Burke County Public Schools Board of Education v. Shaver Partnership

EXUM, Justice.

This appeal presents two questions. First, whether the contract between plaintiff and defendant is “a contract evidencing a transaction involving commerce” within the meaning of § 2 of the Federal Arbitration Act. 3 We conclude that it is. Second, whether the Federal Arbitration Act must be applied in state courts. We hold, for reasons given, that it must.

Defendant is a multi-state architectural firm which, in 1969, contracted with plaintiff to design two school buildings. After one of the buildings was built and occupied plaintiff discovered that the roof leaked and would…