William R. CARROLL, M.D., et al.
v.
Paul F. CASTELLANOS, M.D.
Page 366
Appeal
from Jefferson Circuit Court (CV-17-904011). Tamara Harris
Johnson, Judge
Sybil
V. Newton, Jay M. Ezelle, and Cole R. Gresham of Starnes
Davis Florie LLP, Birmingham, for appellants.
Stephen
D. Heninger of Heninger Garrison & Davis, LLC, Birmingham,
for appellee.
OPINION
MENDHEIM,
Justice.
Page 367
William R. Carroll, M.D., Loring Rue, M.D., and Gustavo R.
Heudebert, M.D. (hereinafter referred to collectively as
"the individual defendants"), appeal from the
Jefferson Circuit Courts order denying their motion to
compel arbitration of claims asserted against them by Paul F.
Castellanos, M.D. We reverse and remand.
I.
Facts
On
September 22, 2017, Dr. Castellanos filed this action against
six named defendants and other fictitiously named defendants.
The named defendants included the University of Alabama
Health Services Foundation, P.C. ("UAHSF"), the
Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama ("the
Board"),[1] the University of Alabama Birmingham
Health System Board of Directors, and the individual
defendants. Dr. Castellanos alleged that he was an
"internationally recognized" physician with a
specialty practice as a "laryngologist and
bronchoesophagologist (airway surgeon)" who was
"recruited to come to the University of Alabama at
Birmingham in 2005 to establish a center of excellence for
the treatment of voice and aero digestive disorders at
University of Alabama, Birmingham Academic and Medical
Center" ("UAB Medical Center"). UAHSF and Dr.
Castellanos executed a "Physician Employment
Contract" describing the details of his employment at
UAB Medical Center ("the employment contract"). The
employment contract contained the following arbitration
provision:
"(14) Any controversy or claim, arising out of, or
relating to, this Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be
settled by arbitration in the City of Birmingham, Alabama in
accordance with the rules then obtaining of the American
Arbitration Association, and judgment upon award rendered may
be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof."
With
respect to the individual defendants, Dr. Castellanos alleged
that Dr. Carroll was "clearly envious or concerned that
his own care for patients with similar complexity to the
patient population for Dr. Castellanos was not as successful
as that of Dr. Castellanos." Dr. Castellanos alleged
that, after Dr. Carroll became interim chairman of the ENT
Department at UAB Medical Center, Dr. Carroll engaged in a
series of actions designed toward "mak[ing] Dr.
Castellanos life at UAB [Medical Center] so miserable that
he ha[d] to leave." Dr. Castellanos alleged that Dr. Rue
and Dr. Heudebert assisted in this plan. Dr. Castellanos also
asserted that all the defendants, including UAHSF
"through its agents and employees," conspired to
make Dr. Castellanos want to leave his employment at UAB
Medical Center. Specifically, against Dr. Carroll, Dr.
Castellanos asserted claims of "intentional infliction
of severe mental anguish -- outrageous conduct,"
"defamation," and "invasion of privacy --
false light." Against all the individual defendants, Dr.
Castellanos asserted a claim of "intentional
interference with contractual and business relations,"
and he alleged that all the defendants, including UAHSF
"through its agents and employees," conspired in
the commission of the tort-of-outrage, defamation, and
invasion-of-privacy claims.
On
November 1, 2017, the Board filed a motion to dismiss in
which it asserted that it was entitled to immunity under Art.
1, § 14, Ala. Const. 1901. No other defendant joined the
Boards motion.
Page 368
On the
same date, all the defendants other than the Board filed a
motion to compel arbitration as to all claims asserted
against them by Dr. Castellanos. The motion was based on the
arbitration provision contained in the employment contract.
The individual defendants contended that they could enforce
the arbitration provision even though they were not
signatories to the employment contract because, they
reasoned, the individual defendants were ...