In Tahisha Roach v. BM Motoring, LLC (077125) (A-69-15), the New Jersey Supreme Court held that a used car dealership’s knowing refusal to cooperate with plaintiffs’ arbitration demands, filed in reasonable compliance with the parties’ agreement, amounts to a material breach, barring the breaching party from later compelling arbitration.
The decision stemmed from two separate litigations involving a used car dealership’s dispute resolution agreement (“DRA”). Plaintiffs had separately purchased used cars from two used car dealerships (operating under the same name), which turned out to be lemons. Plaintiffs’ respective efforts to file an arbitration before the AAA were met by the dealer’s refusal to advance its arbitration fees, and the AAA’s subsequent dismissal of the petition. Efforts to file in court were met by motions to dismiss in favor of arbitration, which the lower courts granted. Ultimately, a joint action was filed, and the lower court directed the plaintiffs to attempt to refile before the AAA, and dismissed their complaint with prejudice. An appeal was taken, and the Appellate Division affirmed. Continue reading “Supreme Court Finds Waiver of Right to Arbitrate by Failure to Pay In Tahisha Roach v. BM Motoring, LLC”