California Court of Appeal Apr 24, 2015 No. D064183Unpublished
Filed 4/24/15 Williams v. Digius CA4/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
JOENATHAN WILLIAMS, D064183
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v. (Super. Ct. No. 37-2012-00092569-CU-OE-CTL) NASSER DIGIUS et al.,
Defendants and Appellants.
APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Joel
Pressman, Judge. Affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded with directions.
Boudreau Williams and Jon R. Williams for Defendants and Appellants.
The McMillan Law Firm and Scott A. McMillan for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Defendants Rancho Digius, LLC (Rancho), Nasser Digius (Nasser), and Ali
Digius (Ali) (together Defendants) appeal an order denying their motion to compel
arbitration of an action filed against them by plaintiff Joenathan Williams alleging causes
of action for violations of the Labor Code and other causes of action arising out of
Williams's employment as an on-site apartment manager. The trial court concluded
Defendants did not have standing to assert the arbitration provision contained in the
employment contract between Williams and the apartment complex's management
company. On appeal, Defendants contend: (1) the trial court erred by concluding they, as
nonsignatories to the contract, did not have standing to assert its arbitration provision;
and (2) they did not waive their right to enforce the arbitration provision. We requested,
and have received and considered, supplemental briefs by the parties on the following
issues: (1) to what extent does Labor Code section 229 apply to preclude potential
enforcement of the contractual arbitration provision as to one or more of Williams's
causes of action; (2) to what extent is Williams's injunctive relief cause of action under
Business and Professions Code section 17200 subject to potential enforcement of the
contractual arbitration provision; (3) whether the employment contract's arbitration
provision covers Williams's statutory claims under the Labor Code; and (4) what
discretion, if any, does the trial court have to stay arbitration proceedings if some of
Williams's causes of action are arbitrable and some are not?
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Rancho owns a 16-unit apartment complex in San Diego (Property). Rancho
apparently hired Cynmik Properties, Inc., doing business as Calsur Management and
Realty (Calsur), to manage the Property. On or about August 25, 2008, Calsur hired
Williams to be the Property's on-site manager and entered into an on-site employment
agreement (Contract) with him. The Contract included an arbitration provision, stating in
relevant part:
2
"11. Arbitration of Disputes: Any controversy [or] claim arising out of or related to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, except for unlawful detainer actions or any dispute that arises from [Calsur's] action to regain possession of the premises, or action brought for wages before the California Labor Commissioner or related to workers' compensation, shall be settled by [a]rbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association. [Calsur] will pay the costs for the arbitrator and hearing room. Any arbitration award rendered must be in writing, setting forth the reasons for the decision and may be entered as a judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction. Arbitration decisions/awards issued pursuant to this Agreement are final and binding. [¶] . . . [¶]
"Notice: By initialing in the space below, you are agreeing to have any dispute arising out of this Agreement decided by neutral arbitration as provided by law and you are giving up any rights you might possess to have the dispute litigated in a court or jury trial. The parties shall be allowed to conduct relevant discovery as is allowed under the California Code of Civil Procedure in arbitration matters and as further allowed under the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes." (Italics added.)
On or about September 1, 2011, Calsur terminated Williams's employment. In
February 2012, Williams filed a complaint against Nasser, Ali, and Calsur, alleging
causes of action for: (1) failure to pay minimum wage (Lab. Code, §§ 1194, 1197); (2)
failure to provide accurate itemized wage statements (Lab. Code, § 226); (3) failure to
comply with request to inspect personnel file (Lab. Code, § 226); (4) failure to pay wages
on discharge (Lab. Code, §§ 201, 203); (5) breach of the implied covenant of good faith
and fair dealing; (6) fees, costs, and penalties for Defendants' violations of the Labor
Code (Lab. Code, § 2699); (7) conversion; and (8) unfair competition (Bus. & Prof.
Code, § 17200). Williams attached a copy of the Contract to the complaint. Thereafter,
3
Williams apparently added Rancho as a defendant.1 Nasser, Ali, and Rancho each filed
answers to the complaint, and Calsur filed for bankruptcy. After the bankruptcy court
ruled Williams's action was not subject to its bankruptcy stay, Defendants filed a motion
to compel arbitration of his action, relying on the arbitration provision in the Contract.
Williams opposed the motion.
The trial court issued a tentative ruling denying the motion to compel arbitration
on the ground Defendants had waived their right to compel arbitration by taking steps
inconsistent with arbitration. However, after hearing arguments of counsel, the court
issued a minute order denying Defendants' motion to compel arbitration on the ground
Defendants were not parties to the Contract and therefore did not have standing to
enforce its arbitration provision. Defendants timely filed a notice of appeal.
DISCUSSION
I
Defendants' Standing to Enforce the Contract's Arbitration Provision
Defendants contend the trial court erred by concluding they did not have standing
to enforce the Contract's arbitration provision because they were not parties to the
Contract. They argue that as alleged agents of Calsur, a party to the Contract, they may
invoke the arbitration provision and compel arbitration of Williams's causes of action
against them.
1 Although the record on appeal does not appear to contain a copy of any document filed by Williams adding Rancho as a defendant, the record supports the inference, and the parties appear to agree, that Rancho was added as a defendant to Williams's action.
4
A
"Generally speaking, one must be a party to an arbitration agreement to be bound
by it or invoke it." (Westra v. Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Brokerage
Co., Inc. (2005) 129 Cal.App.4th 759, 763.) "The strong public policy in favor of
arbitration does not extend to those who are not parties to an arbitration agreement, and a
party cannot be compelled to arbitrate a dispute that he has not agreed to resolve by
arbitration." (Benasra v. Marciano (2001) 92 Cal.App.4th 987, 990.) However, "[t]here
are exceptions to the general rule that a nonsignatory to an agreement cannot be
compelled to arbitrate and cannot invoke an agreement to arbitrate, without being a party
to the arbitration agreement. [Citation.] A nonsignatory to an agreement to arbitrate may
be required to arbitrate, and may invoke arbitration against a party, if a preexisting
confidential relationship, such as an agency relationship between the nonsignatory and
one of the parties to the arbitration agreement, makes it equitable to impose the duty to
arbitrate upon the nonsignatory." (Westra, at p. 765.)
B
We conclude the trial court erred by concluding Defendants did not have standing
to enforce the Contract's arbitration provision. As Defendants note, Williams's complaint
alleged that all "Defendants[,] and each of them, . . . were the agents . . . of its co-
defendants, and each was, as such, acting within the course, scope and authority of said
agency . . . with the consent, permission and authorization of each of the remaining
Defendants." In Thomas v. Westlake (2012) 204 Cal.App.4th 605, 614-615, we
concluded those types of allegations are sufficient to permit nonparty defendants to
5
enforce an arbitration agreement. We stated: "[A] plaintiff's allegations of an agency
relationship among defendants is sufficient to allow the alleged agents to invoke the
benefit of an arbitration agreement executed by their principal even though the agents are
not parties to the agreement." (Ibid.; see also Dryer v. Los Angeles Rams (1985) 40
Cal.3d 406, 418; 24 Hour Fitness, Inc. v. Superior Court (1998) 66 Cal.App.4th 1199,
1210 ["While these defendants are not parties to the contract between Munshaw and
Nautilus, they are entitled to the benefit of the arbitration agreement if, as the complaint
alleges, they were acting as agents for Nautilus."].) "Having alleged all defendants acted
as agents of one another, [the plaintiff] is bound by the legal consequences of his
allegations." (Thomas, at p. 614.) "[I]t would be unfair to defendants to allow [the
plaintiff] to invoke agency principles when it is to his advantage to do so, but to disavow
those same principles when it is not." (Id. at p. 615.) Because Williams alleged they
acted as agents of Calsur, a party to the Contract, Defendants are entitled to invoke the
Contract's arbitration provision even though they are not parties or signatories to the
Contract. (Id. at pp. 614-615; Dryer, at p. 418; 24 Hour Fitness, Inc., at p. 1210; cf.
Rowe v. Exline (2007) 153 Cal.App.4th 1276, 1286-1290; Turtle Ridge Media Group,
Inc. v. Pacific Bell Directory (2006) 140 Cal.App.4th 828, 833; Boucher v. Alliance Title
Co., Inc. (2005) 127 Cal.App.4th 262, 272-273.) The fact Defendants filed answers
denying his allegations of agency does not preclude them from relying on his agency
allegations to enforce the Contract's arbitration provision.
6
II
Waiver of Arbitration
Williams asserts the trial court's order denying Defendants' motion to compel
arbitration can be upheld on the alternative ground of waiver as the court found in its
tentative ruling. However, Defendants argue their motion to compel arbitration was
timely filed and Williams did not show he was prejudiced by the delay in the filing of
their motion.
A
"Federal and state laws reflect a strong public policy favoring arbitration . . . .
[Citations.] Nonetheless, federal and California courts may refuse to enforce an
arbitration agreement 'upon such grounds as exist at law or in equity for the revocation of
any contract,' including waiver." (Lewis v. Fletcher Jones Motor Cars, Inc. (2012) 205
Cal.App.4th 436, 443-444.) "State law, like the FAA [Federal Arbitration Act], reflects a
strong policy favoring arbitration agreements and requires close judicial scrutiny of
waiver claims. [Citation.] Although a court may deny a petition to compel arbitration on
the ground of waiver ([Code Civ. Proc.,] § 1281.2, subd. (a)), waivers are not to be
lightly inferred and the party seeking to establish a waiver bears a heavy burden of
proof." (St. Agnes Medical Center v. PacifiCare of California (2003) 31 Cal.4th 1187,
1195 (St. Agnes).) Code of Civil Procedure section 1281.2 provides that, on a petition to
compel arbitration, a trial court shall order the parties to arbitrate a controversy if it
determines an agreement to arbitrate the controversy exists, unless the court determines:
"(a) [t]he right to compel arbitration has been waived by the petitioner . . . ."
7
"[U]nder the [FAA] and the California Arbitration Act [citation] courts apply the
same standards in determining waiver claims. [Citation.] . . . In St. Agnes, the California
Supreme Court adopted as the California standard the same multifactor test employed by
nearly all federal courts for evaluating waiver claims." (Lewis v. Fletcher Jones Motor
Cars, Inc., supra, 205 Cal.App.4th at p. 444.) In St. Agnes, the California Supreme Court
concluded the following factors should be considered by a trial court in assessing a claim
a party has waived a right to arbitrate: " ' "(1) whether the party's actions are inconsistent
with the right to arbitrate; (2) whether 'the litigation machinery has been substantially
invoked' and the parties 'were well into preparation of a lawsuit' before the party notified
the opposing party of an intent to arbitrate; (3) whether a party either requested
arbitration enforcement close to the trial date or delayed for a long period before seeking
a stay; (4) whether a defendant seeking arbitration filed a counterclaim without asking for
a stay of the proceedings; (5) 'whether important intervening steps [e.g., taking advantage
of judicial discovery procedures not available in arbitration] had taken place'; and (6)
whether the delay 'affected, misled, or prejudiced' the opposing party." ' " (St. Agnes,
supra, 31 Cal.4th at p. 1196.)
The question whether a party has waived a right to arbitrate is ordinarily a
question of fact for the trial court, and not an arbitrator, to decide. (St. Agnes, supra, 31
Cal.4th at p. 1196; Engalla v. Permanente Medical Group, Inc. (1997) 15 Cal.4th 951,
982-983.) However, when, as in this case, the facts are undisputed and only one
reasonable inference may be reasonably drawn from the facts, the question is one of law
and we are not bound by the trial court's ruling. (St. Agnes, at p. 1196.)
8
B
We conclude Williams did not carry his burden to show Defendants waived their
right to enforce the Contract's arbitration provision. First, although each of Defendants
filed an answer to Williams's complaint, he does not cite any case or other authority
showing the filing of an answer by a defendant necessarily waives, or is inconsistent with
enforcement of, a right to arbitrate a dispute. Furthermore, although Defendants' failure
to plead the arbitration agreement as an affirmative defense in their answers presumably
is an act inconsistent with a later assertion of a right to arbitrate (Guess?, Inc. v. Superior
Court (2000) 79 Cal.App.4th 553, 557-558), we must consider the other factors in
determining whether they waived that right as a matter of law. Second, although Nasser
propounded interrogatories, requests for admissions, and requests for production of
documents on Williams, those discovery actions did not necessarily constitute substantial
invocation of the litigation machinery and those actions were not shown to be unavailable
in arbitration.2 Also, neither Ali nor Rancho conducted any discovery before moving to
compel arbitration. Third, although Defendants did not file their motion to compel
arbitration until 13 months after the complaint was filed, much of that delay, as
2 The Contract's arbitration provision expressly provided for arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association. However, Williams did not show those rules do not allow discovery in a manner similar to that conducted by Nasser. More importantly, the arbitration provision expressly provided: "The parties shall be allowed to conduct relevant discovery as is allowed under the California Code of Civil Procedure in arbitration matters and as further allowed under the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes." Williams does not show Nasser's discovery could not have been obtained pursuant to discovery allowed under that arbitration provision. 9
Defendants explain, was caused by the stay of the proceedings resulting from Calsur's
bankruptcy and their opposition to Williams's demurrers to their answers. Furthermore,
the trial court had yet to set a trial date in this matter before Defendants filed their motion
to compel arbitration. Finally, and most importantly, Williams did not show he was
prejudiced by Defendants' delay and purported inconsistent actions. Prejudice sufficient
to find a waiver of an arbitration agreement is found only "where the petitioning party's
conduct has substantially undermined this important public policy or substantially
impaired the other side's ability to take advantage of the benefits and efficiencies of
arbitration." (St. Agnes, supra, 31 Cal.4th at p. 1204.) Williams did not meet his burden
to show prejudice sufficient to support a finding of waiver by Defendants of their right to
arbitrate. Considering all of the St. Agnes factors, we conclude Williams did not carry his
burden to show Defendants waived their right to enforce the Contract's arbitration
provision. We reject Williams's assertion the trial court's order denying Defendants'
motion to compel arbitration should be upheld on that alternative ground.
III
Interpretation of Arbitration Provision
Although the trial court's order denying Defendants' motion to compel arbitration
cannot be upheld on the above grounds, we nevertheless conclude it can be upheld, at
least in part, based on our interpretation of the Contract's arbitration provision. As
explained below, we interpret the arbitration provision as applying only to Williams's
contract and tort causes of action and not his Labor Code or other statutory causes of
action.
10
A
A trial court's judgment or order is presumed to be correct. In Denham v. Superior
Court (1970) 2 Cal.3d 557, the court stated:
"[I]t is settled that: 'A judgment or order of the lower court is presumed correct. All intendments and presumptions are indulged to support it on matters as to which the record is silent, and error must be affirmatively shown [by the appellant]. This is not only a general principle of appellate practice but an ingredient of the constitutional doctrine of reversible error.' " (Id. at p. 564.)
As a corollary to that rule, we review the trial court's decision and not its reasoning.
(People v. Zapien (1993) 4 Cal.4th 929, 976.) " 'No rule of decision is better or more
firmly established by authority, nor one resting upon a sounder basis of reason and
propriety, than that a ruling or decision, itself correct in law, will not be disturbed on
appeal merely because given for a wrong reason. If right upon any theory of the law
applicable to the case, it must be sustained regardless of the considerations which may
have moved the trial court to its conclusion.' " (D'Amico v. Board of Medical Examiners
(1974) 11 Cal.3d 1, 19.)
Although we generally will not consider new theories raised for the first time on
appeal (In re Marriage of Moschetta (1994) 25 Cal.App.4th 1218, 1227), we may
exercise our discretion to consider a new theory if it presents a question of law to be
applied to undisputed facts in the record. (RN Solution, Inc. v. Catholic Healthcare West
Cal.App.4th 10, 15.) Because the facts relating to the interpretation of the Contract's
arbitration provision are undisputed, we exercise our discretion to interpret the Contract
11
and decide the scope of its arbitration provision (i.e., which of Williams's causes of action
are arbitrable under the Contract's arbitration provision).
B
Although California law favors enforcement of valid arbitration agreements
(Armendariz v. Foundation Health Psychcare Services, Inc. (2000) 24 Cal.4th 83, 97),
"the preference for arbitration extends only to those disputes the parties agree to
arbitrate." (Elijahjuan v. Superior Court (2012) 210 Cal.App.4th 15, 20 (Elijahjuan).)
"In determining contractual arbitrability, the threshold issue is whether the parties agreed
to arbitrate their dispute—i.e., whether the contract included or excluded the dispute from
its arbitration clause." (Ibid.; see also Engineers & Architects Assn. v. Community
Development Dept. (1994) 30 Cal.App.4th 644, 653.)
"The fundamental goal of contractual interpretation is to give effect to the mutual
intention of the parties. (Civ. Code, § 1636.) If contractual language is clear and
explicit, it governs. (Civ. Code, § 1638.)" (Bank of the West v. Superior Court (1992) 2
Cal.4th 1254, 1264.) Because in this case the language of the Contract's arbitration
provision was not in dispute and the parties did not present any conflicting evidence
regarding its meaning, we interpret the meaning of the arbitration provision
independently as a matter of law. (Elijahjuan, supra, 210 Cal.App.4th at p. 20;
Molecular Analytical Systems v. Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. (2010) 186 Cal.App.4th 696,
707.)
12
C
In interpreting the Contract's arbitration provision in this case, the crucial issue is
the scope of the provision and whether it covers Williams's contract, tort, and/or statutory
causes of action. The scope of the arbitration provision depends on its language that
requires arbitration of "[a]ny controversy [or] claim arising out of or related to this
Agreement, or the breach thereof . . . ." (Italics added.) Although the arbitration
provision further states that "you are agreeing to have any dispute arising out of this
Agreement decided by neutral arbitration," that language is narrower than the first phrase
quoted above and therefore we determine the scope of the arbitration provision based on
its broadest language (i.e., "arising out of or related to this Agreement"). (Italics added.)
The Contract's language requiring arbitration of claims "arising out of or related to
this Agreement" covers both contractual claims and tort claims arising out of the
Contract. (See, e.g., Coast Plaza Doctors Hospital v. Blue Cross of California (2000) 83
Cal.App.4th 677, 681, fn. 2; Berman v. Dean Witter & Co., Inc. (1975) 44 Cal.App.3d
999, 1003.) However, that language does not clearly cover statutory claims (e.g., claims
based on violations of the Labor Code) that arise independently of the Contract's terms.
The Contract does not set forth any language expressly providing that Labor Code or
other statutory claims are subject to arbitration. Absent such express language,
arbitration of statutory claims can be required only if it may be reasonably implied from
the Contract's language. However, given the language in this case, we cannot reasonably
infer the Contract requires arbitration of Williams's statutory claims. We conclude
Williams's statutory claims do not arise out of or relate to the Contract. (Cf. Narayan v.
13
EGL, Inc. (9th Cir. 2010) 616 F.3d 895, 899 ["While the contracts will likely be used as
evidence to prove or disprove the statutory claims, the claims do not arise out of the
contract, involve the interpretation of any contract terms, or otherwise require there to be
a contract."].) Although Williams's Labor Code claims arise out of, or relate to, his
alleged employment by Defendants, those claims do not arise out of, or relate to, the
Contract's terms even though the Contract formed the basis of his alleged employment.
(Ibid.) Rather, his Labor Code claims independently arise out of specific statutory
provisions and not the Contract's provisions. (Elijahjuan, supra, 210 Cal.App.4th at p. 24
["Labor Code claims do not arise out of the contract but instead are distinct from rights
under the Agreements."].) Williams's "rights under the Labor Code are distinct from
[his] contractual rights under the [Contract]." (Id. at p. 23.)
In Hoover v. American Income Life Ins. Co. (2012) 206 Cal.App.4th 1193
(Hoover), the court concluded an agent contract did not require arbitration of Labor Code
claims despite an arbitration provision requiring arbitration of disputes " 'arising out of or
relating to this contract.' " (Id. at p. 1208, italics added.) Because the contract "does not
mention the arbitration of statutory claims or identify any statutes," Hoover concluded the
plaintiff "did not agree to arbitrate her statutory labor claims." (Ibid.) Based on the
language of the agent contract, the court concluded: "The agent contract does not reflect
an agreement to arbitrate Hoover's claims, as asserted under state law, rather than her
claims under the contract." (Ibid.)
Similarly, in Elijahjuan, supra, 210 Cal.App.4th 15, the court, citing Hoover,
concluded an arbitration provision requiring arbitration of "a dispute [that] arises with
14
regard to [the agreement's] application or interpretation" (id. at p. 18, italics omitted),
likewise did not require arbitration of the plaintiff's statutory Labor Code claims.
(Elijahjuan, at pp. 20-24.) Citing Brown v. Ralphs Grocery Co. (2011) 197 Cal.App.4th
489, 495, Elijahjuan concluded the arbitration provision in its case was narrower and
different from a provision encompassing " ' "any and all employment-related disputes." ' "
(Elijahjuan, at p. 24; cf. Lane v. Francis Capital Management LLC (2014) 224
Cal.App.4th 676, 681 [written agreement required arbitration of "all claims, disputes and
controversies arising out of, relating to or in any way associated with [the plaintiff's]
employment by [the defendant]" and specifically cited "wage, hour and benefit claims"
and "any other employment-related claim of any kind"].)
In our case, had the parties to the Contract intended to require arbitration of Labor
Code or other statutory claims, they could have expressly provided for arbitration of any
and all disputes or claims arising out of, or related to, Williams's employment, including
but not limited to claims for damages and violation of state or federal laws, including
claims for violation of the Labor Code. (Cf. Lane v. Francis Capital Management LLC,
supra, 224 Cal.App.4th at p. 683.) Because the Contract did not substantially so provide,
we conclude its arbitration provision does not require arbitration of Williams's Labor
Code and other statutory claims.
D
Based on our interpretation of the Contract, we address which of Williams's claims
are subject to arbitration under the Contract and which claims are not subject to
arbitration. After reviewing each of the eight causes of action alleged in Williams's
15
complaint, we conclude only two of those eight causes of action are arbitrable—namely,
the fifth cause of action for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing
and the seventh cause of action for conversion. The former is clearly a contractual claim
arising out of the Contract and the latter is a tort claim that likewise arises out of the
Contract. Therefore, under the Contract's arbitration provision those two causes of action
are arbitrable.
However, the six other causes of action are not either contract or tort claims, but
instead are statutory claims not subject to arbitration under the Contract's arbitration
provision. Williams alleges the following statutory causes of action against Defendants:
(1) failure to pay minimum wage (Lab. Code, §§ 1194, 1197) (first cause of action); (2)
failure to provide accurate itemized wage statements (Lab. Code, § 226) (second cause of
action); (3) failure to comply with request to inspect personnel file (Lab. Code, § 226)
(third cause of action); (4) failure to pay wages upon discharge (Lab. Code, §§ 201, 203)
(fourth cause of action); (5) fees, costs, and penalties for Defendants' violations of the
Labor Code (Lab. Code, § 2699) (sixth cause of action); and (6) unfair competition (Bus.
& Prof. Code, § 17200) (eighth cause of action). We conclude none of those statutory
causes of action are subject to arbitration under the Contract's arbitration provision.3
3 Because we decide this appeal based on our interpretation of the Contract's arbitration provision, we need not, and do not, address Defendants' argument that Williams should be estopped from asserting they have no standing to enforce the arbitration provision. Furthermore, because the trial court did not base its decision on grounds of unconscionability of the arbitration provision and Williams does not show that provision is unconscionable as a matter of law, we refrain from addressing the defense of 16
On remand, unless the parties subsequently agree to either litigate or arbitrate all
of Williams's causes of action or unless Williams dismisses his two nonstatutory causes
of action, the trial court may be faced with the question of whether to stay the
proceedings in this case pending arbitration of the two nonstatutory causes of action or
delay its order to arbitrate the two nonstatutory causes of action pending adjudication of
the six statutory causes of action in this case. (See, e.g., Code Civ. Proc., §§ 1281.2,
subd. (c), 1281.4.) In that event, the court should consider whether a court adjudication
or "determination of such [statutory] issues may make the arbitration unnecessary" within
the meaning of the third paragraph of Code of Civil Procedure section 1281.2,
subdivision (c), such that it should exercise its discretion to delay its order to arbitrate the
nonstatutory claims. (Italics added.) (See, e.g., RN Solution, Inc. v. Catholic Healthcare
West, supra, 165 Cal.App.4th at p. 1521 [court has discretion to delay its order to
arbitrate the arbitrable claims under section 1281.2, subd. (c), 3d par., if it determines
adjudication of the nonarbitrable claims might make the arbitration unnecessary]; Rowe v.
Exline, supra, 153 Cal.App.4th at p. 1286 [same].)
IV
Labor Code Section 229 and Injunctive Relief
Although we need not, and do not, decide whether some or all of Williams's
statutory claims may not be subject to arbitration regardless of our interpretation of the
Contract's arbitration provision above, we nevertheless note that most, if not all, of his
unconscionability that would apply only to arbitration of his two nonstatutory causes of action.
17
statutory causes of action could be found to be nonarbitrable on other grounds. We note
Labor Code section 229 provides: "Actions to enforce the provisions of this article for the
collection of due and unpaid wages claimed by an individual may be maintained without
regard to the existence of any private agreement to arbitrate. . . ." Therefore, some, if not
all, of Williams's causes of action based on Labor Code violations may not be subject to
arbitration even if the Contract's arbitration provision expressly provided otherwise.
(See, e.g., Hoover, supra, 206 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1206-1208; cf. Lane v. Francis Capital
Management LLC, supra, 224 Cal.App.4th at p. 684.) Furthermore, Williams's claim for
injunctive relief pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 17200, as well as his
private attorney general (PAGA) claim (i.e., Lab. Code, § 2699), also may not be subject
to arbitration even if the Contract's arbitration provision expressly provided otherwise.
(See, e.g., Hoover, at p. 1209 [injunctive relief claim under unfair competition law is not
arbitrable]; Cruz v. PacifiCare Health Systems, Inc. (2003) 30 Cal.4th 303, 315-316;
Brown v. Ralphs Grocery Co., supra, 197 Cal.App.4th at pp. 500-501; Iskanian v. CLS
Transportation Los Angeles LLC (2014) 59 Cal.4th 348, 384 [employment agreement's
waiver of PAGA representative claims is contrary to public policy and unenforceable as a
matter of state law].)
DISPOSITION
The order is reversed to the extent it denied Defendants' motion to compel
arbitration of Williams's fifth and seventh causes of action. In all other respects, the
order is affirmed. The matter is remanded with directions that the trial court consider
whether to immediately grant Defendants' motion to compel arbitration of Williams's
18
fifth and seventh causes of action or, in its discretion, delay its order to arbitrate those
causes of action consistent with this opinion.
McDONALD, J.
WE CONCUR:
McCONNELL, P. J.
HALLER, J.
19
AI Brief
AI-generated · verify before citing
Holding. The court held that nonsignatory defendants have standing to enforce an arbitration agreement based on the plaintiff's agency allegations, but that the specific arbitration provision in the contract only covers contract and tort claims, not statutory Labor Code or unfair competition claims. Consequently, the court ordered the case remanded to arbitrate only the contract and tort causes of action while allowing the statutory claims to proceed in court.
Issues
Whether nonsignatory defendants have standing to enforce an arbitration agreement based on agency allegations.
Whether the defendants waived their right to compel arbitration.
Whether the arbitration provision covers statutory claims under the Labor Code and Business and Professions Code.
Whether the trial court has discretion to stay proceedings when some claims are arbitrable and others are not.
Disposition. Affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded with directions.
Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion
“[A] plaintiff's allegations of an agency relationship among defendants is sufficient to allow the alleged agents to invoke the benefit of an arbitration agreement executed by their principal even though the agents are not parties to the agreement.”
“We conclude its arbitration provision does not require arbitration of Williams's Labor Code and other statutory claims.”