Ex Parte Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc.

This is a petition for a writ of mandamus wherein the defendants in a circuit court proceeding (Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner Smith, a corporation; Merrill Lynch Life Agency, Inc., and John Beauchamp, an employee of one of the corporate defendants) request this Court to order the Jefferson County Circuit Court to grant their motion to compel arbitration and stay the litigation pending arbitration. We are of the opinion that the writ is due to be granted.

The salient facts in this case are as follows:

According to the complaint, on July 12, 1982, plaintiff, Sheila Atchison, purchased a single…