Crotser vs. Smith Barney & Co., Inc., NO 228226 (Mich. App., 4/30/02)
Appealability * Scope of Agreement * Arbitration Agreement * Competing Agreements.
A futures account agreement does not encompass claims relating to separate consulting services provided by the FCM.
Plaintiff entered into an agreement with a predecessor firm (Hutton) of Smith Barney, under which he was provided with advice concerning the sale of his corn crop. There was no arbitration clause in that agreement. When he sued Smith Barney, based upon the consultation advice and some futures losses, Smith Barney asserted plaintiffs futures account agreement and sought arbitration. This agreement was signed by Plaintiff when he opened a commodities futures trading account with Smith Barney and called for arbitration of any controversy that might arise between the parties. Specifically mentioned were transactions or accounts maintained with predecessor firms. The trial court granted arbitration of all claims, but this Court reverses. [T]here is strong evidence indicating that the arbitration agreement referred solely to exchange-related disputes, and the terms transactions and accounts clearly referenced plaintiffs commodities trading account or any other trading accounts . Plaintiffs claims relating to [his corn crop] were not associated with any exchange-related trading accounts. (SLC Ref. No. 02-18-03)
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