DeSantis v. Empire State Coin-Op Distributors, Inc.

—Order unanimously modified on the law and as modified affirmed and matter remitted to Supreme Court for further proceedings, in accordance with the following Memorandum, with costs to abide the event: Although we agree with Supreme Court’s finding that there is a substantial question whether the parties had a valid agreement to arbitrate, we conclude that the court failed to comply with the statutory directive requiring that such issue "be tried forthwith in said court” (CPLR 7503 [a]). Therefore, we modify and direct that the court forthwith hold a trial on the issue whether the parties had…