Author: calmediation

Arbitration/Nonsignatories/Equitable Estoppel: Dentist Who Voluntarily Arbitrated But Did Not Sign Arbitration Agreement Was Not Equitably Estopped From Refusing To Arbitrate Again

In Which The Trial Court Sums It Up Neatly For The Court Of Appeal.      In Chan v. Delta Dental of California, A138402 (1st Dist. Div. 2 July 10, 2014) (Kline, Richman, Brick) (unpublished), a dental service provider sought to enforce an unsigned arbitration agreement based on an arbitration agreement that a dentist had not […]

Arbitration/Construction Of Agreement/Jurisdiction: Parties’ Arbitration Agreement Expressly Excluded Statutory Wage Claims From Arbitration Because It Excluded Claims “Within The Jurisdiction” Of The California Labor Commission

Just A Matter Of Contract Interpretation      Judges must relax a little when they can say, as does Justice O’Leary, the author of the next opinion, “The sole issue presented in this appeal is simply a matter of contract interpretation.”  Rebolledo v. Tilly’s, Inc., G048625 (4th Dist. Div. 3 July 8, 2014) (O’Leary, Ikola, Thompson) […]

Arbitration/Standard of Review: Arbitrator Acted Within Power Under Arbitration Clause In Awarding Fees, But Sanctions Award Is Denied As Appeal Was Not Wholly Frivolous

Standard Of Review Pretty Much Ordained The Result Here, And Nothing Was Changed By Appealing      This is one of those “Cain v. Abel” disputes, in which beneficiaries/brothers (Douglas and Martin Buser), fought over their parents’ family trust.  It appears Douglas fought tooth and nail, but unsuccessfully, getting hit with attorney’s fees assessed against his […]

Arbitration/Class Action/Waiver: Two Ninth Circuit Opinions Hold Class Action Waivers In Arbitration Agreements Are Valid

     Yesterday, June 23, 2014, the California Supreme Court agreed that an arbitration class action waiver in Iskanian v. CLS Transportation Los Angeles was enforceable.  See my June 23 post.   On the same day, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed that class action waivers are valid – at least in the circumstances of the […]

Arbitration/Employment/Class/Waiver/FAA/Public Policy: California Supreme Court Rules in Iskanian: Yes On Waiver Of Class Action, No On Waiver Of PAGA Claims

  Iskanian Decision Yields Opinion Of Four, Plus Justice Chin, Concurring, Plus Justice Werdegar, Concurring And Dissenting      In a much-awaited decision, the California Supreme Court has ruled that a state’s refusal to enforce a class action waiver on grounds of public policy or unconscionability is preempted by the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), but that […]

Arbitration/Waiver/Employment: Substantial Evidence Supported Finding That Employer Waived Right To Arbitrate

Substitution Of New Named Plaintiff To Represent Class Didn’t “Restart The Clock”.      In Jacoby v. Islands Restaurants, L.P., No. B250886 (2nd Dist. Div. 5 June 20, 2014) (Turner, Kriegler, Mink) (unpublished), the Court of Appeal ruled that substantial evidence supported the trial court’s finding that defendant employer had waived its right to arbitrate.       […]

Arbitration/Unconscionability: Court of Appeal Concludes That One-Sided “Take It Or Leave It” Agreement With Financially Battered Spanish Speaking Parties Is Unconscionable

Dissenting Justice Would Have Waited For Further Guidance From Supreme Court On Pending Cases      Nine plaintiffs sued their mortgage foreclosure consultant and others for fraud, breach of contract, and other claims, alleging they were duped into signing their agreements and lost money when they paid for services that were never rendered.  Defendants successfully petitioned […]

Arbitration/Enforcement: Lack Of Written Arbitration Agreement Proves Fatal To Funeral Director/Embalmer’s Appeal Of Order Denying Petition To Compel

DOA: Neither Appellant Nor Respondents Were Able To Discover Copy Of A Written Agreement To Arbitrate It was undisputed that in the ordinary course of business, respondents required all employees to sign an arbitration agreement, and it was not clear why the appellant, Mr. Corselli “might have been an exception to this rule.” Apparently, the […]

Arbitration/Waiver: Litany Of Facts Supported Trial Court’s Finding Of Waiver

June 11, 2014 · Arbitration: Waiver

Waiver Of Right To Arbitrate Does Not Require Voluntary Relinquishment Of Known Right      Plaintiff sued 1-800-GET THIN and several other parties, after undergoing an endoscopic screening procedure for gastric band surgery and allegedly suffering injury.  The trial court denied defendants’ petition to arbitrate, noting “delay and denial of discovery”, and that Plaintiff “will suffer […]

Arbitration/Vacatur/Standard Of Review: Appellant, Who Failed To Appear At Arbitration, Failed To Show Sufficient Cause For Continuance

All Things Considered . . .      Appellant Akin’s opening brief stated:  “All things considered . . . it was assumed that the May 30th arbitration had been cancelled.”  The lesson of our next case is that one who fails to show up for a scheduled arbitration hearing had better dot i’s and cross […]