Heights at Issaquah Ridge Owners Ass'n v. Burton Landscape Group, Inc.

¶1 In determining whether parties agreed to arbitrate a dispute, a court first considers whether there is a valid arbitration agreement and, if so, whether the parties’ dispute is within the scope of that agreement. Once it is determined that both criteria have been met, the court’s authority is substantially constrained and, as here, relegates questions of the timeliness of claims to the arbiter. We reverse and remand to the trial court to compel arbitration.

FACTS

¶2 Derus Wakefield I, LLC, as owner, entered into a contract (General Contract) with Sacotte Construction, Inc., to act as the…