Goldman v. Sunbridge Healthcare, LLC , 164 Cal. Rptr. 3d 11 ( 2013 )

Filed 9/27/13 Goldman v. Sunbridge Healthcare CA3
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
(Sacramento)
----
JUDY GOLDMAN, etc.,
Plaintiff and Respondent, C069970
v. (Super. Ct. No.
34201100104195CUPOGDS)
SUNBRIDGE HEALTHCARE, LLC et al.,
Defendants and Appellants.
On behalf of her decedent husband Edward Goldman, Judy Goldman sued for
alleged neglect by the operators of two skilled nursing facilities: Carmichael Care and
Rehabilitation Center (Carmichael Care) and Rosewood Terrace Care and Rehabilitation
(Rosewood Terrace).1 In the same complaint, Judy also sued all defendants in her
individual capacity for negligent infliction of emotional distress and wrongful death.
1 Due to shared surname, we refer to the Goldmans by their first names.
The first set of defendants relates to Edward‟s stay at Carmichael Care and
consists of SunBridge Healthcare, LLC (formerly known as SunBridge Healthcare
Corporation), Regency Health Services, Inc., Sun Healthcare Group, Inc., and SunBridge
Carmichael Rehabilitation Center (doing business as Carmichael Care and Rehabilitation
Center).
1
Carmichael Care and Rosewood Terrace each sought to compel arbitration based
on documents Judy signed when Edward was admitted to each of the facilities.2 Plaintiff
opposed the petition and motion, and the trial court refused to compel arbitration. The
trial court found Judy did not have authority to sign on Edward‟s behalf, and she did not
sign in her individual capacity. The trial court also exercised its discretion under Code of
Civil Procedure section 1281.2, subdivision (c), to adjudicate the arbitrable and
nonarbitrable claims in order to avoid the possibility of inconsistent rulings.3
Carmichael Care and Rosewood Terrace appeal from the orders refusing to
compel arbitration and present nearly identical arguments. Defendants contend (1) Judy
had authority to sign the admissions papers containing the arbitration agreements because
Edward was unable to sign for himself, (2) Judy signed not only on Edward‟s behalf, but
also for herself when she agreed to arbitration, (3) public policy compels enforcement of
the arbitration agreements in this case, (4) the arbitration agreements are not void for
being oppressive or unconscionable, and (5) the trial court was precluded from exercising
The second set of defendants relates to Edward‟s two stays at Rosewood Terrace
and consists of Carmichael Care, Inc. (doing business as Rosewood Terrace Care and
Rehabilitation), North American Health Care, Inc., and John Sorensen.
2 Carmichael Care filed a “petition” to compel arbitration and Rosewood Terrace
filed a “motion” to compel arbitration. The parties assert no legal difference in the names
of the procedural vehicles chosen by the two sets of defendants. Even though Code of
Civil Procedure section 1294, subdivision (a), renders appealable “[a]n order dismissing
or denying a petition to compel arbitration,” in this context “petition” and “motion” have
been treated as interchangeable. For example, one court recently stated that “Code of
Civil Procedure section 1294, subdivision (a), makes an order denying a petition to
compel arbitration appealable, an order granting a motion to compel arbitration is not
appealable.” (Kinecta Alternative Financial Solutions, Inc. v. Superior Court (2012) 205
Cal.App.4th 506, 513, italics added.)
3 Code of Civil Procedure section 1281.2, subdivision (c), provides that “[i]f the
court determines that a party to the arbitration is also a party to litigation in a pending
court action or special proceeding with a third party,” the trial court “(1) may refuse to
enforce the arbitration agreement and may order intervention or joinder of all parties in a
single action or special proceeding.”
2
jurisdiction over the arbitrable claims pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 1281,
subdivision (c), because that section is preempted by the Federal Arbitration Act (9
U.S.C. § 1 et seq.).4
We conclude Judy did not have authority to sign the arbitration agreements on
Edward‟s behalf and did not sign the agreements in her individual capacity. We reject
the contention that public policy requires plaintiffs to arbitrate their claims in the absence
of the existence of a valid arbitration agreement. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court‟s
orders denying Carmichael Care‟s petition and Rosewood Terrace‟s motion to compel
arbitration.
BACKGROUND
The Complaint
In May 2011, Edward –- by and through his successor, Judy –- filed a complaint
setting forth causes of action for elder abuse, fraud, and violations of the Patients Bill of
Rights (Health & Saf. Code, § 1430, subd. (b); Cal. Code Regs., tit. 22, § 72527).
The complaint alleged Edward was 61 years old on February 25, 2010, when he
was admitted to Carmichael Care, a skilled nursing facility. Edward was transferred to
Carmichael Care after a short stay at the Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center
where he had been treated for gastrointestinal bleeding. Although Edward suffered a
stroke in 2008 that left him weak on his left side, he had been living independently at
home with Judy. Over the course of four months at Carmichael Care, Edward sustained
six falls –- several of which were undocumented by the facility‟s staff. On the sixth fall,
Edward fractured his left hip. The facility staff did not document the fall or immediately
respond to Judy‟s requests to have x-rays taken of Edward‟s hip. Three days after the
4 Carmichael Care‟s recitation of the procedural history of this case in its opening
brief asserts the trial court “refused to provide a statement of decision.” However,
Carmichael Care does not develop any argument on the point. Accordingly, we decline
to address this issue. (In re S.C. (2006) 138 Cal.App.4th 396, 408.)
3
fall, an x-ray was taken and Edward was rushed to the emergency room. On June 28,
2010, Edward‟s hip was surgically repaired at Mercy San Juan hospital.
The complaint further alleged Edward was admitted on July 1, 2010, to Rosewood
Terrace, another skilled nursing facility. At Rosewood Terrace, Edward needed the
assistance of two staff members for any transfers. On July 6, 2010, he experienced a
popping sensation when he was transferred by a nursing assistant. Subsequent x-rays
showed Edward‟s hip to be dislocated. Edward returned to Mercy San Juan hospital for
two weeks for further care of his hip. He was again admitted to Rosewood Terrace on
July 20, 2010. The next day, Edward was due to have the staples removed from his hip
repair. However, the staples were not removed. Ten days later, Edward complained of
pain in his hip. On July 31, 2010, facility notes recorded he was coughing and wheezing.
On August 5, 2010, nursing notes indicated his hip dressing was soaked with blood and
the staples still had not been removed. The suture line was swollen and draining necrotic
debris. The next day, Judy took Edward out of Rosewood Terrace and drove him to the
emergency room at the VA Medical Center. Edward died on August 17, 2010.
In addition to appearing as Edward‟s successor, Judy also sued on her own behalf
to assert causes of action for negligent infliction of emotional distress and wrongful
death.
Carmichael Care’s Petition to Compel Arbitration
In July 2011, Carmichael Care petitioned to compel arbitration and introduced
copies of the arbitration agreements signed by Judy. Carmichael Care also introduced a
copy of Edward‟s VA advance directive: Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and
Living Will (VA advance directive), which included a durable power of attorney
appointing Judy as his healthcare agent in the event he became unable to make decisions
for himself. In pertinent part, Edward‟s VA advance directive stated: “I appoint the
person named below to make decisions about my health care if there ever comes [a] time
when I cannot make those decisions.” Judy was listed as the person to be appointed in
4
such a circumstance. The VA advance directive was signed by Edward and witnessed on
February 9, 2010.
Plaintiff opposed the petition and introduced a declaration by Judy that Edward
was capable of and actually did make healthcare decisions for himself before and during
his stay at Carmichael Care. Judy‟s declaration further stated: “As to the signing of the
arbitration agreement, a person from the facility merely told me that I needed to sign
some more forms for my husband. The person from the facility did not say what the
forms were, that they involved arbitration, or that there was a choice in the signing of the
documents. The person from the facility never inquired of me whether my husband was
capable of signing the documents or discussed with me that the documents needed to be
signed by my husband if he was capable. Had this issue been raised, I certainly would
have told the facility employee that my husband was capable of making his own health
care decisions.”
In reply, Carmichael Care submitted a form titled “Authorizations,
Acknowledgments and Consents” signed and initialed multiple times by Judy. The form
had a blank line following text stating, “If Resident is unable to sign this form, please
state the reason.” On this line, Judy wrote “Stroke.”
Rosewood Terrace’s Motion to Compel Arbitration
In September 2011, Rosewood Terrace filed a motion to compel arbitration and
introduced arbitration agreements signed by Judy.
Plaintiff opposed Rosewood Terrace‟s motion and submitted a declaration by Judy
that stated Edward was capable of and actually did make healthcare decisions for himself
before and during his stays at Rosewood Terrace. Mirroring her earlier declaration,
Judy‟s declaration in opposition to the Rosewood Terrace motion stated: “As to the
signing of the arbitration agreement, a person from the facility merely told me that I
needed to sign some admission forms for my husband. The person from the facility did
not say what the forms were, that they involved arbitration, or that there was a choice in
5
the signing of the documents. The person from the facility never inquired of me whether
my husband was capable of signing the documents or discussed with me that the
documents needed to be signed by my husband if he was capable. Had this issue been
raised, I certainly would have told the facility employee that my husband was capable of
making his own health care decisions.”
Orders Denying the Petition and Motion to Compel Arbitration
The trial court refused to order plaintiff to arbitrate her claims. As to Carmichael
Care, the trial court found that Judy signed two arbitration agreements on Edward‟s
behalf when he was admitted to that facility. At the same time she signed the arbitration
agreements, Judy also signed a document noting she was signing on Edward‟s behalf due
to “Stroke.” However, the trial court found Carmichael Care “presented no evidence that
such a determination was ever made by Edward Goldman‟s primary care physician.” The
court noted that a doctor‟s report for Edward made the day after Judy signed the
Carmichael Care arbitration agreement “showed [Edward] communicated to the doctor in
a manner inconsistent with a person who was too ill to make health care decisions.” As a
result, the trial court found the Carmichael Care defendants “have failed to meet their
burden to establish that the VA Advance Directive was in effect, and thus, that Judith
Goldman was authorized to execute the arbitration agreements on Edward‟s behalf.” In
so concluding, the court stated the Carmichael Care defendants “submit a document
signed by Judith Goldman on the date the arbitration agreements were signed stating that
she was signing the agreement on Edward‟s behalf due to „stroke.‟ The court finds this
insufficient to establish that the VA Advance Directive was in effect.”
As to Rosewood Terrace, the trial court concluded there was no evidence showing
Edward‟s primary care physician ever made a determination Edward lacked capacity to
make his own healthcare decisions. Instead, the court noted plaintiff had “submitted a
doctor‟s report indicating that at the time Edward Goldman was admitted to Rosewood,
he was „awake‟ and „alert,‟ and communicated to the doctor in a manner inconsistent
6
with a person who was too ill to make health care decisions. [Citation.] Defendants have
failed to meet their burden to establish that the Advance Health Care Directive was in
effect, and thus, that Judith Goldman was authorized to execute the arbitration
agreements on Edward‟s behalf.”
Finally, the trial court stated that “even if there were a valid agreement to arbitrate,
the court would exercise its discretion under [Code of Civil Procedure section] 1281.2.
The Court is also denying [Carmichael Care‟s] petition to arbitrate, and the claims against
the remaining defendant North American Health Care, Inc., are not subject to arbitration.
Plaintiff‟s claims under the Patient‟s Bill of Rights are not subject to arbitration pursuant
to the terms of the Arbitration Agreement.”
Carmichael Care and Rosewood Terrace each timely filed a notice of appeal from
the orders denying the petition and motion to compel arbitration. (Code Civ. Proc., §
1294, subd. (a).)
DISCUSSION
I
Authority to Agree to Arbitration on Behalf of a Spouse
Carmichael Care and Rosewood Terrace contend Judy had authority to sign the
arbitration agreements on Edward‟s behalf. We are not persuaded.
A.
Agreements to Arbitrate Future Disputes
California courts “have consistently found a strong public policy favoring
arbitration agreements.” (Coon v. Nicola (1993) 17 Cal.App.4th 1225, 1232.) “Although
„[t]he law favors contracts for arbitration of disputes between parties‟ (Player v. Geo. M.
Brewster & Son, Inc. [(1971)] 18 Cal.App.3d [526,] 534), „ “there is no policy
compelling persons to accept arbitration of controversies which they have not agreed to
arbitrate . . . .” ‟ (Weeks v. Crow (1980) 113 Cal.App.3d 350, 353, quoting Freeman v.
State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. [(1975)] 14 Cal.3d [473,] 481.)” (Victoria v. Superior
7
Court (1985) 40 Cal.3d 734, 744.) “The party seeking to compel arbitration bears the
burden of proving the existence of a valid arbitration agreement. (Garrison v. Superior
Court (2005) 132 Cal.App.4th 253, 263 (Garrison); Engalla v. Permanente Medical
Group, Inc. (1997) 15 Cal.4th 951, 972; Pagarigan v. Libby Care Center, Inc. (2002) 99
Cal.App.4th 298, 301 (Pagarigan).) Petitions to compel arbitration are resolved by a
summary procedure that allows the parties to submit declarations and other documentary
testimony and, at the trial court‟s discretion, to provide oral testimony. (Engalla, supra,
15 Cal.4th at p. 972; Code Civ. Proc., §§ 1281.2, 1290.2.) If the facts are undisputed, on
appeal we independently review the case to determine whether a valid arbitration
agreement exists. (Garrison, supra, 132 Cal.App.4th at p. 263; Buckner v. Tamarin
(2002) 98 Cal.App.4th 140, 142.)” (Flores v. Evergreen at San Diego, LLC (2007) 148
Cal.App.4th 581, 586 (Flores).)
As the Flores court explained, “Generally, a person who is not a party to an
arbitration agreement is not bound by it. (Buckner v. Tamarin, supra, 98 Cal.App.4th at
p. 142.) However, there are exceptions. For example, a patient who signs an arbitration
agreement at a health care facility can bind relatives who present claims arising from the
patient‟s treatment. (Mormile v. Sinclair (1994) 21 Cal.App.4th 1508, 1511–1516;
Bolanos v. Khalatian (1991) 231 Cal.App.3d 1586, 1591.) Further, a person who is
authorized to act as the patient‟s agent can bind the patient to an arbitration agreement.
(Garrison, supra, 132 Cal.App.4th at pp. 264–266; see Buckner, supra, 98 Cal.App.4th at
p. 142.)” (Flores, supra, 148 Cal.App.4th at p. 587, fn. omitted.)
B.
Whether Edward Agreed to Arbitration at Carmichael Care and Rosewood Terrace
The record in this case shows that approximately three weeks before his admission
to Carmichael Care, Edward executed a VA advance directive, which conferred Judy
with authority to make decisions on his behalf only if he became unable to do so for
himself. Under the plain language of the VA advance directive, Edward agreed to give
8
Judy authority to make healthcare decisions on his behalf only “if there ever comes [a]
time when I cannot make those decisions.” Plaintiff introduced evidence that Edward
was lucid and mentally capable at the time of his admission to Carmichael Care. Plaintiff
also introduced evidence that Edward was alert and oriented at the time of his admission
to Rosewood Terrace. During his time at Carmichael Care and Rosewood Terrace,
Edward made numerous healthcare decisions for himself. Also, on July 1 (the day he
was admitted to Rosewood Terrace) and July 20 (while at Rosewood Terrace), Edward
signed a physician order for life-sustaining treatment (POLST) form.
As counsel for Carmichael Care acknowledged at oral argument, there is no
evidence Edward‟s primary care physician ever declared Edward to lack capacity to make
his own decisions. Probate Code section 4658 requires a determination by a primary
physician in order to establish a lack of capacity by providing: “Unless otherwise
specified in a written advance health care directive, for the purposes of this division, a
determination that a patient lacks or has recovered capacity, or that another condition
exists that affects an individual health care instruction or the authority of an agent or
surrogate, shall be made by the primary physician.” A determination of incapacity
cannot be tacit because Probate Code section 4732 provides that “[a] primary physician
who makes or is informed of a determination that a patient lacks or has recovered
capacity” is required to “promptly record the determination in the patient‟s health care
record and communicate the determination to the patient, if possible, and to a person then
authorized to make health care decisions for the patient.”
Carmichael Care and Rosewood Terrace do not contend the VA advance directive
expired or that Edward lost capacity to make his own decisions about whether to enter
into an arbitration agreement at the time he was admitted to its facility. Indeed, both
acknowledge Edward “could make decisions, for example decisions about such things as
his own health care.” And, Carmichael Care and Rosewood Terrace do not identify any
document or verbal expression of Edward by which he gave Judy authority to sign an
9
arbitration agreement on his behalf. Consequently, we agree with the trial court that
Carmichael Care and Rosewood Terrace failed to meet their burden of proving the
existence of a valid agreement in which Edward, or someone with valid authority to bind
him, agreed to arbitrate any disputes.
Carmichael Care and Rosewood Terrace assert that even though Edward had
capacity to make his own decisions, someone had to sign documents for him because he
could not do so himself. In the trial court, none of the defendants offered evidence or
even made an offer of proof regarding Edward‟s inability to sign documents when
admitted to their care. Consequently, the contention has not been preserved for review.
(Shaw v. County of Santa Cruz (2008) 170 Cal.App.4th 229, 282.)
Carmichael Care asserts Judy‟s mere status as Edward‟s wife gave her authority to
sign the arbitration agreements on his behalf, “[o]therwise, the married couple would
have to go through the formality of creating a formal agency relationship, just to sign the
various long-term care documents.” Rosewood Terrace echoes the assertion. A nearly
identical contention was rejected in Flores, supra, 148 Cal.App.4th at page 589. Flores
involved a husband, Luis, who signed an arbitration agreement on behalf of his wife,
Josephina, at the time of her admission to Evergreen at San Diego, a skilled nursing
facility. (Id. at p. 584) In the admission agreement, “Luis signed a line designated
„[a]gent‟; on other admission documents he signed lines variously designated „[l]egal
[r]epresentative‟ or „[r]esponsible [p]arty.‟” (Id. at pp. 584-585.) However, no evidence
established that Josephina conferred him with authority to bind her to the arbitration
agreement. (Id. at p. 589.) When Josephina and Luis sued Evergreen, the facility moved
to compel arbitration. (Id. at pp. 585-586.) The trial court denied the motion and the
Court of Appeal affirmed on grounds that no conduct by the principal, Josephina,
conferred Luis with authority as an agent to bind her to arbitration. (Id. at pp. 587-589.)
The Flores court also rejected the argument that Luis‟s status as Josephina‟s
spouse inherently gave him authority to execute an arbitration agreement on her behalf.
10
Flores explained, “Although we agree that spouses are fiduciaries and owe a duty of
support in the family law context, these duties do not create a power to contractually bind
each other in the agency context. „[I]t is well established that an agency cannot be
implied from the marriage relation alone.‟ (Lovetro v. Steers [(1965)] 234 Cal.App.2d
[461,] 475; Russell v. Dopp (1995) 36 Cal.App.4th 765, 783; Avedissian v. Manukian
(1983) 141 Cal.App.3d 379, 385.) We recognize that „it is also true that much less
evidence is required to establish a principal and agent relationship between husband and
wife than between nonspouses.‟ (Lovetro, supra, at p. 475.) Here, however, Evergreen
presented no evidence of agency apart from the marital relationship. Although the
establishment of an agency relationship between spouses does not require a high level of
proof, the Floreses‟ marital relationship cannot alone create an agency.” (Flores, supra,
148 Cal.App.4th at p. 589.)
The present action presents an even stronger case than in Flores for rejecting
marital status as sufficient to confer agency because Edward‟s VA advance directive
expressly reserved the right to make his own decisions until and unless he became
incapacitated. (See Flores, supra, 148 Cal.App.4th at pp. 584, 589.) For this reason, we
also reject the suggestion at oral argument by counsel for Carmichael Care, that the
“close relationship” between Judy and Edward gave her authority to sign for him. We
decline to carve from Flores’s holding an exception for marriages deemed to be
especially “close.” Even apart from the difficulty in formulating such a test, the status of
marriage cannot not substitute for the act of conferring agency to a spouse. (Id. at p. 589;
Russell v. Dopp, supra, 36 Cal.App.4th at p. 783.)
The Flores court affirmed even though Evergreen introduced a power of attorney
executed by Josephina in Luis‟s favor after her admission to the facility. (Flores, supra,
148 Cal.App.4th at pp. 588-589.) As Flores noted, “no facts were presented suggesting
that by signing the power of attorney form Josephina intended to ratify Luis‟s earlier
agreement to the arbitration.” (Ibid.) For the same reason, we reject Carmichael Care‟s
11
and Rosewood Terrace‟s assertion that “[g]iven their marital relationship, given the
situation which required that he receive long-term care, and given that he was „alert,‟
„oriented,‟ and „capable,‟ the only reasonable inference to draw is that [Edward] was or
soon would be aware of what she had done.” Here, as in Flores, there was no evidence
Edward ratified Judy‟s signing of the arbitration agreements. (Flores, supra, 148
Cal.App.4th at pp. 588-589.) Thus, we also reject Rosewood Terrace‟s contention that
Judy “signed for [Edward], just as most people in the situation sign for their spouses, and
there is no evidence that he ever objected to her doing so.” Edward did not need to object
in order to preserve his right to make his own healthcare decisions. (Ibid.)
Rosewood Terrace contends that for Judy “to have actual authority to sign the
agreements on [Edward‟s] behalf, it was not needed for [Edward] to literally state „I now
declare my wife, Judith Goldman, as my agent,‟ or anything to that effect.” While no
talismanic language is necessary for a principal to confer authority to an agent, some
expression of the delegation is necessary. (Flores, supra, 148 Cal.App.4th at p. 589.)
For this reason, we reject Rosewood Terrace‟s suggestion that Edward‟s silence on the
matter be considered to be an adoptive admission of the arbitration agreements signed by
Judy. Moreover, it was not plaintiff‟s burden to show Judy did not have authority to sign
on behalf of her husband. It was defendants‟ burden to establish that either Edward
himself, or Judy with authority, agreed to arbitration. (Garrison v. Superior Court (2005)
132 Cal.App.4th 253, 263.)
Both Carmichael Care and Rosewood Terrace focus on Judy‟s conduct and
statements in signing the arbitration agreements. For example, they point to the fact she
signed as Edward‟s “representative” and indicated she was signing due to his “Stroke.”5
We disagree because “agency cannot be created by the conduct of the agent alone; rather,
5 As noted in our recitation of the factual and procedural history of this case,
Edward‟s stroke occurred in 2008 –- after which he lived independently at home with
Judy and executed what defendants do not dispute was a valid VA advance directive.
12
conduct by the principal is essential to create the agency. Agency „can be established
either by agreement between the agent and the principal, that is, a true agency [citation],
or it can be founded on ostensible authority, that is, some intentional conduct or neglect
on the part of the alleged principal creating a belief in the minds of third persons that an
agency exists, and a reasonable reliance thereon by such third persons.‟ (Lovetro v.
Steers (1965) 234 Cal.App.2d 461, 474–475; see Civ. Code, §§ 2298, 2300.) „ “ „The
principal must in some manner indicate that the agent is to act for him [or her], and the
agent must act or agree to act on his [or her] behalf and subject to his [or her]
control.‟. . .” [Citations.]‟ Thus, the „formation of an agency relationship is a bilateral
matter. Words or conduct by both principal and agent are necessary to create the
relationship . . . .‟ (van't Rood [v. County of Santa Clara (2003)] 113 Cal.App.4th [549,]
571, italics added.)” (Flores, supra, at pp. 587-588.)
Here, defendants did not introduce any evidence that Edward –- by words or
actions -– agreed to have Judy sign arbitration agreements or make healthcare decisions
for him while he was capable of making them for himself. Thus, defendants failed to
meet their burden of proof to establish Edward agreed to arbitration of any legal disputes.
(Garrison, supra, 132 Cal.App.4th at p. 263.)
In an argument made by Carmichael Care, and repeated by Rosewood Terrace,
defendants contend Judy did not need authority as Edward‟s agent to sign the arbitration
agreement because the California Arbitration Act (Code Civ. Proc., § 1280 et seq.) uses
the word “representative” in section 1280, subdivision (a), where it defines “Agreement”
to include “agreements providing for valuations, appraisals and similar proceedings and
agreements between employers and employees or between their respective
representatives.” (Italics added.) The argument remains largely undeveloped by both
sets of defendants. We are not persuaded that the use of “representative” in section 1280
undermines the analysis of principal and agent authority as they relate to a married couple
in which one spouse signs on another‟s behalf. (See generally Flores, supra, 148
13
Cal.App.4th at pp. 587-589; Ruiz v. Podolsky (2010) 50 Cal.4th 838, 853; Garrison,
supra, 132 Cal.App.4th at p. 264; Hogan v. Country Villa Health Services (2007) 148
Cal.App.4th 259, 263-266.) Consequently, we reject the assertion that labeling Judy as
Edward‟s “representative” somehow conferred her with decision-making authority he
expressly retained for himself.
In sum, neither Carmichael Care nor Rosewood Terrace met its burden to establish
Judy had authority to agree to arbitration on Edward‟s behalf.
II
Whether Judy Signed on her own Behalf
Carmichael Care and Rosewood Terrace contend Judy “acknowledged when she
signed the arbitration agreements that she agreed to arbitrate her own claims arising from
the care that she was requesting on [Edward‟s] behalf.” We disagree.
A.
The Carmichael Care Arbitration Documents
In pertinent part, the arbitration agreement signed by Judy at the time of Edward‟s
admission at Carmichael Care provides: “This agreement, made on 3/24/10 (date) by and
between the parties, Resident Goldman, Edward and Resident‟s Legal Representative
_______ (collectively referred to hereinafter as „Resident‟), and the Facility Carmichael
Care Center, is an Agreement intended to require that Disputes (the scope of which is
described in section „B‟) be resolved by arbitration. The Resident‟s Legal Representative
agrees that he or she is executing this agreement as a party, both in his or her
representative and individual capacity.” (Bold text indicates handwritten interlineations.)
Elsewhere in the agreement, Judy indicated she accepted the agreement with her
“Initial of Resident/Legal Representative.” At the end of the seven-page agreement, Judy
signed on a line indicating, “Signature of Resident‟s Legal Representative in his/her
Individual and Representative Capacity.”
14
Judy also signed a medical practice arbitration agreement that provided in
pertinent part: “This agreement, made on 3/24/10 (date) by and between the parties,
Resident Goldman Edward and Resident‟s Legal Representative _______ (collectively
referred to hereinafter as „Resident‟), and the Facility Carmichael C. Center, is an
Agreement intended to require that Disputes (the scope of which is described in section
„B‟) be resolved by arbitration. The Resident‟s Legal Representative agrees that he or
she is executing this agreement as a party, both in his or her representative and individual
capacity.” (Bold text indicates handwritten interlineations.) For this agreement, Judy
signed on the line labeled, “Initial of Resident/Legal Representative.” At the end of the
seven-page agreement, Judy signed on a line indicating, “Signature of Resident‟s Legal
Representative in his/her Individual and Representative Capacity.”
B.
The Rosewood Terrace Arbitration Documents
In support of its motion to compel arbitration, Rosewood Terrace introduced a
document titled, “Arbitration of Medical Malpractice Disputes,” which stated in pertinent
part: “By signing this arbitration agreement below, Resident agrees to be bound by the
forgoing arbitration provisions. [¶] . . . [¶] This arbitration agreement shall bind the
parties hereto, including the heirs, representatives, executors, administrators, successors,
and assigns of such parties.” The signature line labeled, “Resident” is blank. Edward‟s
name does not appear anywhere on the form. Instead, Judy signed only on the line
labeled, “Responsible Party.”
Edward‟s name also does not appear anywhere on the form titled, “Arbitration of
Other Disputes,” which provided that “Resident and the Facility further agree that any
dispute arising between them from torts, contracts or otherwise, including any claims for
punitive damages and any actions brought on behalf of the Resident by third-parties, but
exception [sic] claims pertaining to the amount of the Facility‟s charges, shall be
submitted upon request of either the Resident or the Facility to arbitration as provided by
15
California law.” The signature line for “Resident” is blank. Judy‟s signature appears on
the line labeled, “Responsible Party (if any).”
On the same day as she signed admissions forms for Edward‟s admission to
Rosewood Terrace, Judy also signed an advisement stating, “Your Rights as a Resident.”
Judy signed on a line simply marked, “Signature.”
C.
Judy was not a Party to the Arbitration Agreements
It is well settled that “[t]he strong public policy in favor of arbitration does not
extend to those who are not parties to an arbitration agreement, and a party cannot be
compelled to arbitrate a dispute that he [or she] has not agreed to resolve by arbitration.
(County of Contra Costa v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. (1996) 47 Cal.App.4th
237, 245.)” (Benasra v. Marciano (2001) 92 Cal.App.4th 987, 990.)
1. Carmichael Care Arbitration Agreements
Judy was not a party to the Carmichael Care arbitration agreement. Clearly, she
was not a “resident” of the facility. And, our conclusion that Judy did not have authority
to sign the arbitration agreements on behalf of Edward means she was not his “[l]egal
[r]epresentative” as described in Carmichael Care‟s arbitration agreement. Moreover,
Carmichael Care did not include Judy‟s name on the blank line provided to name the
resident‟s legal representative.
Nonetheless, Carmichael Care asserts Judy herself was bound by the arbitration
agreements because the arbitration agreement provided that “Resident‟s Legal
Representative agrees that he or she is executing this agreement as a party, both in his or
her representative and individual capacity.” (Italics added.) Carmichael Care points to
Judy‟s signature on the line labeled, “Signature of Resident‟s Legal Representative in
his/her Individual and Representative Capacity.” We reject the argument.
Although Judy signed as Edward‟s legal representative, the fact of her signing did
not cast her in that status. (Flores, supra, 148 Cal.App.4th at pp. 585, 589.) There was
16
no such person as Edward‟s legal representative at the time Judy signed the Carmichael
Care arbitration agreement. Thus, the signature in that capacity was a mistake. “The
doctrine of mistake customarily involves such errors as the nature of the transaction, the
identity of the parties, the identity of the things to which the contract relates, or the
occurrence of collateral happenings.” (Odorizzi v. Bloomfield School Dist. (1966) 246
Cal.App.2d 123, 130, italics added.) Because there was no such person as Edward‟s legal
representative there was also no legal representative to sign in his or her individual
capacity.
At most, the arbitration agreement is ambiguous as to whether it intended Judy to
sign in her individual capacity independent of her description as “Resident‟s Legal
Representative.” However, as the California Supreme Court noted in another case
involving the interpretation of an arbitration agreement, “ambiguities in standard form
contracts are to be construed against the drafter.” (Victoria v. Superior Court (1985) 40
Cal.3d 734, 739.) Carmichael Care produced a form with a blank space expressly
reserved for identifying parties to be bound by the agreement. However, Carmichael
Care left this space blank. Moreover, Carmichael Care could have chosen to have Judy
sign separately and expressly in her own right. It did not to do so. Accordingly, we
conclude Judy is not bound in her individual capacity because her signature as legal
representative was ineffective. Carmichael Care‟s medical practice arbitration agreement
is identical and yields the same conclusion.
2. Rosewood Terrace Arbitration Agreement
Judy also is not individually bound by the arbitration agreement with Rosewood
Terrace. Rosewood Terrace‟s arbitration agreement provides only that “Resident agrees
to be bound by the forgoing arbitration provisions.” (Italics added.) Judy was not the
resident, and this agreement did not make anyone other than the facility and Edward
parties to the contract. Consequently, Judy is not precluded from bringing her own
claims. Even though the agreement purports to bind the unidentified resident, including
17
his or her “heirs, representatives, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns of
such parties,” Judy did not waive any of her individual claims by purporting to sign on
Edward‟s behalf. As explained in part I, Judy had no authority to sign on behalf
of Edward.
Based on Judy‟s ineffective signatures on the Carmichael Care and Rosewood
Terrace arbitration agreements, we reject defendants‟ reliance on Ruiz v. Podolsky (2010)
50 Cal.4th 838 (Ruiz). Ruiz involved the question of whether a patient‟s agreement to
arbitrate medical malpractice disputes, including wrongful death claims, could also bind
the patient‟s heirs even though they themselves never signed the agreement. (Id. at
p. 841.) The Supreme Court held the patient‟s assent to arbitration bound his successors
and heirs even as to wrongful death claims that are independent actions accruing to a
decedent‟s heirs. (Ibid.) Defendants in this case contend the holding in Ruiz applies to
bind Judy to the arbitration agreements for her own wrongful death and negligent
infliction of emotional distress claims. We reject the contention.
The fundamental difference between Ruiz and the present case is that this action
does not involve a valid agreement to arbitrate –- either by Edward or by Judy. In Ruiz,
the Supreme Court noted it has “emphasized that arbitration derives its legitimacy from
the fact that the parties consent to resort to the arbitral forum rather than to litigation,
with its possibility of a jury trial.” (Ruiz, supra, 50 Cal.4th at p. 852.) Unlike the
circumstance in Ruiz, Edward did not agree to arbitrate and thus did not bind any
successor in interest to arbitrate claims on his behalf.
In sum, Judy was not a party to the arbitration agreements and therefore was not
bound to arbitrate her claims.
III
Public Policy
Finally, Carmichael Care and Rosewood Terrace argue that “[p]ublic policy
dictates that the arbitration agreements should be enforced.” We reject the argument
18
because we are not at liberty to ignore the well established California law that “[t]he
party seeking to compel arbitration bears the burden of proving the existence of a valid
arbitration agreement.” (Flores, supra, 148 Cal.App.4th at p. 586.) Even though it is
true –- as defendants point out –- that “arbitration has become an accepted and favored
method of resolving disputes” (Madden v. Kaiser Foundation Hospitals (1976) 17 Cal.3d
699, 706), it is well settled that an arbitration agreement requires consent. Simply put,
“ „[t]he strong public policy in favor of arbitration does not extend to those who are not
parties to an arbitration agreement, and a party cannot be compelled to arbitrate a dispute
that he [or she] has not agreed to resolve by arbitration.‟ ” (Lee v. Southern California
University for Professional Studies (2007) 148 Cal.App.4th 782, 786, quoting Benasra v.
Marciano, supra, 92 Cal.App.4th at p. 990.)6
DISPOSITION
The orders denying (1) the petition to compel arbitration filed by SunBridge
Healthcare, LLC (formerly known as SunBridge Healthcare Corporation), Regency
Health Services, Inc., Sun Healthcare Group, Inc., and SunBridge Carmichael
Rehabilitation Center (doing business as Carmichael Care and Rehabilitation Center), and
(2) the motion to compel arbitration filed by Carmichael Care, Inc. (doing business as
Rosewood Terrace Care and Rehabilitation), North American Health Care, Inc., and John
Sorensen are affirmed. Plaintiff Judy Goldman individually and as successor in interest
6 Our conclusion that Judy did not have authority to sign the arbitration agreements
for Edward and that she did not sign them on her own behalf obviates the need to
consider whether the trial court properly exercised its discretion under Code of Civil
Procedure section 1281.2, subdivision (c), to adjudicate the arbitrable and nonarbitrable
claims in order to avoid the possibility of inconsistent rulings. We also express no
opinion on defendants‟ claims that Code of Civil Procedure section 1281.2, subdivision
(c), is preempted by the Federal Arbitration Act. So too, we decline to address
defendant‟s arguments that the arbitration agreements were not unconscionable or
oppressive.
19
of Edward Goldman shall recover her costs on appeal. (Cal. Rules of Court,
rule 8.278(a)(1) & (2).)
HOCH , J.
We concur:
HULL , Acting P. J.
BUTZ , J.
20