IN THIS WRONGFUL DEATH ACTION AGAINST DEFENDANT RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY, PLAINTIFF’S DECEDENT DID NOT SIGN THE ADMISSION AGREEMENT AND DECLINED TO HAVE IT READ TO HER; PLAINTIFF’S DECEDENT’S SON, WHO HAD POWER OF ATTORNEY, REFUSED TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT; THE FACILITY CAN NOT ENFORCE THE ARBITRATION CLAUSE IN THE AGREEMENT (SECOND DEPT).
The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the arbitration clause in the defendant residential care facility’s (Richmond Center’s) admission agreement could not be enforced on behalf of plaintiff’s decedent. Plaintiff’s decedent was unable to sign the admission agreement and blinked twice for “no” when asked if she wanted the agreement read to her. Her son, William, had power of attorney but refused to sign the agreement. The facility therefore could not enforce the arbitration clause of the admission agreement in this wrongful death action:
“[A]n arbitration clause in a written agreement is enforceable, even if the agreement is not signed, when it is evident that the parties intended to be bound by the contract” … . “‘The manifestation or expression of assent necessary to form a contract may be by word, act, or conduct which evinces the intention of the parties to contract'” … . “A party to an agreement may not be compelled to arbitrate its dispute with another unless the evidence establishes the parties’ clear, explicit and unequivocal agreement to arbitrate” … .
Here, Richmond Center failed to demonstrate that the resident, or William as her representative, by word, act, or conduct evinced an intention to be bound by the terms of the arbitration agreement. Since the evidence failed to show a clear, explicit, and unequivocal agreement to arbitrate, the plaintiff may not be compelled to arbitrate … . Pankiv v Richmond Ctr. for Rehabilitation & Specialty Healthcare, 2020 NY Slip Op 06279, Second Dept 11-4-20
