Opinion · Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Lummus Company v. Commonwealth Oil Refining Company, Inc., (Three Cases)
280 F.2d 915
- Type
- Opinion
- Court
- Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- Jurisdiction
- Federal
- Date
- 1960-08-10
- Topic
- international-arbitration
commenting on the approaches taken by the Second and Ninth Circuits | “The stay that we indicated i[s] not the equivalent of the stay which would be entered upon a motion for a stay of the action under an arbitration statute[,] . . . [which would] settle all questions of arbitrability.” | in case where plaintiffs appar- ently sought to rescind only certain clauses of a contract, explaining that "there cannot be a partial rescission. It is fundamental that a single agree- ment cannot be rescinded in part and affirmed in part."
Citator
- Cited by
- 43 opinions
This is an appeal under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(a) (1) from an interlocutory order, dated July 20, 1959, of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico entering a preliminary stay of arbitration and granting a preliminary injunction enjoining defendant-appellant from taking any further action in a case pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, or any other steps in furtherance of the arbitration. Defendant-appellant, The Lummus Company, a Delaware corporation with its principal office in New York, N. Y., is engaged, inter alia, in designing and constructing oil refineries. Plaintiff-appellee, Commonwealth Oil Refining Co., Inc., is a Puerto Rican corporation, which describes itself as the owner of an oil refinery in Puerto Rico built for it by the defendant. The controversy between the parties arises out of two contracts entered into in New York in July 1954, and March 1956, under which
“Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be settled by arbitration * * *. The arbitration shall be held in New York, U.S.A.”1
The refinery has been built, and Lum-mus has received some $32,500,000 therefor. The original plant commenced operation on December 31, 1955, and the expansion facilities on September 30, 1957. Operation, however, has been at a marked loss, rather than at the substantial profit anticipated. Since at least 1957 Commonwealth has expressed dissatisfaction with Lummus’ performance, and Lum-mus, inter alia, with Commonwealth’s refusal to pay sums claimed to be due for work and materials.
On April 29,1959, Lummus mailed, and on April 30 Commonwealth received, a demand for arbitration of its claim to recover some $4,700,000 from Commonwealth, and of “any set-offs or counterclaims * * * which Commonwealth may assert.” On May 4, Commonwealth instituted an action in the District of Puerto Rico, in which it alleged, in substance, that Lummus had prepared “oil refinery economic and capability studies and earnings projections based thereon (herein called, collectively, ‘studies and projections’)” relating to the refinery; that the “ ‘studies and projections’ were false and misleading,” and that LummuS' either knew this to be so or made the representations “with reckless indifference as to the truth or falsity thereof”; that Commonwealth relied on the “studies and projections” and was induced by the representations contained therein to' execute the two contracts, “which plaintiff would not have executed but for such false and misleading ‘studies and projections’ * * * ”; and that, “by reason of the facts set forth in this complaint, plaintiff has suffered financial losses and damages in an amount exceeding $60,-000,000 * * As relief, the complaint sought:
“(a) judgment * * * in the sum of $60,000,000, plus other sums as yet undetermined * * *; and
“(b) such rescission under the laws of the State of New York of the two contracts * * * as may be just and equitable * * * or a declaration as to their inexistence under the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico * * * 2 At the same time Commonwealth served a motion in the district court, “pursuant to 32 L.P.R.A. § 3204(4) (a),”3 to stay the New York arbitration on the ground that the arbitration clauses were invalid by reason of fraudulent inducement of the contracts. On May 20 Lummus served a motion in the New York County Supreme Court to compel arbitration. On May 25 Commonwealth filed a petition to remove that proceeding to the United
Admittedly Lummus’ appeal from the decree of July 20 presents all pertinent matters. It raises a substantial number of difficult questions. They can be divided into three major groupings. First, Lummus contends that the district court, as a matter of equitable jurisdiction, should not have enjoined the New York proceedings, but should rather have stayed its own. It bases this contention, first, on the priority of the New York proceedings, arguing that they commenced with the service of the arbitration demand, and second, on the contention that New York is a more proper forum because New York law is controlling, because New York is more convenient for the parties and witnesses, and because jurisdiction over Lummus in Puerto Rico is doubtful.5 We do not stop to consider these contentions at any length. What we presently have here is simply a question of two pending actions, i. e., the motion to stay arbitration and the action to compel arbitration, in two federal courts of concurrent jurisdiction, each of which is being asked to consider what is basically a different side of the same coin. There is no reason why both suits should continue at the same time. This would be detrimental to both the parties and the federal judicial system. Although priority of suit is often taken as a basic factor in determining which should give way, see Martin v. Graybar Elec. Co., 7 Cir., 1959, 266 F.2d 202, “wise judicial administration, giving regard to conservation of judicial resources and comprehensive disposition of litigation, does not counsel rigid mechanical solution of such problems.” Kerotest Mfg. Co. v. C-O-Two Fire Equip. Co., 1952, 342 U.S. 180, 183, 72 S.Ct. 219, 221, 96 L.Ed. 200. We are disposed to believe
The second grouping of issues concerns the power of the district court. Lummus contends that a federal court sitting in Puerto Rico is unable to stay an arbitration which the parties have specified is to take place in New York. In the view we take of this case, this issue becomes moot. It also contends that the New York proceedings were improperly removed from the state court, and that had they remained there, 28 U.S.C. § 2283 admittedly would have prevented the court below from enjoining the proceedings in the state court. It assigns three reasons why the removal was improper. First, a motion to compel arbitration under a state statute involves a remedy which a federal court cannot grant; second, the removal was not timely because not made within twenty days after the service of the demand for arbitration; and third, the Southern District, as an Article III court, is without diversity jurisdiction because Commonwealth is a citizen of Puerto Rico, which is not a State within the meaning of Article III of the Constitution. Should we answer the first two contentions in favor of Commonwealth, we would be faced with the third, which raises constitutional issues. Under familiar principles, these should not be decided unless necessary. We accordingly pass to the third grouping, which we. find dispositive. This is that Commonwealth’s allegations of fraudulent inducement present no substantial issue as to the voidability of the arbitration contracts which would warrant a plenary hearing.
All facts were established by affidavits and exhibits. Commonwealth was incorporated in May 1953. Since October 1951, however, Lummus had been working with those persons who were promoting and organizing the refinery. The organizers were engaged in securing contracts for the purchase of crude oil, commitments for the sale of refined products, financial backing, and, of course, designs and a contract for construction. Lum-mus assisted the organizers, and then the corporation itself, in their negotiations for purchase and sale contracts. It also supplied the corporation with economic and profitability estimates for many hypothetical refineries. Upon being told what type of crude oil would be used and what type of refined products were desired, Lummus would estimate the type of refinery needed, the capital outlay for such a refinery, and the expected profit. These estimates went through a number of revisions as different types of crudes or refined products were hypothesized. Essentially the same type of estimates were also made for the expansion facilities. Some of the figures concerning product yields supplied by Lummus were also used by the underwriters in charge of the financing in the preparation of profitability forecasts which were included in two volumes, known as the Green and White Books, used to interest prospective investors. The construction contracts with Lummus were negotiated over a long period of time, and each had an effective date at least six months prior to the date of execution. The contracts guaranteed the maximum construction costs, and guaranteed product yields, both as to quantity and quality, but neither contained the type of profitability forecasts which Lummus had earlier furnished. Both contracts contained provisions for performance tests designed to establish whether or not the refineries met the contractual guarantees. For various reasons, including the fact that Commonwealth has hot been processing
In May 1956, two months after making the contract for the expansion facilities, Commonwealth ceased making payments due to Lummus under the •original contract, claiming setoffs. In ■October 1956, it informed Lummus that, “Recent reports appear to confirm our fears concerning possible basic inadequacies in design or construction.” Commonwealth’s Annual Report for 1956, ■dated January 31, 1957, indicates a number of the difficulties encountered in operations which resulted in a substantial loss instead of a contemplated profit. It stated that “our greatest difficulties have been with the vacuum tower, the catalytic cracker and the utilities, namely, power, steam and cooling water.” It appears from the record that the irregular ■electric power supply was the fault of the Puerto Rico Water Resources Authority, but that the irregularities had caused •considerable loss of operating time because of the use of highly sensitive control mechanisms which needed a more stable power source. In February 1957, there were extensive changes in top management, and the executive offices were moved from New York to Puerto Rico. In May 1957, the M. W. Kellogg Co. was hired by the underwriters to make an independent evaluation of the refinery. The report, dated November 25, 1957, as of October 23, 1957, pinpointed four major factors accounting for an “uneconomic operating history.” These were: 1. unrealiable electric power; 2. electronic instrumentation incompatible with the power supply; 3. circulation difficulties in the catalytic cracking unit; and 4. “an overly integrated heat exchange system. * * (This latter had also been pointed out to Commonwealth by another independent study submitted in January 1956.) The report indicated that steps had already been taken to correct some of these deficiencies and that upon completion of other planned capital expenditures, the refinery “is, in general, mechanically sound and capable of operation on a normal basis.” The report also stated that, “The present top management is now thoroughly competent and deserving of every reasonable confidence.” The Kellogg report also estimated a yearly return for the refinery after certain basic improvements had been made, and stated: “This figure is [approximately one half that] * * * depicted in the so-called ‘White Book- — Case C’. The ‘White Book’ figures are grossly optimistic with respect to yields of the high quality (high price) products and operating costs.” The report then recommended substantial additional capital expenditures which would, in its opinion, achieve returns comparable to those which had been originally predicted.
It appears from the record that Commonwealth and Lummus continued working together to adjust their differences until shortly before this suit was brought.6 Lummus apparently had men working at the refinery under the contracts until at least February 1959. Meetings were held between officials of both companies and the underwriters during 1958 and 1959, the last having been held on March 24, 1959. Another was scheduled for April 24, but postponed to May 4, before which date Lum-mus demanded arbitration. The record also contains the affidavit of Commonwealth’s president (who took office in February 1957 upon the change of management). He calls attention to the Kellogg report and seeks to establish that the figures described as “grossly optimistic” therein were based on product yields supplied by Lummus. He also seeks to rebut any inference which might be drawn from the fact that in 1958 Commonwealth also contracted with Lummus to build an additional unit costing almost $3,000,000, which unit was completed and accepted in March 1959, pointing out that at the same time Commonwealth indicated its continuing dissatisfaction
“I believe that the anticipated product yields and resulting earning projections set forth in the Green and White Books were not based on sound technical estimates prepared in accordance with the standards of professional refinery engineering. I believe they were based on estimates which Lummus personnel, from the very nature of the engineering and economic analysis they were making, must have known were false or misleading or which they should have known were false or misleading or, else that they were prepared without any belief or any sound engineering foundation for a belief, on the part of Lummus that refinery equipment capable of attaining such yields and projected earnings could be constructed at the price it guaranteed.”
There are many “or”s in this statement, but we will assume for present purposes that it asserts legal fraud.
The district court believed that Commonwealth’s right to stay arbitration was governed by the Puerto Rico arbitration statute, particularly by §§ 3201 and 3204, Title 32 L.P.R.A. These sections are essentially similar to related sections of both the New York and federal arbitration acts, and we need not decide which is ultimately the governing statute.7 Under the New York act, persons “may contract to settle by arbitration a controversy thereafter arising between them and such * * * contract shall be valid, enforceable and irrevocable, save upon such grounds as exist at law or in equity for the revocation of any contract.” If arbitration is demanded and the “opposing party * * * sets forth evidentiary facts raising a substantial issue as to the making of the contract * * *, an immediate trial of the same shall be had.” N.Y.Civil Practice Act, §§ 1448, 1458, subd. 2. See also id., §§ 1450,1451. The Puerto Rican statute provides that agreements to arbitrate “shall be valid, requirable and irrevocable except for the grounds prescribed by law for the reversal of an agreement.” “If the court finds that a substantial dispute has arisen as regards the validity or existence of the arbitration agreement, * * * the court shall proceed immediately to hear such dispute.” “In order to give rise to [such] a dispute * * *, the party concerned shall state the proved facts on which said dispute is founded * * 32 L.P.R.A. §§ 3201, 3204(2), (4). The federal statute follows the earlier New York form and omits the word “substantial,” but is otherwise not significantly different. See 9 U.S.C. §§ 2, 4.
The court granted the stay upon finding that “Commonwealth can probably prove that [Lummus’] * * * representations have in fact been proved to be false”; that “Commonwealth can introduce evidence that it relied upon these representations * * and “that it would not have entered into the given
In his opinion supporting his order of June 19, Judge Magruder stated: “If the District Court finds the fraud to be [in the inducement] * * *, and that such fraud vitiates the whole contract, the issue of fraud obviously cannot be submitted to arbitration. The Court is thus obliged to decide preliminarily whether the contract and the arbitration clause within it are nullified by fraud. This is so under New York law as well as under Puerto Rican law. [Citation of New York cases omitted].” 174 F.Supp. 485, at page 488. Judge Ruiz-Nazario adopted the same approach when he ruled that, “The fraud alleged * * * would, if it is so proved, vitiate the whole of the contracts; the issue of such fraud in the inducement is not arbitrable and cannot be submitted to arbitration.” We think that this ruling, and Judge Magruder’s corresponding remark that “the issue of fraud obviously cannot be submitted to arbitration,” require further consideration. First, must the fraud which may have induced8 the agreements whereby Lummus undertook to design, build, and guarantee the refineries (which contracts, minus the arbitration clauses, we shall call the principal agreements) be regarded as vitiating the undertakings to arbitrate ? That is, may not the arbitration agreements be considered as separate and separable contracts even though they are physically embodied in the same instruments as the principal agreements ? Secondly, if the arbitration clauses are not separable, are claims within the scope of the arbitration clause necessarily non-arbitrable, or do they merely become so by virtue of Commonwealth’s election to avoid the principal agreements? And finally, if the avoidance of the principal agreements is requisite to the avoidance of the arbitration clauses, has Commonwealth properly sought to exercise that right ?
Although we have assumed that Commonwealth has made a prima facie showing of voidability so far as the principal agreements are concerned, with respect to its agreement to arbitrate, considered of itself, there appear to have been no factual misrepresentations at all. If the agreement to build and the agreement to arbitrate are to be regarded as a single agreement, both promises were obtained by the one fraud, and the one must fall with the other. But if the agreement to arbitrate is regarded as a separate undertaking, and particularly if it is broad enough to encompass any issue of fraud in the inducement, such an under
This, however, is not a matter in which we feel free to follow our own views. See Bernhardt v. Polygraphic Co. of America, 1956, 350 U.S. 198, 76 S.Ct. 273, 100 L.Ed. 199.9 'We think it clear that New York law must govern. Not only were the agreements made in New York, but the agreements to arbitrate were to be performed there. Other substantial contacts with New York include the negotiation of the agreements there, and the fact that at the time the contracts were made both parties maintained their principal executive offices there. Additionally, both contracts contained clauses stating that the contracts “shall be deemed to have been made, executed and delivered in New York, New York,” a factor which indicates a choice of law by the parties themselves, as does provision for arbitration in New York.10 Looking to that law, we believe that the New York courts would not approach this question as we would. Although the
Of course a contract which has been fraudulently induced is not void but merely voidable, and the injured party need not avoid the .contract, but may elect to affirm and seek damages in deceit. This distinction was alluded to by the
Since Wrap-Vertiser, the distinction between damage and rescission claims has been applied in at least two other cases.12 In Amerotron Corp. v. Maxwell Shapiro Woolen Co., 1957, 3 A.D.2d 899, 162 N.Y.S.2d 214, the court confirmed an ex parte arbitration award entered against Shapiro, who claimed that the contract had been induced by fraud, and who had originally brought a deceit action against Amerotron in Massachusetts. The court stated: “By all of its actions respecting its claim of fraud inducing the contract, including its complaint in the Massachusetts action, [Shapiro] failed to rescind the contract and elected to recognize the contract and claim damages for the fraud. Such a claim was arbitrable and should have been arbitrated under the contract.” On appeal, Shapiro argued, inter alia, that Wrap-Vertiser, decided two days after the Appellate Division’s decision in Amerotron, had established that a claim of fraudulent inducement such as Shapiro’s was not arbitrable. Brief for Respondent-Appellant Maxwell Shapiro Woolen Co. in the New York Court of Appeals, pp. 8-10. The Court of Appeals, however, affirmed, without opinion, the decision below. 1958, 4 N.Y.2d 722, 171 N.Y.S.2d 111, 148 N.E.2d 319.13 In another recent case, the Appellate Division has again drawn a distinction between rescission and damage claims. M. W. Kellogg Co. v. Monsanto Chemical Co., 1959, 9 A.D.2d 744, 192 N.Y.S.2d 869, affirming the decision of the New York County Supreme Court, N.Y.L.J., April 1, 1959, p. 12, col. 4. Monsanto had sued Kellogg in Delaware, seeking damages for fraudulent inducement of a contract, negligence, and failure to perform. Monsanto also sought, in Delaware, to enjoin Kellogg from prosecuting any arbitration proceedings in New York. Kellogg countered with motions in the New York court to compel arbitration and for temporary injunctions enjoining Monsanto from further prosecuting its Delaware actions. The court granted this relief, holding that all of the claims were arbitrable under the broad arbitration clause. The Appellate Division affirmed on the basis of Amerotron, and distinguished Wrap-Vertiser because of the narrow arbitration clause there involved. The court pointed out that by seeking damages the contract had been “affirmed” by the injured parties in both cases. We believe it fair to say that on the basis of these cases there is a trend in the New York decisions, if not towards an acceptance of separability, at least in the direction of a more careful consideration of what is sought when the party op
The purpose of an action for rescission, as distinguished from one for damages, is to permit the defrauded party to obtain restitution of the benefits conferred by him.15 The contract is not merely terminated (as with a “rescission” based on a total breach), but is abrogated and undone from the beginning. See Black, Rescission of Contracts and Cancellation of Written Instruments § 1 (2d ed. 1929); 2 Restatement, Contracts § 349, Comment a (1932). With this in mind, we must determine what kind of rescission it is that Commonwealth wants, and to what kind, if any, it is entitled. The principal thrust of the complaint, the pertinent parts of which were set forth above, appears to be a tort action for damages. To this claim is appended a demand for; “ * * * and (b) such rescission * * * as may be just and equitable * * *.” These plainly are not alternative claims, only one of which is intended to be carried through to judgment. Nor can they be claims for cumulative relief under which Commonwealth both affirms the contract and receives damages, and at the same time rescinds the contract and gets restitution. Such double recovery is nowhere allowed. The claim, therefore, must be interpreted as either for damages for deceit based upon an affirmance of part of the contract, together with rescission of part of the contract; or it must be for an entire rescission, together with such special damages as are necessary to make Commonwealth whole. On the face of the complaint, the first construction seems the proper one. The initial prayer asks for money damages almost double in amount what Commonwealth paid to Lummus, “plus other sums as yet undetermined.” In addition, Commonwealth indicates no intent to return any part of the refinery. Such claims suggest an af-firmance of the contracts. We note that in both Judge Magruder’s order of June 19, and Judge Ruiz-Nazario’s order of July 20, Commonwealth’s claim is termed as one for “damages,” and its motion for a stay of arbitration as having been filed “in the present tort case.” Commonwealth nowhere criticizes these characterizations as inaccurate. The prayer which follows, for “such rescission * * * as may be just and equitable,” has the appearance of a mere claim for partial rescission appended upon the damage action. If partial rescission is what is sought, presumably it is of the provisions for arbitration. No other division is suggested. However, there cannot be a
Our construction that no rescission of the entire contracts was intended is further supported by certain statements in Commonwealth’s brief. A party who seeks restitution is, of course, normally required to make restoration of the benefits received, in specie, so that the other party, as well, can be restored to the status quo so far as possible.16 This is the logical consequence of the action, which disaffirms the contract and returns to the defrauded party whatever he has parted with. But when faced with this prospect, Commonwealth states: “Lummus would now suggest that even if plaintiff was induced to place its economic future in Lummus’ hands by fraud, Commonwealth is now bound to tender back substantially its entire business assets, its refineries, as a condition to rescinding the fraudulently induced contracts. In other words, in order to rescind Commonwealth must go out of business.” 17 The implication of this is clear — Commonwealth has no wish to make restoration and go out of business. But if a party that has acquired a business wishes rescission, this is exactly what it must do.
Although the requirement of restoration in specie admits of a number of exceptions, most of these are of no conceivable relevancy here.18 Certainly no exception is predicated on a choice by the defrauded party not to restore. If it does not care to restore, it should not elect to rescind. We recognize, of course, that restoration in money rather than in specie is permitted in certain instances where specific restoration is “impossible.” It is to be noted that there is nothing in the record to indicate to what extent such restoration is in fact impossible. Passing this, and the important fact that Commonwealth appears not to wish to restore even that which it might be able to, we do not believe this to be a proper case for such substituted restoration. We will assume that “if specific restoration became impossible before the party seeking restitution knew the facts and had an opportunity to act thereon, restitution is granted upon the payment of value or the imposition of conditions if justice cannot otherwise be done * * Restatement, Restitution § 66 (3).19 This limited exception is not in
There is an additional reason why Commonwealth could not effect a rescission of the principal agreements. “An unreasonable delay in manifesting an avoidance of a transaction after the acquisition of knowledge of the facts terminates the power of rescission for fraud * * * if the interests of the transferee * * * are harmed or were likely to be harmed by such delay.” Restatement, Restitution § 64. See also id. § 68; 2 Restatement, Contracts §§ 483-84. In January 1956, an independent consulting engineer employed by Commonwealth questioned a major design feature, and stated that one of Lummus’ estimates was not realistic; in October 1956, Commonwealth informed Lummus of its fears as to “possible basic inadequacies in design or construction”; and by November 1957, or earlier, Commonwealth had received the Kellogg report, with its reference to “grossly optimistic” figures, and its detailed analysis of the refinery. The record is bare as to any subsequent occurrence which threw any new light ón the situation. The parties met frequently to discuss their various claims and what should be done. Not, however, until after Lummus had demanded arbitration in April 1959, did Commonwealth say anything about rescinding any agreement, or make any mention of fraud. On the contrary, as late as January 1959, Commonwealth was expressly calling upon Lummus to meet its obligations under the contracts,20 and at least implicitly maintained that position until the institution of this suit. Throughout this period Lummus spent, according to an affidavit, “huge amounts of money, effort and time,” which it asserts it would not have spent had it understood there was to be a claim for rescission.
Although Commonwealth filed a number of affidavits on the present motions, some of them lengthy, it has not alleged, even in conclusory form, that it acquired any new knowledge later than in the fall of 1957 by means of which it “discovered” its right to rescind. In reply to Lummus’ contention that it must be taken to have affirmed the contracts well before May 1959, Commonwealth states in its brief that throughout the summer and fall of 1958 the parties were discussing the performance tests called for by the contracts, and that “as late as January 13, 1959 Commonwealth was demanding
If Commonwealth were pursuing with vigor an evident attempt to rescind the principal agreements, and had presented some, even slightly plausible, excuse for not having made its claim sooner, we might be disposed to say that an issue of fact had beenymade out. Instead, however, after opportunity to make a full presentation, there appears a consistent pattern of an attempt to defeat arbitration by asserting fraud as to the principal agreements, and then seeking to rescind solely the agreements to arbitrate. Commonwealth cannot blow hot and cold in the same breath. If the agreements to arbitrate are separable from the principal agreements no ground has been shown for their avoidance. If they are not separable, we hold it has shown no basis for rescission at all.21
A question remains as to the appeals from the orders of June 19 and July 17. These orders expired by their terms when
Judgments will be entered vacating the orders of the District Court.
. The entire clause reads:
“25.1 Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the rules, then obtaining, of the American Arbitration Association. This Agreement shall be enforceable and judgment upon any award rendered by all or a majority of the arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. The arbitration shall be held in New York, U.S.A. It is agreed, however, that this Agreement shall not apply to claims or damages for which either party has contracts of insurance protecting their respective interests.”
No issue has been raised wtih respect to the last sentence and we assume it has no applicability to the claims here involved.
. We will analyze this complaint in more detail later. There is a further claim not material to the present proceedings, as no preliminary relief is requested thereunder, which will be disregarded.
. Chapter 259, §§ 3201-29, Title 32 L.P. R.A., constitutes the Puerto Rico Arbitration Act. Its provisions are typical of modern arbitration statutes. The provisions relevant here are discussed further, infra.
. Appeals from these orders of June 19 and July 17 are also before us. They will be separately considered.
. This last matter was argued to some extent below and the court preliminarily found that jurisdiction over the person of Lummus had been obtained. We concur in this preliminary finding, but the issue is not really before us on this appeal except in this tangential fashion.
. These differences, as will be developed infra-, did not include any charges of fraud, the basis of the present proceedings.
. Questions as to the governing law of this case in a number of different contexts have been much mooted before us, but neither party has been entirely consistent in using the law it suggests as controlling. Commonwealth tells us we must look to the law of Puerto Rico but presents us with none (other than the arbitration statute). Lummus contends that New York law applies, but then, in its reply brief, on the basis of the decision in Robert Lawrence Co. v. Devonshire Fabrics, Inc., 2 Cir., 1959, 271 F.2d 402, certiorari granted, 1960, 362 U.S. 909, 80 S.Ct. 682, 4 L.Ed.2d 618, tells ns that the U. S. Arbitration Act governs. If this latter be so, then of course some of its objections to the power and jurisdiction of both the Puerto Rican and New York district courts collapse. We give our reasons below for applying New York law to the question of construction of the arbitration contracts, but beyond this we do not find it necessary to go.
. No question arises in this ease, or in any of the cases cited in this opinion, as to fraud in tlie factum, a very different matter.
. In the Robert Lawrence case, the Second Circuit treated the separability issue as a matter of federal law under the U. S. Arbitration Act. We question whether separability is a matter of federal rather than state law in a diversity case, whether or not the federal arbitration act applies for other purposes. See 73 Harv.L.Rev. 1382 (1960); cf. American Airlines, Inc. v. Louisville & Jefferson County Air Bd., 6 Cir., 1959, 209 F.2d 811; Ross v. Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp., 9 Cir., 1956, 236 F.2d 632. But see Note, 69 Yale L.J. 847, 858-61 (1960).
. Commonwealth contends that reference to such matters in the contracts is foreclosed by the claim of voidability. Our belief that it is uot is presently supported by Restatement 2d, Conflict of Laws (Tentative Draft No. 6, April 22, 1960) §§ 332a, Comments d and e, 334b. Comment c. As far as significant contracts are concerned, it is true that actual construction took place in Puerto Rico. On the other hand,, the designing of the refineries and the procuring of the equipment undoubtedly occurred in New York. See generally, id., §§ 332a, 332b, 334b, 334e, 354h. See also Cruz v. Dominguez, 1905, 8 P.R.R. 551; Colon v. Registrar of Aguadilla, 1915, 22 P.R.R. 344; Del Moral v. National City Bank, 1937, 52 P.R.R. 221.
. It is clear that a claim of rescission based upon total breach or “fraud in the performance” does not put in issue the “making of the contract.” (This phrase, as previously noted, occurs in a number of places in the New York act. The Puerto Rican act uses the more precise phrase, “validity or existence of the arbitration agreement,” but it is clear that the two have been treated as equivalent.) See, e. g., Matter of Kahn’s Application, 1940, 284 N.Y. 515, 32 N.E.2d 534; Lipman v. Haeuser Shellac Co., 1942, 289 N.Y. 76, 43 N.E.2d 817, 142 A.L.R. 1088; Charles S. Fields, Inc. v. American Hydrotherm Corp., 1958, 5 A.D.2d 647, 174 N.Y.S.2d 184. But it has been held that a claim of fraudulent inducement does place it in issue, and “if the contract was voided by fraud the arbitration provision therein falls.” Cheney Bros. v. Joroco Dresses, Inc., 1926, 218 App.Div. 652, 219 N.Y.S. 96. That case was reversed in the Court of Appeals on the ground that no fraud had been shown, but the court expressly did not pass on the separability question. 1927, 245 N.Y. 375, 157 N.E. 272. For other cases similar to Cheney Bros., see, e. g., Application of Gruen, 1940, 173 Misc. 765, 18 N.Y.S.2d 990, affirmed without opinion, 259 App.Div. 712, 18 N.Y.S.2d 1023; Horli Chemical Sales Corp. v. Oliphant, Sup.1945, 68 N.Y.S.2d 177; Application of Manufacturers Chemical Co., 1940, 259 App.Div. 321, 19 N.Y.S.2d 171, appeal dismissed, Manufacturers Chemical Co. v. Caswell Strauss & Co., 283 N.Y. 679, 28 N.E.2d 404. The Cheney Bros, case is criticized by Dean Sturges in the comment noted supra, 36 Yale L.J. 866 (1927).
. The distinction does not appear to have received explicit consideration in any earlier New York case. It is difficult to state the reason for this, because of tiie brevity of the opinions and their failure to set out the facts. It would appear, however, that in most of the cases the contracts were executory and the defrauded party was merely using the fraud defensively. Commonwealth, of course, seeks much more than this.
. A fuller statement of this case may be found in Maxwell Shapiro Woolen Co. v. Amerotron Corp., 1959 Mass.Adv.Sheets 851, 158 N.E.2d 875, a related case arising out of the original tort action.
. See, e. g., Matter of General Fuse Co., 1956, 2 A.D.2d 695, 153 N.Y.S.2d 598, later opinion, 1957, 7 Misc.2d 997, 162 N.Y.S.2d 630, reversed, 1958, 5 A.D.2d 1013, 174 N.Y.S.2d 270; Reo Garment, Inc. v. Jason Corp., 1958, 9 Misc.2d 521, 170 N.Y.S.2d 412, modified, 6 A.D.2d 401, 178 N.Y.S.2d 368, affirmed without opinion, 6 N.Y.2d 725, 185 N.Y.S.2d 812, 158 N.E.2d 505; Bichler v. 100 Lexington Avenue Corp., 1957, 4 A.D.2d 949, 167 N.Y.S.2d 877; Lugay Frocks, Inc. v. Joint Board Dressmakers’ Union, Sup. Ct.,N.Y.L.J., July 1, 1958, p. 3, col. 1, affirmed without opinion, 6 A.D.2d 1000, 177 N.Y.S.2d 1008; In re Pan American Trade Development Corp., Sup.Ct., N.Y.L.J., Aug. 21, 1957, p. 3, col. 1; East Meadow Sanitation Service, Inc. v. Adelstein, Sup., 202 N.Y.S.2d 735; Matter of Grossman, Sup., 203 N.Y.S.2d 393. See also 6 Corbin, Contracts §§ 1444, 1444A (1951, and Supp.1959). We note that in Robert Lawrence, the Second Circuit examined the New York cases and found them expressive of a “restrictive * * policy.” 271 F.2d at page 412. The court, however, considered neither the damages-rescission distinction, nor some of the more recent cases we have cited.
. The recovery of special damages for the limited purpose of putting the defrauded party back in as good a position as he occupied before entering into the contract may be awarded in connection with, and in addition to, rescission and restitution. This type of recovery is permitted by statute in New York, N.Y. Civ.Prac.Act, § 112-e, and by the better practice in other states. See study contained in the 1941 Report of the Law Revision Commission, N.Y.Legis. Doc. (1941) No. 65 (L), pp. 291-344.
. For the sake of clarity, the term “restitution” is used to denote the relief sought by the defrauded party, and the term “restoration” used to denote the return by the defrauded party of what he has received.
. We do not construe this protest as meaning that Commonwealth simply does not wish to make a tender, and go out of business now, as a condition precedent to litigating. Lummus made no such suggestion, nor does the law so require. See, e. g., N.YCiv.Prae.Act, § 112-g; 1946 Report of the Law Revision Commission, N.Y.Legis.Doe. (1946) No. 65 (B).
. See Restatement, Restitution §§ 65-66 (1937); Patterson, Restoration of Benefits Received By One Entitled to Avoid a Transaction, 1946 Report of the Law Revision Commission, N.Y.Legis.Doe. (1946) No. 65(B), pp. 71-77; 5 Willis-ton, Contracts §§ 1529-30 (Rev. ed. 1937); 5 Corbin, Contracts § 1114 (1951); Note, 29 Colum.L.Rev. 791 (1929); 32 Mich.L.Rev. 550 (1934).
. This rule is in fact given as an exception, to be applied in the case of things other than chattels, to the more general rule in the Restatement that with regard to non-fungible chattels rescission cannot be had if substantial restoration in specie is not possible. We believe this may be too stringent, and therefore assume the more flexible rule quoted. We refer to the Restatement be
. For example in a letter of January 15, 1959, Commonwealth’s secretary and general counsel stated that although Commonwealth felt that the acceptance-test provisions, of the contracts were no longer applicable, “We did not and do not mean that we think Lummus is released from any of its contractual liabilities to this Company. * * * [Y]ou are not relieved of your obligations to perform the required services under the contract.” Similarly, when Lummus informed Commonwealth in February 1959 that it was withdrawing four operators at the refinery, Commonwealth’s president replied, “So far as we are concerned, these operators are at the refinery under the construction contracts, but, being your employees, are of course subject to your supervision and control.”
. In its complaint, Commonwealth asked for either rescission of the contracts under New York law, or, alternatively, “a declaration as to their inexistence under the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.” Although Commonwealth has not briefed this latter, we have given it some attention. An action for a declaration of inexistence is the proper remedy where any or all of the three essential requisites for a contract, including consent, is wholly lacking, as in a simulated contract. See § 1213 of the Civil Code, 31 L.P.R.A. § 3391; Gonzalez v. Fumero, 1928, 38 P.R.R. 497; Logia Caballeros del Plata v. Garcia, 1944, 63 P.R.R. 279; Guzman v. Guzman, 1955, 78 P.R.R. 640. There is no period of prescription (statute of limitations) for such an action. Guzman v. Guzman, supra, at 649. However, if a contract contains the necessary effectuating requisites, “although tainted with defect or vice,” there is nonetheless a contract “because there is the possibility of confirming the same and this cures the defect.” Gonzalez v. Numero, supra, at 507. In other words, the contract exists but is voidable. One form of defect in the consent may be that it was obtained by deceit, Civil Code, § 1217, 31 L.P.R.A. § 3404, which includes what we have referred to as fraud in the inducement. Civil Code, § 1221, 31 L.P.R.A. § 3408; Rivera v. Heirs of Diaz, 1949, 70 P.R.R. 168; Cruz v. Water Resources Authority, 1954, 76 P.R.R. 291. If the deceit is “serious” (dolo causante), Civil Code, § 1222, 31 L.P.R.A. § 3409, it will give rise to an action for nullity under § 1252 of the Code, 31 L.P.R.A. § 3511. (Sections 1242-51 of the Code, 31 L.P.R.A. §§ 3491-3500, also provide for what in Puerto Rico is termed an action for “rescission,” but this is a different matter, which is not relevant here. See Municipality of Ponce v. Vidal, 1945, 65 P.R.R. 346). We think it clear that it is the action for a declaration of nullity, and not of inexistence, that would be Commonwealth’s remedy under the law of Puerto Rico. See Agostini v. Philippi, 1910, 16 P.R.R. 630. The Code further provides for the restoration, upon nullification, of “the things which have been the object of the contract with their fruits, and the value with its interest * * subject to certain other sections not here applicable. Civil Code, § 1255, 31 L.P.R.A. § 3514. The only ease we have found permitting restoration in money rather than-
. Wrap-Vertiser Corp. v. Plotnick, supra, is not to the contrary, as the clause there was quite different. Nor is the statement in Lipman v. Haeuser Shellac Co., supra “that all acts of the parties subsequent to the making of the contract * * * lie exclusively within the jurisdiction of the arbitrators.” [289 N.Y. 76, 43 N.E.2d 819]. The court was there holding that under a clause reading “any and all controversies in connection with, and/or arising out of, this contract,” the defense of cancellation was for the arbitrators. Viewed in the light of that holding the court was expressing a broad, not a restrictive, ar-bitral jurisdiction. As the court went on to say, “this language would appear sufficiently broad to express the intention of the parties to include within the exclusive jurisdiction of the arbitrators as a general rule all acts by the parties giving rise to issues in relation to the contract, except the making thereof.” 289 N.Y. at page 80, 43 N.E.2d at page 819. Since we have ruled out rescission in the case at bar, the “making of the contract” is not in issue in the sens'e used by the court in Lipman.