Author: calmediation

Arbitration/Employment: Arbitration Award Of Fees Against Employee Losing Overtime Claim Properly Vacated Under Public Policy Exception To Arbitral Finality

  Arbitral Award Was Properly Corrected To Take Into Account That Labor Code Section 1194 Is A One-Way Fee Shifting Award.     California Attorney’s Fees posts today on  Ling v. P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Inc., Case No. H039367 (6th Dist. Mar. 25, 2016) (published), an employment law case in which the Court of Appeal agreed […]

Arbitration: Enforceability/Nonsignatories: Arbitration Provision In Internet Browsewrap Agreement Fails For Lack Of Conspicuousness

  Court Of Appeal Advises Online MerchantsTo Include Conspicuous Textual Notice With Terms Of Use.      Consumers may be bound by arbitration provisions in internet “clickwrap” or “browsewrap” agreements – except when they are not – as was the case in Long v. Provide Commerce, Inc., B257910 (2/3 March 17, 2016) (Jones, J.).        Internet contracts […]

Foreign Arbitration/Enforceability: Wake Up And Smell The Coffee: Ninth Circuit Holds Foreign Arbitration Foiled By Sham Agreement Concerning Coffee Franchise

. . .  In Which We Inaugurate A New Sidebar Category (Foreign Arbitration) And Petitioners Who Successfully Compelled Arbitration In District Court Lawsuit Concerning Coffee Franchise Dispute Get Roasted On Appeal.      Our next case involves a dispute between an Italian corporation seeking to open a coffee franchise in the United States, and two entrepreneurs […]

Unconscionability: “Moderate Level” Of Procedural And Substantive Unconscionability Tubes Motion To Compel Arbitration

February 28, 2016 · Arbitration: Unconscionability

Federal Arbitration Act Did Not Apply Here.      Applying a “sliding scale” analysis, the Court of Appeal found that a “moderate level” of procedural and substantive unconscionability required affirming the trial judge’s order denying defendant employer’s motion to compel arbitration.  Carbajal v. CWPSC, Inc., G050438 (4/3 Feb. 26, 2016) (Aronson, Bedsworth, Ikola).      The procedural […]

Scope: Agreement To Arbitrate Substantive Issues Did Not Include Agreement To Arbitrate Pending Discovery Issues

February 7, 2016 · Arbitration: Scope

When Court Dispute Is Bifurcated By Arbitration Agreement, Pay Careful Attention To Scope Of Arbitration Agreement. . .      Vlahopouliotis v. Vallarta Properties, LLC, Case No. G069832 (5th Dist. Feb. 1, 2016) (unpublished), presents an interesting scenario:  Plaintiff and Defendant, owners of different parcels in a shopping center, ended up in a lawsuit concerning their […]

Scope: Agreement To Arbitrate Substantive Issues Did Not Include Agreement To Arbitrate Pending Discovery Issues

February 7, 2016 · Arbitration: Scope

When Court Dispute Is Bifurcated By Arbitration Agreement, Pay Careful Attention To Scope Of Arbitration Agreement. . .      Vlahopouliotis v. Vallarta Properties, LLC, Case No. G069832 (5th Dist. Feb. 1, 2016) (unpublished), presents an interesting scenario:  Plaintiff and Defendant, owners of different parcels in a shopping center, ended up in a lawsuit concerning their […]

Nonsignatories: Personal Representative Who Signed Arbitration Agreement With Power Of Attorney And Later Sued For Wrongful Death Cannot Be Forced To Arbitrate

February 4, 2016 · Arbitration: Nonsignatories

Also, Elder Abuse Claim Does Not Need To Be Arbitrated, Because That Could Lead To Conflicting Rulings.      Nursing homes and assisted living facilities commonly enter into arbitration agreements with their residents.  Suits by heirs or personal representatives for claims of wrongful death and elder abuse have spawned litigation concerning the enforceability of such arbitration […]

Public Policy: Trial Court’s Confirmation Of Arbitrator’s Attorney’s Fees Award Is Reversed Because Law Firm Simultaneously Represented Adverse Parties In Unrelated Matters.

Under California Law, Where Party Challenges An Entire Contract As Illegal Or In Violation Of Public Policy, The Question Of Enforceability Is For The Court To Decide.      A substantial fee dispute between Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, LLP and its client J-M Manufacturing Co., Inc., resulted in an arbitrator’s award to Sheppard, Mullin that […]