Trippe Manufacturing Company, an Illinois Corporation v. Niles Audio Corporation, a Florida Corporation

OPINION OF THE COURT

ALITO, Circuit Judge.

Trippe Manufacturing Co. (“Trippe”) appeals an order denying its motion for summary judgment and granting a motion by Niles Audio Corporation (“Niles”) to compel arbitration. Because a duty to arbitrate must be founded upon a contractual obligation, we reverse the order compelling arbitration with regard to claims asserted by Niles that are unrelated to obligations expressly assumed by Trippe through the Asset Purchase Agreement (“APA”) that entered into effect on August 29, 2001. To the extent that Trippe expressly assumed obligations under the APA,…