Texas Divorce Attorney Blog
A family business can complicate the property division in a Texas divorce. A recent case considered whether a husband could compel arbitration to enforce a buyout provision in a company agreement during the divorce proceeding.
The parties formed a limited-liability company together during the marriage, with each owning a 50% membership interest. The husband subsequently petitioned for divorce and the wife filed a counterpetition. Both attached the standing order required by the Travis County District Clerk to protect the parties and preserve their property while the case is pending. The standing order applies to all divorce suits filed in Travis County (and many other counties have similar standing orders, such as Dallas, Collin, Denton, Rockwall, and Tarrant Counties) and prohibits parties from taking certain actions that would harm or reduce the value of the property and from selling or otherwise alienating property belonging to either party.
Wife Seeks to Compel Arbitration on Business Disputes
The husband sought injunctive relief and temporary orders to address disputes relating to operation of the business. The wife asked for those disputes to be resolved according to the company agreement, which required any court proceeding brought by one owner against the other be submitted to mediation first and then to binding arbitration if not resolved. The parties were required to go to mediation and arbitration and the arbitrator entered an award regarding management and control of the business. The wife moved to enforce the arbitration award and the court entered temporary orders in accordance with that award.
Husband Seeks Buyout of Wife’s Interest
The husband offered to buy the wife’s interest pursuant to a buyout option in the company agreement. The company agreement allows either member to give written notice to the other member of their desire to sell their own shares to the other member or buy the other member’s shares. The other member then has a 60-day option to buy the interest of the offering member at the same price and with the same terms and conditions as the offering member proposed. If the other member does not exercise the option within 60 days, the offering member must buy the other member’s interest.
The wife then moved to enforce the standing orders and the temporary orders, arguing they precluded the husband from exercising the buyout provision.
The husband moved to compel arbitration, arguing the wife should be ordered to either make an election or arbitrate any dispute. Alternatively, he asked the court to partially lift the standing order to allow arbitration. The trial court denied his motion, and he appealed.
Valid Arbitration Agreements in Texas
Generally, Texas case law supports enforcing valid agreements to arbitrate. To compel arbitration, a party must show that the claims in question fall within the scope of a valid and enforceable arbitration agreement. The burden then shifts to the other party to prove any affirmative defense. There is a presumption in favor of arbitration and any doubts are resolved in favor of arbitration.
The dispute resolution process in the company agreement applied to any “Company-related dispute . . . that may disrupt the business or become a court Proceeding. . .” The agreement provided the dispute resolution procedure was the “exclusive procedure” for resolving disputes between members and managers related to company business.
The husband initiated the buyout process pursuant to the agreement, and specifically cited the applicable section. He claimed the wife breached the agreement by failing to engage in the process.
The appeals court found the initiation of the buyout process and the wife’s alleged breach of the company agreement directly arose from the agreement. The wife’s refusal to participate in the process in accordance with the procedure set forth in the agreement created a “company-related dispute.”
Wife Argues Buyout is Not Arbitrable
The wife argued the buyout dispute was not arbitrable. She argued the husband was trying to bind the court to an arbitrated property division.
The company agreement actually included a provision related to divorce of the parties. That provision stated that, if the parties were to get divorced, if they reached resolution of company matters and assets and ownership using the procedures set forth in the agreement, specifically including the buyout provision and the dispute resolution procedures, they agree to sign any necessary documents to ensure that settlement was incorporated into the divorce.
Appeals Court Sides with Husband
The appeals court found the parties had considered the possibility of company-related disputes during a divorce and agreed to resolve them pursuant to the agreement’s dispute resolution procedures. The appeals court found the parties did not agree that only operations disputes would be arbitrated, nor that the buyout provision would be unenforceable during a divorce proceeding.
The appeals court further found that the results of the buyout provision would not alter the character of the community property or remove any membership interest from the community estate. Enforcing that provision would not interfere with the court’s division of the estate.
The appeals court found the husband met his burden and the burden shifted to the wife to prove a defense. The wife argued Tex. Fam. Code § 6.6015(b) allowed the court to refuse to compel arbitration “on any other ground provided by law.” She argued that the section of 6.501 that allows courts to issue temporary restraining orders to protect the parties and preserve their property constitutes another ground allowed by law.
The appeals court noted the strong public policy in favor of freedom to contract. The wife did not cite to any case law supporting her argument that the Family Code gave trial court’s the authority to deny arbitration. Without case law supporting the argument, the appeals court rejected it and found the wife failed to prove a defense to the agreement to arbitrate.
The appeals court found the trial court had abused its discretion in denying the husband’s motion to compel arbitration or partially lift the standing order to allow arbitration. The appeals court reversed the trial court’s denial and remanded.
Business Issues in a Divorce Can be Paramount: Call the Experienced Attorneys of McClure Law Group to Help Protect Your Business in Your Divorce
If you are facing a divorce involving a family-owned company, you need the guidance and advice of an experienced Texas divorce attorney. McClure Law Group can help you protect your rights and assets. Call 214.692.8200 to set up a consultation.