Summary
In Elite Logistics Corp. v. Hanjin Shipping Co. (9th Cir. 2014) 589 Fed.Appx. 817 (Hanjin), the Ninth Circuit held that the UIIA arbitration agreement is unconscionable as applied to claims like those asserted here.
Summary of this case from Elite Logistics Corp. v. Wan Hai Lines, Ltd.Opinion
No. 12-56238
09-19-2014
ELITE LOGISTICS CORPORATION, and on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. HANJIN SHIPPING CO., LTD., Defendant - Appellant.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
D.C. No. 2:11-cv-02961-DDP-PLA MEMORANDUM Appeal from the United States District Court for the Central District of California
Dean D. Pregerson, District Judge, Presiding
Argued and Submitted April 10, 2014 Pasadena, California Before: THOMAS, M. SMITH, Jr., and CHRISTEN, Circuit Judges.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
Hanjin Shipping Co. ("Hanjin") appeals the district court's order denying Hanjin's motion to compel arbitration. We affirm. Because the parties are familiar with the history of this case, we need not recount it here.
I
Following submission of this appeal, the district court entered an order resolving certain claims. We requested the parties to brief the question of whether or not the district court order rendered this appeal moot. Both parties agree that it did not and, after reviewing their submissions we conclude that the appeal is justiciable.
II
The district court did not err in holding that the arbitration agreement was unconscionable under California law and, therefore, that the motion to compel arbitration should be denied. In California, a contract clause is unconscionable if both procedurally and substantively unconscionable. See Armendariz v. Found. Health Psychcare Servs., Inc., 6 P.3d 669, 689-90 (Cal. 2000) (articulating "general principles" of unconscionability). California law utilizes a sliding scale to determine the ultimate question of unconscionability—greater substantive unconscionability may compensate for lesser procedural unconscionability. Id. at 690. In California, "the core concern of unconscionability doctrine is the 'absence of meaningful choice on the part of one of the parties together with contract terms which are unreasonably favorable to the other party.'" Sonic-Calabasas A, Inc. v. Moreno, 311 P.3d 184, 202 (Cal. 2013) (quoting Williams v. Walker-Thomas Furniture Co., 350 F.2d 445, 449 (D.C. Cir. 1965)).
The parties agree that there are no material factual disputes; however, they disagree as to the legal significance of the undisputed facts.
A
The district court did not err in concluding that the arbitration agreement was procedurally unconscionable under California law. Whether an arbitration agreement is procedurally unconscionable depends on "'the manner in which the contract was negotiated and the circumstances of the parties at that time.'" Ingle v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 328 F.3d 1165, 1171 (9th Cir. 2003) (quoting Kinney v. United HealthCare Servs., Inc., 83 Cal. Rptr. 2d 348, 352-53 (Cal.App. 1999)). Procedural unconscionability generally takes the form of a contract of adhesion, in which a contract drafted by the party of superior bargaining strength is imposed on the other without the opportunity to negotiate the terms. Shroyer v. New Cingular Wireless Servs., Inc., 498 F.3d 976, 982 (9th Cir. 2007). Here, the record supports the district court's conclusion that Elite Logistics Corp. ("Elite") did not take part in any contract negotiations and had no choice but to sign the agreement if it wished to conduct business as an intermodal carrier. Without a meaningful opportunity for Elite to negotiate, and with Elite faced with a "take it or leave it" proposition, the district court did not err in concluding that the contract was procedurally unconscionable under California law. See Pokorny v. Quixtar, 601 F.3d 987, 994 (9th Cir. 2010) (explaining federal courts apply state-law principles to determine the validity of arbitration agreement).
The dissent argues that under AT & T Mobility L.L.C. v. Concepcion, 131 S.Ct. 1740 (2011), an arbitration clause may not be found procedurally unconscionable because it appears in a contract of adhesion. However, this characterization strips the Court's language of its contextual framework. In Concepcion, the Court concluded that arbitration clauses contained in some adhesion contracts—namely, those contained in adhesive consumer contracts—may still be valid. Id. at 1750. However, the Court did not hold that that arbitration clauses may never be found procedurally unconscionable merely because they appear in a contract of adhesion. Indeed, we have held that Concepcion did not fundamentally alter the legal landscape of procedural unconscionabilty. Coneff v. AT & T, 673 F.3d 1155, 1161 (9th Cir. 2012) (procedural unconscionability is "an inquiry for which Concepcion gives little guidance beyond a recognition of the doctrine's continued vitality").
B
The district court also did not err in concluding that the arbitration provision was substantively unreasonable. Under California law, "[s]ubstantive unconscionability focuses on the one-sidedness or overly harsh effect of the contract term or clause." Harper v. Ultimo, 7 Cal. Rptr. 3d 418, 423 (Cal. App. 2003). "Substantive unconscionability addresses the fairness of the term in dispute." Szetela v. Discover Bank, 118 Cal. Rptr. 2d 862, 867 (Cal. App. 2002). Mutuality is the "paramount" consideration when assessing substantive unconscionability. Abramson v. Juniper Networks, Inc., 9 Cal. Rptr. 3d 422, 436 (Cal. App. 2004). "Agreements to arbitrate must contain at least a modicum of bilaterality to avoid unconscionability." Id. at 437 (internal quotes and citation omitted).
Here, the district court properly concluded that the contract was substantively unconscionable under California law. Under the agreement, the invoiced party must provide written notice of its dispute as to an invoice within 30 days, which is shorter than California's four-year statute of limitations. The burden to dispute an invoice is on the invoiced party. After receiving the dispute response from the invoicing party, the invoiced party has 15 days to pay the invoice or seek arbitration. If an invoiced party proceeds to arbitration, it must submit all of its arguments to the arbitration panel first. Further, the arbitration panel lacks the authority to enjoin wrongful conduct, which is a significant burden in cases such as the one at bar where recurring invoice problems are at issue.
C
The district court did not fail to apply the principles of the Federal Arbitration Act, as claimed by Hanjin. "The Federal Arbitration Act ('FAA'), 9 U.S.C. §§ 1, et seq., reflects a 'liberal federal policy' in favor of arbitration." Davis v. Nordstrom, Inc., 755 F.3d 1089, 1092 (9th Cir. 2014) (quoting AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion, 131 S. Ct. 1740, 1745 (2011)). Pursuant to the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution, "the FAA preempts contrary state law." Mortensen v. Bresnan Commc'ns, LLC, 722 F.3d 1151, 1158 (9th Cir. 2013). However, the FAA does not preempt California's procedural unconscionability rules. Chavarria v. Ralphs Grocery, Co., 733 F.3d 916, 926 (9th Cir. 2013); see also Sonic-Calabasas A, Inc. v. Moreno, 311 P.3d 184, 188 (Cal. 2013) (confirming that "state courts may continue to enforce unconscionability rules that do not 'interfere[] with fundamental attributes of arbitration'") (quoting AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion, 131 S. Ct. 1740, 1748 (2011)). Although the FAA may preempt state laws having a "disproportionate impact" on arbitration, it "cannot be read to immunize all arbitration agreements from invalidation." Chavarria, 733 F.3d at 927. Insofar as an application of state substantive unconscionability rules do not discriminate unfavorably against arbitration, they do not offend the FAA. Id.
Here, the district court appropriately considered the FAA's policy and preemptive reach in concluding that the arbitration agreement was unconscionable under California law.
III
In sum, the appeal is not moot. The district court properly concluded that the arbitration agreement was unconscionable under California law and, therefore, properly denied the motion to compel arbitration. We need not, and do not, reach any other question urged by the parties on appeal.
AFFIRMED. Elite Logistics v. Hanjin Shipping, 12-56238 M. SMITH, Circuit Judge, dissenting:
I respectfully dissent. In holding that the district court correctly voided the arbitration clause as unconscionable under California law, the majority relies on Pokorny v. Quixtar, 601 F.3d 987 (9th Cir. 2010), Shroyer v. New Cingular Wireless Services, Inc., 498 F.3d 976 (9th Cir. 2007), Abramson v. Juniper Networks, Inc., 9 Cal.Rptr.3d 422 (Cal. App. 2004), Ingle v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 328 F.3d 1165 (9th Cir. 2003), Harper v. Ultimo, 7 Cal.Rptr.3d 418 (Cal. App. 2003), Szetela v. Discover Bank, 118 Cal.Rptr.2d 862 (Cal. App. 2002), and Armendariz v. Found. Health Psychcare Services, Inc., 6 P.3d 669 (Cal. 2000).
In so doing, the majority fails to acknowledge that in AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion, — U.S. —, 131 S.C. 1740, 1747 (2011), the Supreme Court held that the Federal Arbitration Act preempts certain state law contract defenses that have a disproportionate effect on arbitration clauses. The Supreme Court also clarified that an arbitration clause is not procedurally unconscionable merely because it appears in a contract of adhesion. Id. at 1750-53.
Following Concepcion, the California Supreme Court expressly reconsidered how its unconscionability jurisprudence applies to arbitration agreements. Sonic-Calabasas A. Inc. v. Moreno, 311 P.3d 184, 1140-49 (Cal. 2013). In Sonic-Calabasas, the California Supreme Court explained that in order to hold that an arbitration clause is void under California law, we must engage in a fact-intensive inquiry as to both procedural and substantive unconscionability. See id. at 204-05. When considering procedural unconscionabilty, we must find that the arbitration provision was the result of "oppression or surprise due to unequal bargaining power." Id. at 194. When considering substantive unconscionability, we must find that the provision "is unreasonably favorable to one party, considering in context 'its commercial setting, purpose, and effect.'" Id. at 205 (internal citation omitted).
The majority also cites to Chavarria v. Ralphs Grocery Co., 733 F.3d 916, 926 (9th Cir. 2013) for the proposition that the FAA does not preempt California's "unconscionability rules," but this case does not discuss the manner in which the California Supreme Court changed its unconscionability jurisprudence in light of Concepcion. Indeed, it was issued two months prior to Sonic-Calabasas.
Under Sonic-Calabasas, the party asserting that an arbitration clause is void bears the burden of proving that the clause is unenforceable. Id. Moreover, the Supreme Court of California emphasized that under California law discovery is generally necessary to assess whether an arbitration clause is unconscionable:
[California Civil Code] section 1670.5, subdivision (b) provides that "[w]hen it is claimed or appears to the court that the contract or any clause thereof may be unconscionable the parties shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to present evidence as to its commercial setting, purpose, and effect to aid the court in making the determination," and weId. at 204 (emphasis added).
have said, in construing [the California Civil Code], that "a claim of unconscionability often cannot be determined merely by examining the face of the contract." Perdue v. Crocker Nat'l Bank, 702 P.2d 503, 512 (Cal. 1985).
In my view, the district court did not have enough facts before it to engage in the analysis that the California Supreme Court requires. The district court did not permit the parties to engage in factual discovery before voiding the arbitration clause. Rather, the court resolved Hanjin's motion based solely on the pleadings and a bare-bones affidavit. And in so doing, the court erroneously resolved all disputed facts in Hanjin's favor. See Cox v. Ocean View Hotel Corp., 533 F.3d 1114, 1119 (9th Cir. 2008) (a motion to compel arbitration is the "functional equivalent" of a motion for summary judgment); see also Guidotti v. Legal Helpers Debt Resolution, L.L.C., 716 F.3d 764, 774-76 (3d Cir. 2013).
Because the district court did not permit factual discovery before ruling on the motion to compel arbitration, the factual record is not adequately developed, and I cannot locate within it those facts that are necessary to determine: (1) whether the arbitration provision was the result of "oppression or surprise due to unequal bargaining power;" or (2) whether the provision "is unreasonably favorable to one party, considering in context 'its commercial setting, purpose, and effect.'" Sonic-Calabasas, 311 P.3d at 194, 205 (internal citation omitted). For this reason, I believe that a remand is required to develop a factual record that would permit the district court to engage in this analysis in the first instance.
In reaching this conclusion, I acknowledge that the district court issued its opinion prior to Sonic-Calabasas' publication. Nevertheless, "[t]he general rule . . . is that an appellate court must apply the law in effect at the time it renders its decision." Clabourne v. Ryan, 745 F.3d 362, 380 (9th Cir. 2014) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
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I respectfully dissent.