Sentencia de Tribunal Apelativo de 10 de Marzo de 2008, número de resolución KLAN0701875
| Emisor | Tribunal Apelativo |
| Número de resolución | KLAN0701875 |
| Tipo de recurso | Apelación |
| Fecha de Resolución | 10 de Marzo de 2008 |
| PUERTO RICAN AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY Apelantes v. BEERS-AMERICAN BUILDERS, INC. Y BEPOCO, INC. Apelada | KLAN0701875 | Apelación procedente del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior de San Juan KAC-2004-7687 |
Panel integrado por su presidente el Juez Brau Ramírez, el Juez Cortés Trigo y el Juez Morales Rodríguez.
Brau Ramírez, Juez Ponente
SENTENCIA
En San Juan, Puerto Rico, a 10 de marzo de 2008.
La apelada Beers-American Builders, Inc. (Beers-American) es una empresa común entre las compañías foráneas Beers, A Skansa USA Company (Skansa) y American Builders, Inc. (American), dedicada, entre otras cosas, a realizar trabajos de construcción. Beers-American está autorizada a llevar a cabo negocios en Puerto Rico.
La corporación apelada BePoCo, Inc. (BePoCo) es una compañía doméstica con oficinas principales en San Juan, similarmente dedicada a realizar trabajos de construcción.
En o cerca de noviembre de 2000, Beers-American fue contratada por la corporación Luchetti Manors, Inc. (Luchetti) para la construcción de un edificio en el sector Condado de San Juan. El proyecto se llamaba Luchetti Princess Condominium.
El 20 de noviembre de 2000, Beers-American y BePoCo otorgaron un contrato mediante la cual BePoCo convino a actuar como subcontratista del proyecto, por la cantidad de $735,000.00. BePoCo se comprometió a realizar los trabajos de empañetado y otros fases del proyecto.
El contrato en cuestión establecía que BePoCo venía obligada a obtener un fiador para garantizar el cumplimiento de los términos y condiciones del negocio (perfomance and payment bond).
El contrato también disponía que cualquier reclamación entre las partes estaría sujeta a procedimientos de mediación y arbitraje. La cláusula 6.2 del negocio establecía en torno a este particular:
6.2.1 Any claim arising out of or related to this Subcontract, except claims as otherwise provided in Subparagraph 4.1.5 and except those waived in this Subcontract, shall be subject to arbitration. Prior to arbitration, the parties shall endeavor to resolve disputes by mediation...1
6.2.2 Claims no resolved by mediation shall be decided by arbitration which, unless the parties mutually agree otherwise, shall be in accordance with the Construction Industry Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association currently in effect. Demand for arbitration shall be filed with the other party to this Subcontract and with the American Arbitration Association, and a copy shall be filed with the Architect.
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6.2.4 Limitation on consolidation or Joinder. Except by written consent or the person or entity sought to be joined, no arbitration arising out or relating to the Subcontract shall include, by consolidation or joinder or in any other manner, any person or entity not a party to the Subcontract under which the arbitration arises, unless it is shown at the time the demand for arbitration is filed that (1) such person or entity is substantially involved in a common question of fact or law, (2) the presence of such person or entity is required if complete relief is to be accorded in the arbitration, (3) the interest or responsibility of such person or entity in the matter is not insubstantial, and (4) such person or entity is not the Architect, the Architects employee, the Architects consultant, or an employee of any of them. This agreement to arbitrate and any other written agreement to arbitrate with an additional person or persons referred to herein shall be specifically enforceable under applicable law in any court having jurisdiction thereof.
El artículo 6.2.6 disponía que el laudo del árbitro sería final. No se requería que la decisión del árbitro fuese conforme a derecho.
El artículo 1.3 del contrato, en lo pertinente, también aclaraba que:
The Subcontract Documents shall not be construed to create a contractual relationship of any kind (1) between the Architect and the Subcontractor, (2) between the Owner and the Subcontractor, or (3) between any persons or entities other than the Contractor and Subcontractor.
En cumplimiento de lo acordado con Beers-American, el 7 de diciembre de 2000, BePoCo otorgó un contrato de fianza con la parte apelante Puerto Rican American Insurance Company (PRAICO), mediante el cual la apelante se comprometió a garantizar el cumplimiento de BePoCo con la construcción acordada. Según se desprende del expediente, PRAICO es una corporación organizada bajo las leyes de Puerto Rico con oficinas principales en San Juan que se dedica a expedir pólizas de seguros y fianzas.2
El acuerdo entre BePoCo y PRAICO incorporaba expresamente los términos del contrato anterior entre BePoCo y Beers-American (referred to and made a part hereof, as fully and to the same extent as if copied at length herein), sin hacer excepción de ninguna de sus cláusulas.
El contrato entre PRAICO y BePoCo incluía la siguiente cláusula limitativa de responsabilidad:
The foregoing obligation, ..., is limited by the following express conditions, the performance of each of which shall be a condition precedent to any right of claim or recovery thereunder:
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In the event of any default on the part of the Principal, a written statement of the particular facts showing the date and nature of such default shall be given by the Obligee to the Surety as promptly as possible after such default has become known to the Obligee, and shall be forwarded by registered mail to the Surety at its Home Office.
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If the Principal shall fail to comply with the provisions of the contract to such an extent that the contract shall be forfeited, the Surety will have the right and opportunity to assume the remainder of the contract and at its option to perform or sublet the same.
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The amount of this bond shall be reduced by and to the extent of any payment or payments made in good faith hereunder, and the Suretys aggregate liability hereunder shall in no event exceed the amount set forth above.
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No claim, action, suit or proceeding shall be held or maintained against the Surety on this instrument:
a. Unless claimant, for labor or materials, shall have given written notice to the Surety within ninety (90) days after claimant did or performed the work or labor, or furnished materials for which claim is made...
b. After the expiration of twelve (12) months following the date on which Principal ceased work on said contract, the principal shall be a party to any such suit or action and be served with process prior to or contemporaneously with the Surety if the Principal can with reasonable diligence be found.
BePoCo no...
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