Category: Arbitration: Nonsignatories

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 […]

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 […]

Nonsignatories: Successor By Merger Can Enforce Arbitration Agreement That It Did Not Sign

January 2, 2016 · Arbitration: Nonsignatories

DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP Had Standing To Enforce Arbitration Agreement.       One of our more prolific sidebar categories is “Nonsignatories.”  Quite a few disputes have been spawned when a nonsignatory to an arbitration agreement seeks to enforce it, under various theories that include incorporation by reference, assumption, agency, veil-piercing or alter ego, […]

Arbitration, Nonsignatories: Arbitration Agreement Between Purchasers And Seller Did Not Compel Purchasers And Nonsignatory Assignees Of Purchasers To Arbitrate Their Own Dispute

August 11, 2015 · Arbitration: Nonsignatories

Judgment Confirming Arbitration Award And Postjudgment Order Awarding Attorney Fees Are Reversed.      One of this blog’s sidebar categories is “Nonsignatories,” because many cases address whether nonsignatories to arbitration agreements can nevertheless be compelled to arbitrate either because they are third-party beneficiaries of the agreement, or because they have a special relationship with a party […]

Arbitration, Scope, Nonsignatories, Agents: Broadly Worded Arbitration Clause Not Broad Enough To Include Labor Code Claims

But Court Of Appeal Does Reject Arguments That Nonsignatories Lacked Standing And That They Waived Right To Compel Arbitration – Before Addressing “Crucial Issue Of Scope      In Williams v. Digius, et al., D064183 (4/1 April 24, 2015) (McDonald, McConnell, Haller) (unpublished), the Court of Appeal agreed with appellants, who had not signed an arbitration […]

Arbitration, Nonsignatories, Employment: In A Case Of First Impression, Court Of Appeal Holds That Successor Company Can Enforce Arbitration Agreement

By Suing DirectTV For Unpaid Wages, Employee Acknowledged Existence Of An Employment Relationship With Entity That Survived Merger.      May a nonsignatory defendant enforce an arbitration agreement between a signatory plaintiff and a corporation that was acquired by the nonsignatory defendant, which assumed all rights and obligations of the acquired corporation?  “We have found no […]

Arbitration, Nonsignatories, Equitable Estoppel: Nonsignatory Defendant Is Able To Compel Nonsignatory Plaintiff Because All The Claims Are “Inextricably Intertwined”

  Plaintiffs’ Pleading Allegations Didn’t Help Their Argument.       The somewhat anomalous circumstances in this case allowed a nonsignatory defendant to arbitrate its claims with a nonsignatory plaintiff.  O’Donnell Strategic Industrial REIT v. Super. Ct., G049498 (4/3 Jan. 28, 2015) (Thompson, Bedsworth, Moore) (unpublished).        In a dispute concerning the setting up and operation of […]

Nonsignatories: Nonsignatories Are Unable To Take Advantage Of Arbitration Agreement Where There Is No Evidence Identifying Person With Whom Plaintiff Allegedly Contracted

It Helps To Be Able To Identify The Parties To An Arbitration Agreement !      As the next case illustrates, sometimes the basics can trip one up when it comes to enforcing an arbitration agreement.      Plaintiff filed a complaint alleging medical malpractice related to her sister’s death after lap band surgery.  Defendants – a […]

Arbitration/Nonsignatories/Fees: Double Whammy–Judgment Confirming Arbitration Award With Party Who Didn’t Sign Arbitration Agreement Is Reversed And Denial Of Fee Award To Party Who Had Prevailed At Arbitration Is Affirmed

Guerra v. Aurora Loan Services, LLC, HO38331 (6th Dist. Sept. 19, 2014) (Mihara, Elia, Grover) (unpublished).      Chairez and Guerra entered into a “LEASE AGREEMENT with OPTION TO PURCHASE & EXTEND” (agreement) relating to a property at which Chairez and Guerra lived.  Chairez borrowed $1.1 million against the property and defaulted on the loan, resulting […]

Arbitration/Nonsignatories: Big Surprise–Parties That Failed To Initial Arbitration Provision As Required By The Express Language Of The Provision Could Not Be Compelled To Arbitrate

Appellants’ Argument That There Was An “Implied Oral Understanding” Didn’t Cut It With The Court Of Appeal      The arbitration clause in our next case began:  “NOTICE:  BY INITIALING IN THE SPACE BELOW YOU ARE AGREEING TO HAVE ANY DISPUTE ARISING OUT OF THE MATTERS INCLUDED IN THE ‘ARBITRATION’ PROVISION DECIDED BY NEUTRAL ARBITRATION . […]