HOUSTON - The First Court of Appeals today reversed a ruling denying U-Haul’s motion to compel arbitration in a lawsuit brought over injuries and property damage caused by an automobile collision.
The lawsuit was brought by Johan Velilla Toro, who claims U-Haul negligently connected a trailer to his SUV.
According to the First Court’s opinion, Toro alleged that he was driving on Highway 45 when “the U-Haul trailer he was pulling suddenly and without warning unhitched itself” from his sport utility vehicle. Toro then “stepped out [of his SUV] to try to re-attach the [U-Haul] trailer,” and was rear-ended.
Court records show U-Haul filed a motion to compel arbitration pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, seeking to compel Toro to submit his claims against U-Haul to binding arbitration before the American Arbitration Association.
The trial court denied the motion and U-Haul appealed.
The First Court concluded that U-Haul established that Toro’s claims fall within the scope of the arbitration agreement between the parties, finding that the trial court erred in denying U-Haul’s motion to compel arbitration.
“We reverse the trial court’s order denying U-Haul’s motion to compel arbitration.” the opinion states. “We render judgment granting U-Haul’s motion to compel arbitration and ordering the referral to arbitration of Toro’s claims against U-Haul.”
Appeals case No. 01-22-00883-CV