Brown v. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc.

MEMORANDUM

NEWCOMER, District Judge.

In this action, Mary Lois Brown filed a five count complaint 1 against defendants Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., (“Merrill Lynch”) and Shearson/American Express Inc. (“Shearson”). The plaintiff seeks monetary damages based on contractual relationships with defendants and alleged tortious behavior in which defendants are alleged to have willfully and maliciously impugned plaintiffs business reputation. Defendants Merrill Lynch and Shearson now move to compel arbitration under the Federal Arbitration Act, based upon the Uniform Application for…