Nationwide Coin Loses Bid to Compel Arbitration in Gold Dispute

Nationwide Coin & Bullion Reserve can’t compel a Texas man who bought gold coins to arbitrate a dispute between them, because the sale agreement was fully performed before he received the arbitration clause on the packaging slip accompanying the coins, a state appeals court said Tuesday.

William Ciarlone spent $83,295 on five coins via check from Nationwide, the court said. He received the coins along with a packing slip stating that disputes would be settled by arbitration in Harris County, Texas.

Ciarlone also received a call before the check was posted verifying the transaction, in which he accepted a verbal ...