A court denied a motion to compel arbitration because the movants’ active participation in the litigation constituted a waiver of the right to arbitrate. Although assuming a contractual right to arbitrate, the court noted that such a right, like any contractual right, can be waived. The movants’ actions were inconsistent with the right to arbitrate because they consented to jurisdiction and venue, appeared before the court to set aside a default certificate and made numerous filings. They also filed a counterclaim and a third-party complaint, and never mentioned the right to arbitrate or indicated that they would be seeking an extra-judicial remedy. Seeking affirmative relief through a counterclaim or third-party claim frequyently is found to waive a right to arbitrate. Belcourt v. Grivel, S.L.R., Case No. 2:08-CV-902-TC (USDC D. Utah Nov. 6, 2009).
This post written by Brian Perryman.