Montes v. National Buick GMC, Inc.
Montes v. National Buick GMC, Inc., 2024 UT 42 (Pearce, J.)
Contracts
Car dealership moved to compel arbitration in a suit involving the sale of a used car. The district court denied the motion, ruling that the purchase agreement’s integration clause excluded a separate arbitration agreement. The Utah Court of Appeals affirmed. The Utah Supreme Court reversed, holding:
- The purchase agreement and arbitration agreement were executed as part of the same transaction and should be construed together
- Practice tip: Where two or more parties sign contemporaneous, executed instruments related to the same transaction, those agreements should be construed together—even where one contains a clear integration clause.