Bob Chambers v. John M. O'Quinn, Individually D/B/A O'Quinn & Laminack, and John M. O'Quinn, P.C. ( 2009 )

Opinion issued October 1, 2009

  In The

Court of Appeals  

For The  

First District of Texas  

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NO. 01-04-01029-CV

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BOB CHAMBERS, et al., Appellants

V.

JOHN O’QUINN, JOHN M. O’QUINN, P.C., and JOHN M. O’QUINN D/B/A O’QUINN & LAMINACK, Appellees  

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On Appeal from the 61st District Court

Harris County, Texas

Trial Court Cause No. 1999-58265

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    OPINION ON REMAND FROM THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT  

          This suit was brought by former clients, Bob Chambers and 182 others (“appellants”), against John O’Quinn, John M. O’Quinn, P.C., and John M. O’Quinn D/B/A O’Quinn & Laminack (“appellees”), for legal malpractice. Appellants appeal from the trial court’s orders dismissing their suit for want of prosecution and overruling their motion for reinstatement and new trial. In two points of error, appellants argue that the trial court erred in: (1) compelling arbitration under the terms of a compulsory arbitration clause in the attorney-client contract executed between themselves and appellees, and (2) dismissing the case for want of prosecution. We affirm.  

Background  

          On November 23, 1999, appellants sued appellees for legal malpractice in connection with appellants’ representation and settlement of their toxic tort claims. Appellees responded with a motion to compel arbitration under the terms of a compulsory arbitration clause contained in a contingency fee agreement executed between the parties. On April 14, 2000, the trial court granted appellees’ motion to compel arbitration.

          On December 20, 2001, appellants petitioned for writ of mandamus in this Court, complaining of the order compelling arbitration. We issued an opinion on January 7, 2002, denying appellants’ petition for writ of mandamus because it was unverified. See In re Chambers, No. 01-01-01216-CV, 2002 WL 24567 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Jan. 7, 2002, orig. proceeding) (not designated for publication). On January 10, 2002, appellants filed a petition for writ of mandamus in the Fourteenth Court of Appeals, asking that court to order the trial court to withdraw its order compelling arbitration. The Fourteenth Court of Appeals issued an opinion on February 7, 2002, denying appellants’ petition for writ of mandamus. On March 18, 2002, appellants filed another petition for writ of mandamus in the Texas Supreme Court, which was also denied.   

          On January 15, 2004, the trial court signed an order decreeing that “unless a final arbitration hearing on [appellants’] claims has commenced before the American Arbitration Association on or before July 9, 2004, [appellants’] claims shall be DISMISSED FOR WANT OF PROSECUTION.” On July 21, 2004, the trial court signed an order dismissing appellants’ suit for want of prosecution because no final arbitration hearing had commenced by July 9, 2004. On August 5, 2004, appellants filed a motion for reinstatement or new trial. After a hearing on August 20, 2004, the trial court denied appellants’ motion for reinstatement or new trial. On September 22, 2004, appellants appealed.

          While the appeal was pending, the parties proceeded to arbitration, with the arbitrator ultimately ruling in the appellees’ favor. Appellees filed a motion for summary judgment in those proceedings. The arbitrator granted appellees’ summary-judgment motion and entered an award that appellants take nothing on their claims. Appellants filed a new lawsuit to vacate the arbitration award. The same trial court that had dismissed appellants’ suit for want of prosecution, the 61st District Court, held a hearing on appellants’ application for vacatur. The trial court signed a final judgment on June 10, 2005, denying appellants’ request to vacate the arbitration award and confirming the arbitration award. Appellants filed another appeal among the same parties in this Court from the trial court’s June 10 final judgment.

          This Court issued two separate memorandum opinions (1) affirming the judgment of the trial court confirming the arbitration award, Chambers, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 9006, at *19, 2006 WL 2974318, at *6, and (2) dismissing the appeal of the order compelling arbitration on jurisdictional grounds, 2006 WL 2853893, at *2 (not designated for publication).

          In dismissing the appellants’ first appeal, we concluded that mandamus was the proper remedy to review the trial court’s order compelling arbitration. 2006 WL 2853893, at *2. We concluded further that because appellants had already sought and been refused mandamus relief by this Court and the Fourteenth Court of Appeals, we lacked appellate jurisdiction and were bound by these previous rulings denying mandamus. Id. at *2. The Texas Supreme Court granted appellants’ petition for review and reversed, remanding the case for us to conduct a “review on the merits.” Chambers v. O’Quinn, 242 S.W.3d 30, 32 (Tex. 2007). The mandate instructed that the case was being remanded “for further proceedings consistent with [the supreme court’s] opinion.” Id.

          We based our disposition on three holdings. See 2006 WL 2853893, at *2, 4. While not expressly addressing the last of our three holdings, the supreme court held that we had erred in concluding that we “lacked appellate jurisdiction,” and it reversed our judgment and remanded the case for us to review the appeal “on the merits.” Chambers, 242 S.W.3d 30 at 32. We thus construe the supreme court’s mandate as requiring this Court to consider, on remand, all of appellants’ challenges under their issues presented one and two.

Standard of Review

          In determining whether to compel arbitration, the trial court must decide the following: (1) whether a valid, enforceable arbitration agreement exists, and (2) if so, whether the claims asserted fall within the scope of that agreement. Dallas Cardiology Assoc., P.A. v. Mallick, 978 S.W.2d 209, 212 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1998, pet. denied). If the answers to both prongs are affirmative, the trial court has no discretion but to compel arbitration and stay its proceedings pending arbitration. Id. The party seeking arbitration has the initial burden to establish his right to the remedy under the first prong; that is, to establish that a valid arbitration agreement exists. Id. Once the existence of an arbitration agreement has been established, a presumption attaches favoring arbitration. Id. At this point, the burden shifts to the opposing party to establish some ground for the revocation of the arbitration agreement. Such grounds include fraud, waiver, unconscionability, or that the dispute falls outside the scope of the agreement. Id. The trial court must resolve any doubt about these issues in favor of arbitration. Id.

          Appellate courts use a “no evidence” standard for review of the trial court’s factual determinations. See Pony Express Courier Corp. v. Morris, 921 S.W.2d 817, 820 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1996, no writ). Under that standard, we consider only the evidence that supports the fact finding, while disregarding the evidence to the contrary. Hearthshire Braeswood Plaza Ltd. P’ship v. Bill Kelly Co., 849 S.W.2d 380, 384 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1993, writ denied). If there is any evidence of probative force to support the finding, the trial court’s finding must be upheld. See id. However, when the trial court decides a matter involving both factual determinations and legal conclusions, we employ the abuse of discretion standard to review. See Pony Express Courier Corp., 921 S.W.2d at 820. Under the abuse of discretion standard, we defer to the trial court’s factual determinations while reviewing legal conclusions de novo. Id. Pure legal conclusions or matters not involving extrinsic evidence, are subject to de novo review under the abuse of discretion standard. See id. at 820 n. 2; see also Fridl v. Cook, 908 S.W.2d 507, 511 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1995, writ dism’d w.o.j.). Order Compelling Arbitration

          Appellants argue in their first point of error that the trial court erred by granting appellees’ motion to compel arbitration because the compulsory arbitration clause in each agreement was void. Each contract, executed between O’Quinn and each individual appellant, contained the following language:

X. ARBITRATION

10. Any and all disputes, controversies, claims or demands arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any provision hereof, the providing of services by Attorneys to Client, or in any way relating to the relationship between Attorneys and Client, whether in contract, tort or otherwise, at law or in equity, for damages or any other relief, shall be resolved by binding arbitration pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules then in effect with the American Arbitration Association. Any such arbitration proceeding shall be conducted in Harris County, Texas. This arbitration provision shall be enforceable in either federal or state court in Harris County, Texas pursuant to the substantive federal laws established by the Federal Arbitration Act. Any party to any award rendered in such arbitration proceeding may seek a judgment upon the award and that judgment may be entered by any federal or state court in Harris County, Texas having jurisdiction.

          The contracts also contained the following heading in capital letters at the top of the first page, “This contract is subject to arbitration under the Texas general arbitration statute.”   

A.      “Personal Injury”

          A written agreement to arbitrate is valid and enforceable if an arbitration agreement exists and the claim asserted is within the scope of the agreement. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 171.001 (Vernon 2005). However, an exception exists for personal injury claims which requires that each party to a claim, on the advice of counsel, agree to arbitration in writing. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 170.002(a)(3),(c)(1) (Vernon 2005). The agreement must be signed by each party and each party’s attorney. Id. § 170.002(c)(2). Appellants urge that the instant suit is akin to a personal injury claim and that the execution of a written agreement to arbitrate should have been subject to the safeguards in section 170.002(a)(3).

          Appellants assert that, unlike ordinary commercial contractual relationships, the fiduciary nature of the attorney-client relationship dictates against an attorney’s ability to impose an arbitration condition on a client. In the instant case, appellants sued O’Quinn for breach of fiduciary duties and legal malpractice. Our sister courts are split on the issue of whether a legal malpractice suit is a claim for personal injury. See Taylor v. Wilson, 180 S.W.3d 627, 630 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2005, pet. denied). The majority of courts have held that legal malpractice claims are not claims for personal injury. Id. (holding legal malpractice claim is not claim for personal injury); Miller v. Brewer, 118 S.W.3d 896, 899 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2003, no pet.) (same); In re Hartigan, 107 S.W.3d 684, 690 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2003, pet. denied) (same). But see In re Godt, 28 S.W.3d 732, 739 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2000, no pet.) (holding legal malpractice claim falls within personal injury exception and is included within scope of Texas Arbitration Act).   

          Appellants request that we hold that in a legal malpractice case the test for deciding whether section 171.002 applies is whether the underlying case involves personal injury. We decline to do so. Instead, we adopt the reasoning of Fourteenth Court of Appeals in Taylor, upholding the majority view that legal malpractice claims are not claims for personal injury, and, therefore, arbitration agreements are enforceable in the context of a legal malpractice suit. See Taylor, 180 S.W.3d at 630 (holding legal malpractice claim is not claim for personal injury).

          The Taylor court examined the legislative history of the personal injury provision in the Texas Arbitration Act and found “no room for doubt in the legislature’s intent to restrict the meaning of the personal injury exception of the Texas Arbitration Act to physical personal injury.” Id. at 631. The court also noted that the plaintiff’s underlying claim was for economic losses rather than personal injury. Id. at 630. In the instant case, although appellants’ underlying claim was for personal injury, appellants’ malpractice claim is not, by virtue of this fact, transformed into a claim for personal injury. Rather, appellants’ legal malpractice claim remains a claim of economic injury. Thus, appellants’ malpractice claim is not excluded from arbitration.  

B. Failure to disclose material facts, seek advice of counsel

          Appellants also assert that the arbitration provisions are unenforceable because the O’Quinn firm failed to disclose the arbitration agreement and failed to adequately explain material facts and issues relating to arbitration. Additionally, appellants claim that none of them were advised to seek, or did seek, independent counsel with respect to arbitration and that public policy dictates that such safeguards be implemented with respect to compulsory arbitration agreements executed within an attorney-client relationship. Id.

          In support of their argument, appellants rely on the dissenting opinion of Chief Justice Phil Hardberger in Henry v. Gonzalez, 18 S.W.3d 684 (Tex.—San Antonio 2000, pet. dism’d). In Henry, former clients brought suit against their former attorneys alleging legal malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty, amongst other claims. Henry, 18 S.W.3d at 687. The clients also sought a declaratory judgment that an arbitration clause in the contract they executed with their former attorney was unenforceable and void. Id. The court determined that a valid arbitration agreement existed, and rejected the clients’ arguments that they were fraudulently induced to sign the contract. Id. at 692. In his dissent, Hardberger reasoned that the “fundamental fiduciary nature of the attorney-client relationship dictates against an attorney’s ability to impose an arbitration condition on a client.” Id. at 693. Hardberger opined, “Clients are often in vulnerable positions, requiring them to bestow a large amount of trust in their attorneys . . . Applying general contractual principles to an arbitration provision in the attorney-client context ignores the practical reality that in most instances the attorney and his or her client are not engaged in an arm’s length transaction during their initial negotiations.” Id. Hardberger concluded that attorneys generally have a greater advantage over their clients in an arbitration setting. Id. Appellants argue, as did Hardberger, that emerging national trends require attorneys to observe and satisfy safeguard requirements in order to enforce an arbitration agreement inserted into an attorney-client contingent fee contract. Id.

          We decline to extend Justice Hardberger’s reasoning to this case. Whether to impose conditions upon the enforceability of arbitration provisions between attorney and client is a matter for the legislature, not the courts. As previously noted, the legislature has imposed certain conditions with respect to personal injury claims, requiring that agreements to arbitrate such claims be in writing and entered into on the advice of counsel. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 171.002(c) (Vernon 2005). The legislature’s failure to impose such conditions on attorney-client contracts, while expressly recognizing them in other contexts, indicates that the legislature did not intend to impose such conditions. See Fireman’s Fund County Mut. Ins. Co. v. Hidi, 13 S.W.3d 767, 769 (Tex. 2000) (holding “[w]hen the Legislature has employed a term in one section of a statute and excluded it in another, we presume that the Legislature had a reason for excluding it.”)

C. Waiver of Right to Jury Trial

          Appellants also argue that the agreement impermissibly waives their right to a jury trial.

          The San Antonio Court of Appeals previously rejected this argument in Gonzalez. There, the court stated that “well established caselaw favors mandatory arbitration and holds that arbitration does not deny parties their right to a jury trial, as a matter of law.” Gonzalez, 18 S.W.3d 684, 691 (citing Jack B. Anglin Co., Inc. v. Tipps, 842 S.W.2d 266, 268 (Tex. 1992)). Moreover, a difference exists between a jury trial waiver and an agreement to arbitrate disputes. Arbitration is an agreement to resolve disputes out of court in the first instance, not an agreement to waive a particular constitutional right available within the judicial process. D. Wilson Const. Co., Inc. v. McAllen Indep. Sch. Dist., 848 S.W.2d 226, 231 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 1992, writ dism’d w.o.j.). When a party contractually agrees to arbitrate a dispute, it waives its rights to recourse in the courts. Id.

          Because arbitration does not deny parties their right to a jury trial as a matter of law, we reject appellants’ argument.

D.      The Federal Arbitration Act

          Appellants next assert that appellees are not entitled to arbitration because federal, rather than Texas law, controls under the terms of the contract. Specifically, appellants state that the agreement “does not contain any language providing that Texas law may govern the arbitration agreement or that arbitration shall be enforceable under the Texas Arbitration Act.”

          Provision 10 of the contract states that “any and all disputes . . . arising out of or relating to this Agreement . . . shall be resolved by binding arbitration pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act[.]” The contract also provides, “This arbitration provision shall be enforceable in either federal or state court in Harris County, Texas pursuant to the substantive federal laws established by the Federal Arbitration Act.” Appellees acknowledge that the contract references the Federal Arbitration Act, but they suggest that these references to federal law must be harmonized with the notice at the top of the first page of the contract, which states in capital letters, “This contract is subject to arbitration under the Texas general arbitration statute.”   

          The San Antonio Court of Appeals was confronted with a similar set of facts in Henry. Henry, 18 S.W.3d at 688. There, provision 10 of the attorney-client contract stated that the “Agreement shall be construed under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas . . . .” Id. However, provision 11 provided that all disputes “shall be resolved by binding arbitration pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act . . . .” Id. The contract also contained a clause that appeared in all capital letters above the signature lines stating, “This contract is subject to arbitration under the Texas General Arbitration Statute.” Id. Thus, the contract in Henry was internally inconsistent as to whether the FAA or the TAA governed. Id.

          In concluding the dispute was governed by the TAA, the court referred to basic principles of contract interpretation. Id. In interpreting a contract, courts examine the entire agreement in an effort to harmonize and give effect to all provisions of the contract so that none will be meaningless. Id. (citing Bush v. Brunswick Corp., 783 S.W.2d 724, 728 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1989, writ denied)). If the provisions of the contract appear to conflict, they should be harmonized, if possible, to reflect the intentions of the parties. Id. (citing Ogden v. Dickinson State Bank, 662 S.W.2d 330, 332 (Tex. 1983); Bush, 783 S.W.2d at 728). Courts cannot strike down any portion of a contract unless there is an irreconcilable conflict. Id. (citing Ogden, 662 S.W.2d at 332).

          After applying the above-referenced principles and determining that the two provisions in the contract were in irreconcilable conflict, the Henry court held that the TAA controlled the dispute. Id. The court noted that, although the contract stated that the FAA controlled, performance of the contract did not relate to interstate commerce and that the FAA is implicated in transactions relating to interstate commerce. Id. (citing Cantella & Co., Inc. v. Goodwin, 924 S.W.2d 943, 944 (Tex. 1996)). Therefore, the court struck down the provision relating to the FAA and concluded that the dispute was governed by the TAA. Id. The court reached its conclusion, in part, because the contract’s prominent bold type stated that any arbitration would be governed by the TAA, all parties involved in the suit were Texas residents, the contract was signed in Texas, the contract was to be performed in Texas only, and the dispute did not relate in any way to interstate commerce. Id.

          Similarly, the contract in the instant case (1) does not relate to interstate commerce, and (2) was executed between Texas residents in Texas, to be performed in Texas. Therefore, we hold that the TAA controls this dispute. See also In re Godt, 28 S.W.3d at 737 (holding that, where there existed a similar conflict, the TAA controlled where there was no evidence demonstrating that attorney-client agreement related to interstate commerce.)  

E.      Texas Disciplinary Rule of Conduct 1.08(g)

          Appellants next argue that O’Quinn attempted to limit his liability in violation of Rule 1.08(g) of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct. See Tex. R. Disciplinary P. 1.08(g), reprinted in Tex. Gov’t. Code Ann., tit. 2, subtit. G (Vernon 2005). Rule 1.08(g) expressly forbids an attorney from entering into an agreement with a client that prospectively limits the attorney’s liability to the client unless (1) the agreement is permitted by law and (2) the client is independently represented in making the agreement. Keck, Mahin & Cate v. Nat’l Union Fire Ins. Co., 20 S.W.3d 692, 699 (Tex. 2000).

          Appellants claim that O’Quinn has, through arbitration, sought to limit appellee’s liability to appellants for the precise claims asserted in this litigation. Furthermore, by asking for separate arbitration in its motions, the O’Quinn Firm clearly sought to burden, and did burden, appellants with “arbitration costs” that made arbitration financially prohibitive.

          Arbitration is a means of dispute resolution and does not constitute a limitation on a party’s liability. See McGuire, Cornwell & Blakey v. Grider, 765 F. Supp. 1048, 1051 (D. Col. 1991) (holding that attorney arbitration clauses “do not prospectively limit lawyer liability to the client. Rather, they merely shift determination of the malpractice claim to a different forum.”) As appellees correctly note, appellants asserted in arbitration the identical causes of action they assert in the instant litigation and sought the same categories and amounts of damages. Thus, appellee’s liability is not limited as a practical matter. Moreover, the San Antonio Court of Appeals has held that a similar arbitration clause did not violate Disciplinary Rule 1.08(g), noting “the arbitration clause merely prescribes the procedure for resolving any disputes between attorney and client.” In re Hartigan, 107 S.W.3d 684, 689 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2003, no pet.). The same description aptly applies, and thus the same result obtains here.

          Consequently, we hold that the arbitration clause in the instant case does not limit the liability to which appellees would otherwise be exposed, and therefore it does not violate Disciplinary Rule 1.08(g).

F.      Waiver

          Appellants claim that appellees waived their right to arbitrate. In support of their argument, appellants cite Sedillo v. Campbell, 5 S.W.3d 824, 826 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, no pet.), for the principle that a party may impliedly waive arbitration by “engaging in some combination of filing an answer, setting up a counterclaim, pursuing extensive discovery, moving for a continuance and failing to timely request arbitration.” Sedillo, 5 S.W.3d at 827. Stated differently, a court may find that a party has waived its right to arbitration if such party substantially invokes the judicial process to the opposing party’s detriment. Id.

          Appellants suggest that this case compares favorably with the defendant’s actions constituting waiver in Sedillo. Id. There, the defendant:

          (1) answered the subject lawsuit and immediately filed a bankruptcy petition that was dismissed “based on bad faith”;

          (2) “filed numerous pleadings and motions in the court below without first seeking arbitration”;

          (3) filed a Response to Motion for Summary Judgment;

          (4) filed a jury demand and paid the jury fee; and

          (5) did not file its motion to stay proceedings in favor of arbitration until eleven months after plaintiff filed suit.

Id. at 826–27.

          In comparing O’Quinn’s actions with Sedillo’s, appellant notes that O’Quinn filed an answer in the trial court and sought, before attempting to invoke arbitration, both a Rule 11 Agreement extending the time for answering and a sixty-day abatement of appellant’s suit under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Moreover, O’Quinn did not file a motion to stay proceedings in favor of arbitration until six months after suit had been filed. Appellant notes further that O’Quinn filed a companion suit against appellants’ attorneys, took depositions, and sought abatement in the companion case.

          Because public policy favors arbitration, there is a strong presumption against waiver, and any doubt about whether a party waived contractual arbitration rights must be resolved in favor of arbitration. Id. at 826– 27; In re Oakwood Mobile Homes, 987 S.W.2d 571, 573–74 (Tex. 1999); Valero Energy Corp. v. Teco Pipeline Co., 2 S.W.3d 576, 590 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, no pet.). After comparing Sedillo to O’Quinn’s actions in the instant case, we determine that no waiver occurred. A party invokes the judicial process only to the extent that it “litigates a specific claim it subsequently seeks to arbitrate.” Sedillo, 5 S.W.3d at 827 (quoting Subway Equip. Leasing Corp. v. Forte, 169 F.3d 324, 328 (5th Cir. 1999)). O’Quinn filed for arbitration within a reasonable time of answering appellants’ case and the fact that O’Quinn filed suit against appellants’ attorneys does not amount to litigation of this specific claim. Therefore, O’Quinn did not “substantially invoke” the judicial process, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion in holding that no waiver occurred. See In re Bruce Terminex Co., 988 S.W.2d 702, 705–06 (Tex. 1998) (holding no waiver even though party (1) did not file an application for arbitration within two years of suit being filed; (2) did not act to institute arbitration for more than 17 months after the trial court compelled arbitration; and (3) served discovery in the lawsuit that would not have been allowed in arbitration); see also Pennzoil Oil Co. v. Arnold Oil Co., 30 S.W.3d 494 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2000, no pet.) (holding no waiver even though party, before requesting arbitration: (1) moved for change in venue; (2) served interrogatories and two sets of document requests; (3) participated in six depositions; (4) participated in docket control conference; (5) requested a jury; (6) requested an extension of trial date; (7) proposed protective order regarding discovery; (8) moved to compel discovery; and (9) moved for summary judgment).

G.      Texas Government Code section 82.065(a)

          Finally, appellants assert that the agreement, along with the arbitration clause, is void because it was not executed in conformance with section 82.065 of the Texas Government Code, which provides, “[a] contingent fee contract for legal services must be in writing and signed by the attorney and client.” Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 82.065(a) (Vernon 2005). Appellants note that O’Quinn did not sign the agreements, although the clients did.

          Appellant’s argument that the contract is void due to the absence of O’Quinn’s signature is unavailing. In Enochs v. Brown, 872 S.W.2d 312, 318 (Tex. App.—Austin 1994, no writ), the Austin Court of Appeals examined the legal effect of a contingent fee agreement fully performed but not signed by the attorney. The court looked to the legislative purpose behind section 82.065 and determined that the statute was designed to prevent fraud. Id. The court determined that the statute accomplishes its purpose of guarding against fraud in contingent fee contracts and complies with the statute of frauds by requiring the party enforcing the contract to produce a written contract signed by the party to be charged. Id.

          We agree with the reasoning in Enochs. Consequently, because O’Quinn was the party enforcing the contingent fee agreement against appellants and because appellants, the clients, signed the agreements in the instant case, we hold that section 82.065(a)’s purpose has been fulfilled, and that the contract is not void.

          For all the aforementioned reasons, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in determining that a valid, enforceable arbitration agreement existed and that the claims asserted fell within the scope of that agreement. Mallick, 978 S.W.2d at 212. Thus, the trial court had no discretion but to compel arbitration. We overrule appellants’ first point of error.  

Dismissal for Want of Prosecution

             Appellants argue in their second point of error that the trial court erred in dismissing their suit for want of prosecution and request that the trial court’s dismissal be reversed. 

          The trial court signed an order on July 21, 2004, dismissing appellants’ suit for want of prosecution because no final arbitration hearing had commenced by July 9, 2004, as ordered.   As an initial matter, appellants claim that the trial court’s order threatening dismissal unless arbitration was commenced by July 9, 2004 was not a notice of trial or “dispositive” setting and that the court could not dismiss until giving additional notice of potential dismissal with a hearing on a date certain. Appellants further claim that they were confused as to precisely what actions had to be taken to avoid dismissal. Finally, appellants claim that they received no notice of the trial court’s order informing them that “unless a final hearing on Plaintiff’s claims has commenced before the American Arbitration Association on or before July 9, 2004, Plaintiff’s claims shall be DISMISSED FOR WANT OF PROSECUTION.”

          Even assuming that appellants received no notice of the trial court’s intention to dismiss their suit for want of prosecution, we hold that any such error was harmless because appellants were given an opportunity to be heard on their motion to reinstate, filed after the dismissal for want of prosecution. See Franklin v. Sherman Indep. Sch. Dist., 53 S.W.3d 398, 403 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2001, pet. denied).

          Appellants filed a “Motion for Reinstatement and/or New Trial,” which contained arguments identical to those presented on appeal. After a full hearing on August 20, 2004, the trial court denied appellants’ motion. If a party receives the same hearing before the trial court that it would have had before the dismissal was signed, no harmful error is committed. Id. at 403. Jimenez v. Transwestern Property Company, 999 S.W.2d 125, 129 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, no pet.), also shows that any error did not harm the appellants. In that case, the appellant was not given notice of the trial court’s intent to dismiss for want of prosecution but was given a hearing on the motion to reinstate. Id. at 129. The court held that the hearing on appellant’s motion to reinstate “satisfied the due process rights applicable to the dismissal of his case.” Id. Therefore, assuming without deciding that the trial court erred in dismissing appellants’ case, we hold that such error was harmless. Id.

          We overrule appellants’ second point of error.

Conclusion

          We affirm the judgment of the trial court.      

                                                                                  Tim Taft

                                                                                  Justice 

Panel consists of Justices Keyes, Hanks, and Taft.  

Appendix A

1.       ALLEN, ANGELESTINE

2.       ALLEN, ALTON

3.       ALLEN, BERTRAND

4.       ANDERSON, DONALD

5.       ARCLESSE, ANDRE

6.       ARCLESSE, FRANKIE

7.       ARCLESSE, CLARENCE

8.       ARCLESSE, CLARENCE (JR.)

9.       AUGUST, ANTHONY

10.     BABERS, HENRY

11.     BABERS, ABDULAH

12.     BABERS, RODERICK

13.     BABERS, MARIE

14.     BANKS, PARIS

15.     BELL, DOROTHY

16.     BELL, ALECIA

17.     BLACKSHEAR, JERRY

18.     BLACKSHEAR, OLEVIA

19.     BLACKSHEAR, THELMA

20.     BOLDEN, SHERRY

21.     BOUGERE, CECILIA

22.     BOUGERE, ROME

23.     BOUGERE, ROME (JR.)

24.     BOYD, BIRDIE

25.     BOYD, WILLIAM (JR.)

26.     BOYD, ANGELA

27.     BOYD, RODERICK

28.     BOYD, RYAN

29.     BROADNAX, EZELL

30.     BROADNAX, IRENE

31.     BROADNAX, SHARON

32.     BROWN, CEDRIC

33.     BROWN, LATREYA

34.     BROWN, LATANYA

35.     BRYANT, EARNESTINE

36.     BUCKNER, ARTHUR (II)

37.     BUCKNER, SANCHA

38.     BUCKNER, ARTHUR (III)

39.     BUCKNER, MARTHA

40.     CAMPBELL, JOHN

41.     CARMEN, LEVON

42.     CARMEN, MARVI

43.     CARMEN, LIONEL

44.     CHAMBERS, BOB

45.     CHAMBERS, DANIEL

46.     CHAMBERS, KEVIN D.

47.     CHAMBERS, KENNETH W. (SR.)

48.     CHAMBERS, KENNETH W. (JR.)

49.     CHAMBERS, BOBBY

50.     CHAMBERS, SANDRA

51.     CHAMBERS, CHRISTINA

52.     CHAMBERS, COURTNEY

53.     COMEAUX, ANN GELL

54.     COMEAUX, REV. LEARON

55.     COMEAUX, SANDRA

56.     COMEAUX, LEARON (JR.)

57.     COTTON, MARILYN

58.     DAVIS, JAMES

59.     DAVIS, JASON

60.     DAVIS, NIKIA

61.     DAVIS, LOIS

62.     DEMBY, HERBERT

63.     DEMBY, ROSA

64.     DIXON, LAWRENCE

65.     DUGAR, JOSEPH

66.     DUPLECHAIN, PATRICIA

67.     DUPLECHAIN, LAWRENCE

68.     ERZELL, KIRK

69.     ETIENNE, PEARLEY

70.     ETIENNE, D. DYRON

71.     ETIENNE, ADAM

72.     ETIENNE, DEANDRA

73.     FACTOR, JERRY

74.     FACTOR, JACQUELINE

75.     FIELDER, VIVIAN

76.     FIELDER, OTIS

77.     FOSTER, JANISHA

78.     FOSTER, RAIMON

79.     FOSTER, JANICE

80.     FREEMAN, BETTY

81.     GANTS, BARTHOLOMEW

82.     GARDNER, ANITA

83.     GARRETT, JAMES

84.     GEORGE, KENNETH

85.     GEORGE, ALICE

86.     GIPSON, LATRICE

87.     GIPSON, REGINALD

88.     GLOVER, PERRY

89.     GLOVER, ROSA

90.     GLOVER, TELISHA

91.     GLOVER, TRACY

92.     GRADY, WILLIAM

93.     GREEN, LUCY

94.     GREER, VERONICA

95.     GREER, LACHEA

96.     GUILLORY, FALONIA

97.     GUILLORY, JOHN

98.     GUY, JOHN

99.     GUY, BETTIE

100.   HAMILTON, HELEN

101.   HOLLEY, CATHRESHA

102.   JACKSON, OLETHA

103.   JOHNSON, DIMITRIA

104.   JOHNSON, MONTIQUE

105.   JOHNSON, RUFUS

106.   JOHNSON, FERDANA

107.   JOHNSON, DOROTHY

108.   JOHNSON, FREDDIE (JR.)

109.   JONES, DARRELL

110.   JORDAN, DARRELL

111.   JORDAN, VERNA

112.   JORDEN, BOBBY (JR.)

113.   JORDEN, EBONY

114.   JORDEN, ROSA

115.   JORDEN, ROSALYN

116.   JORDEN, BOBBY

117.   JORDEN, BOBBY (SR.)

118.   JOSEPH, LEROY

119.   KINNERSON, TERRENCE

120.   KINNEY, DAVIS

121.   LEE, LILLYANN

122.   LEWIS, RODNEY

123.   LEWIS, RUBY

124.   LEWIS, JOHN

125.   LINER, BETTY

126.   LINER, LEON

127.   LOTT, WILLIAM

128.   MAYS, CHERYL

129.   MAYS, TERRENCE

130.   MAYS, GREGORY

131.   MCGREW, HELEN

132.   MCGREW, JOHNNIE

133.   MILLS, MARION

134.   MILLS, ROBRIAN

135.   MINOR, GENTRY (SR.)

136.   MINOR, HORACE

137.   MINOR, HAZEL

138.   MINOR, TRENT

139.   MINOR, GENTRY (JR.)

140.   MINOR, MARTHA

141.   MINOR, SCHERAZADE

142.   PAGE, FRANK

143.   PICKENS, ALFRED

144.   PICKENS, ROSHALETTE

145.   PICKENS, CONSTANCE

146.   RANDLE, DANIEL

147.   RANDLE, KIMBERLY

148.   RANDLE, GWEN

149.   RANDLE, ANGELA

150.   REDMOND, LILLIE

151.   REDMOND, ALBERT

152.   RICHARDSON, CYNTHIA

153.   RICHARDSON, ROBERT

154.   ROBERTS, RODERIC

155.   ROBERTS, CREIGHTON

156.   ROBERTS, DELORES

157.   ROBERTS, CURTIS

158.   ROBINSON, JEROME

159.   ROGERS, XAVIER

160.   ROSETTE, BERNISE

161.   SHAW, DEBRA

162.   SMITH, NORLEAN

163.   STEWART, JOHN W.

164.   STEWART, NORMA

165.   STEWART, RODNEY

166.   TAYLOR, MARY

167.   THOMAS, ELLEN

168.   THOMAS, ERICKA

169.   THOMPSON, JERRY

170.   THOMPSON, MARY E.

171.   THOMPSON, ANITRIA

172.   THOMPSON, MARGIE

173.   WARD, CHRISTINA

174.   WARD, CLARENCE (III)

175.   WICKS, WANDA

176.   WILCOX, CHARLES

177.   WILCOX, CHARLES D.

178.   WILCOX, LATOYA

179.   WILCOX, JOAN

180.   WILLIAMS, LOLA ANN

181.   WILLIAMS, JAMES

182.   WILSON, THERIS

183.   WRIGHT, WILMA