An arbitration agreement signed by the daughter of a long-term care facility resident is enforceable – even if there were claims that the signature was obtained without an adequate understanding of the document’s meaning or importance, a federal court has ruled.

Trinity Mission Health & Rehab of Holly Springs (MS) was entitled to enforce an arbitration agreement signed by the daughter of Luanna Campbell, who was admitted to the facility. Lizzie Bowens’ signature was binding because her mother had diminished capacity to handle her own affairs at the time of her admission, and the agreement was otherwise reasonable, according to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi ruling.

Court documents also show that representatives of Campbell’s estate admitted that Bowens knowingly signed a do not resuscitate form for her mother.