<p><b>WOODSIDE HOMES OF CALIFORNIA, INC v. THE SUPERIOR COURT</b></p> <br /> <p><b> </b></p> <br /> <p><b> </b></p> <br /> <h1>Filed 8/21/06</h1> <br /> <p align="center"><b> </b></p> <br /> <p align="center"><b> </b></p> <br /> <p align="center"><b> </b></p> <br /> <p align="center"><u>CERTIFIED</u> <u>FOR</u> <u>PUBLICATION</u></p> <br /> <p align="center"> </p> <br /> <p align="center"> </p> <br /> <p align="center"> </p> <br /> <p align="center">IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA</p> <br /> <p align="center"> </p> <br /> <p align="center"> </p> <br /> <p align="center">THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT</p> <br /> <p align="center"> </p> <br /> <p align="center"> </p> <br /> <p align="center">(San Joaquin)</p> <br /> <p align="center">----</p><br /> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="639"><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="359" valign="top"> <br /> <p>WOODSIDE HOMES OF CALIFORNIA, INC. et al.,</p> <br /> <p> Petitioners,</p> <br /> <p> v.</p> <br /> <p>THE SUPERIOR COURT OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY,</p> <br /> <p> Respondent;</p> <br /> <p>KIMBERLY WHEELER et al.,</p> <br /> <p> Real Parties in Interest.</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="280" valign="top"> <br /> <p align="center"> </p> <br /> <p align="center"> </p> <br /> <p align="center"> </p> <br /> <p align="center"> </p> <br /> <p align="center"> </p> <br /> <p align="center">C052432</p> <br /> <p align="center"> </p> <br /> <p align="center">(Super. Ct. No. CV023718)</p> <br /> <p align="center"> </p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> </table> <br /> <p> ORIGINAL PROCEEDINGS. Writ of mandate/prohibition. Granted.</p> <br /> <p> Anwyl, Scoffield & Stepp, Lindy H. Scoffield and Richard A. Sullivan for Petitioners.</p> <br /> <p> No appearance by Respondent.</p> <br /> <p> Kahn Brown & Poore, Karen Kahn, Scott A. Brown and David M. Poore for Real Parties in Interest.</p> <br /> <p> Woodside Homes of California, Inc., (Woodside Homes) petitions for a <a href="http://www.fearnotlaw.com/">writ of mandate</a> to overturn orders vacating the appointment of a referee. The appointment was pursuant to a <a href="http://www.mcmillanlaw.us/">written contract</a> providing that any controversy arising under it shall be submitted to a <a href="http://www.fearnotlaw.com/">general judicial reference</a>. The Superior Court vacated the appointment under the view that <i>Grafton Partners v. Superior Court</i> (2005) 36 Cal.4th 944 (<i>Grafton</i>), prohibiting predispute waiver of the <a href="http://www.mcmillanlaw.us/">right to jury trial</a> in the judicial forum, precludes enforcement of such a predispute contract for reference. <i>Grafton </i>has no such effect and we shall grant the petition.</p> <br /> <p align="center">FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND</p> <br /> <p> Real party in interest Kimberly Wheeler bought a new Stockton subdivision home from Woodside Homes in February of 2003. The written real estate <a href="http://www.fearnotlaw.com/">purchase contract</a> for the transaction contains a reference provision, in pertinent part as follows:</p> <br /> <p>â€