Royal Ridge Construction, LLC v. Jo Lynn Spradlin

Summary

The Arkansas Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of Royal Ridge Construction, LLC's motion to compel arbitration in Jo Lynn Spradlin's construction dispute. The court held that Royal Ridge failed to establish mutual assent to the arbitration provision because, although the contract contained a separate arbitration signature block, Royal Ridge had not signed it. The court concluded that no valid arbitration agreement was proven under Arkansas contract law.

Holdings

1. No. Royal Ridge failed to prove mutual assent to the arbitration provision because it did not manifest assent to the provision containing separate signature lines for both parties.
2. No. Because Royal Ridge did not establish a valid arbitration agreement, it could not compel arbitration, and the denial of its motion was affirmed.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the parties formed a valid agreement to arbitrate when the construction contract's arbitration provision had separate signature lines for both parties but only the homeowner signed.
2. Whether the circuit court properly denied Royal Ridge's motion to compel arbitration for lack of mutual assent.

Disposition

affirmed