Allco, LLC & Allco Virgin Islands, LLC v. Aptim Environmental & Infrastructure, LLC f/k/a Aptim Environmental & Infrastructure, Inc. & Jonathon Hunt

STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT

ALLCO, LLC & ALLCO VIRGIN NO. 2020 CW 0396
ISLANDS, LLC

VERSUS

APTIM ENVIRONMENTAL &
INFRASTRUCTURE, LLC F/K/A
APTIM ENVIRONMENTAL &
INFRASTRUCTURE, INC. &

JONATHON HUNT AUGUST 3, 2020

In Re: Aptim Environmental & Infrastructure, LLC & Jonathon
Hunt, applying for supervisory writs, 19th Judicial
District Court, Parish of East Baton Rouge, No.
683404.

BEFORE : HIGGINBOTHAM, PENZATO, AND LANIER, JJ.

WRIT GRANTED. The trial court’s November 12, 2019 judgment
denying the defendants’, Aptim Environmental & Infrastructure,
LLC and Jonathan Hunt’s, dilatory exception of prematurity is
reversed. The subcontract agreement between Aptim Environmental
& Infrastructure, LLC (hereinafter “Aptim”) and the plaintiffs,
Allco, LLC & Allco Virgin Islands, LLC (hereinafter “Allco”),
contained an arbitration agreement wherein the parties adopted

the American Arbitration Association’s {*“AAA”) Construction
Industry Arbitration Rules. Rule R-9 of the AAA’s Construction
industry Rules provides in pertinent part that “[t]lhe arbitrator

Shall have the power to rule on his or her own jurisdiction,
including any objections with respect to the existence, scope,

or validity of the arbitration agreement.” Accordingly, the
trial court erred by addressing Allco’s objections to the
subject arbitration clause’s existence, scope or validity. See

Fla. Gas Transmission Co., LLC v. Texas Brine Co., LLC, 2017-
0304 (La App. ist Cir. 12/6/18), 267 So.3d 633, writ denied,
2019-0333 (La, 6/26/19), 275 So.3d 876; see also Jasper
Contractors, Ine. v. E-Claim.com, LLC, 2011-0978 (La. App lst
Cir. 5/4/12), 94 So.3d 123. The exception of prematurity filed
by the defendants is granted and Allco’s claims against the
defendants are dismissed without prejudice.

COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT

ial Rul

{ DEPUTY CIUERK OF COURT
FOR THE COURT