Jones

This is an appeal from the trial court’s order denying a petition to compel arbitration in an action to cancel a note and deed of trust based on fraud in the execution. Appellants also contend the trial court erred in refusing their request for a statement of decision. We affirm the trial court’s rulings.

Facts and Proceedings Below

Plaintiff Annie Louise Jones brought this action against several defendants, including Adams Financial Services, a loan broker, its president Antonio Santillan, and the Schiff Family Revocable Trust and its trustees who made the loan which is the subject to this action. We state the facts in the light most favorable to the trial court’s order.

Plaintiff Annie Louise Jones is a 79-year-old woman who at all times material to this case was legally blind and suffered from dementia and hypothyroidism. Her income consists of Social Security benefits and a small pension totaling $819 a month.

In April 1996, Ms. Jones received an unsolicited visit at her home from a woman named Mary Johnson. Johnson told Ms. Jones she “helped senior citizens get reverse mortgages.” Ms. Jones told Johnson she did not want a “reverse” mortgage or any other type of…