agree in good faith to attempt to settle such dispute or claim by mediation under the Commercial Mediation Rules of the American Arbitration Association. If such mediation is not successful in resolving such dispute or claim, then such dispute or claim shall be decided by neutral binding arbitration before a single arbitrator in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

On May 3, 1991, Seller made a counteroffer which was accepted by the Simbajons.

On December 2, 1992, the Simbajons filed a complaint against Appellees, Seller, and the company that developed the property where the house was located. The Simbajons alleged, among other things, breach of an express warranty that the house was fit for its intended use. On January 11 and 15, 1992, Appellees moved to dismiss the Simbajons’ complaint or in the alternative to stay the proceedings and for an order to compel arbitration.

On April 19,1993, the circuit court filed an order granting Appellees’ motion to stay the proceedings and ordered that the matter be submitted to mediation/arbitration (April 19, 1993 order).

This appeal followed.

II. DISCUSSION

■; :A. Timeliness of Notice of Appeal

Appellees argue that the Simbajons’ appeal to this court should be dismissed because the Simbajons failed to file a timely notice of appeal. We disagree.

On April 28, 1993, the Simbajons timely filed a motion for reconsideration of the April 19, 1993 order under Hawaii Rules of Civil Procedure (HRCP) Rule 60(b). On June 28, 1993, the circuit court filed its order denying the Simbajons’ motion for reconsideration. Then, on July 9, 1993, the Simbajons filed their notice of appeal challenging the April 19, 1993 order and the denial of their motion for reconsideration.

Hawaii Rules of Appellate Procedure (HRAP) Rule 4(a)(1) provides in relevant *196 part that “[i]n a civil case in which an appeal is permitted by law ... the notice of appeal ... shall be filed by a party ... within 30 days after the date of entry of the ... order appealed from.” However, “[i]f a timely motion under” HRCP Rules 50(b), 52(b), or 59 is brought before the circuit court, “the time for appeal for all parties shall run from the entry of the order ... granting or denying” the motion. HRAP Rule 4(a)(4).

The Simbajons’ motion for reconsideration was brought under HRCP Rule 60(b); therefore, it is not a motion that extends the time in which they can file their notice of appeal under HRAP Rule 4(a)(4). However, in Simpson v. Department of Land & Natural Resources, 8 HawApp. 16, 791 P.2d 1267 (1990), this court was faced with a similar situation and treated a motion for reconsideration brought under HRCP Rule 60(b) as a motion to alter or amend a judgment brought under HRCP Rule 59(e). As a result, we held that the notice of appeal was timely brought because the motion for reconsideration of the dismissal order tolled the 30-day limitations period and thus extended the time to file the notice of appeal under HRAP Rule 4(a)(4). We reasoned that such treatment was necessary to avoid the harsh result of denying appeal to a party that “‘seeks a substantive change in the judgment'” but relied on the wrong rule in their motion. Simpson, 8 HawApp. at 21, 791 P.2d at 1272 (quoting 6A J. Moore, J. Lucas & G. Grot-heer, Jr., Moore’s Federal Practice ¶ 59.12[1], at 59-265 (2d ed.1989)).

[Moreover, HRCP] Rule 59(e) ... provides for motions of the type that literally and technically do not fit into a motion for new trial, such as a motion for rehearing, reconsideration, or vacation of any order terminating the action prior to trial....

6 Moore’s Federal Practice ¶ 56.26-1, at 56-844.

Applying the above reasoning here and recognizing that it is well-settled that orders compelling arbitration are appeal-able, 1 Excelsior Lodge Number One v. Eyecor, Ltd, 74 Haw. 210, 231, 847 P.2d 652, 662 (1992); Koolau Radiology, Inc. v. Queen’s Medical Ctr., 73 Haw. 433, 442, 834 P.2d 1294, 1299 (1992); Association of Owners of Kukui Plaza v. Swinerton & Walberg Co., 68 Haw. 98, 105, 705 P.2d 28, 34 (1985); Shimote v. Vincent, 80 Hawai'i 96, 102, 905 P.2d 71, 77, reconsideration denied 80 Hawai'i 497, 911 P.2d 132 (App.), cert. denied 80 Hawai'i 187, 907 P.2d 773 (1995), we hold that the Simbajons timely filed their notice of appeal.

B. Order Compelling Arbitration

1. Standard of Review

The standard of review for determining whether the circuit court properly granted Appellees’ motion to stay proceedings pending arbitration and to compel arbitration is de novo. Thus, we look at the same materials that were before the circuit court when it decided the motion to stay. Koolau Radiology, 73 Haw. at 439-40, 834 P.2d at 1298 (indicating that the standard of review on appeal is de novo on the question of whether the trial court erred in denying a motion to stay proceedings and to compel arbitration).

Generally, in deciding whether to grant a motion to stay proceedings pending arbitration, courts consider “1) whether an arbitration agreement exists between the parties; and 2) if so, whether the subject matter of the dispute is arbitrable under such agreement.” Id. at 445, 834 P.2d at 1300. “If there is an enforceable agreement to arbitrate, the [circuit] court’s power is limited by HRS Chapter 658.” Bateman Constr., Inc. v. Haitsuka Bros., Ltd., 11

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Bluebook (online)
914 P.2d 1386, 81 Haw. 193, 1996 Haw. App. LEXIS 34, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/simbajon-v-gentry-hawapp-1996.