SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – On October 29, 2014, Chief United States District Court Judge Morrison C. England, Jr. denied a motion by Carter Brothers Security, LLC to compel private arbitration of wage, overtime, unpaid tax, and benefits claims raised in a class action lawsuit by 15 current and former workers at the company. Judge England also denied Carter Brothers’ companion motion to move the lawsuit to Atlanta, Georgia, where the company is headquartered under a forum selection clause in the contracts at issue. The case is venued in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
The plaintiffs and the class members are represented by attorneys Joe Rose and Lisa Bradner of Rose Law in Gold River, California.
The suing workers allege they were made part of an illegal scheme to avoid payment of minimum wages, overtime, job expenses, and payroll taxes. NFL Hall of Famer and ESPN commentator Cris Carter is chairman of Carter Bros., based in Atlanta, and founded the company in 2000 with his brother John, according to the company’s website.
According to Rose Law, the workers were hired to install residential security equipment in California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington D.C., and elsewhere throughout the U.S. under contract with AT&T Digital Life but were deliberately misclassified as “independent contractors” rather than employees. Workers were trained by Carter Bros. to do technician work on AT&T equipment. They were dispatched to AT&T customer homes each day driving AT&T trucks, wearing AT&T uniforms, and working 10- to 14-hour days without pay for overtime, travel, and extra training, Rose Law alleges. AT&T, named as a codefendant in the suit, provided supervision and supplies to the workers, they allege. Most of the workers were laid off when the joint venture faltered, leaving them without unemployment benefits. Injured workers had no disability or workers’ compensation protection. The workers were made to sign contracts promising not to work for any competitors during and for one year after their employment with Carter Bros. ended, in violation of California law. The contracts also purport to restrict the workers’ right to sue Carter Bros. for employment law violations and to make the workers’ pay half the cost of resolving any disputes, which can be handled only in Georgia.
The lawsuit, brought under the California Labor Code, the California Unfair Business Practices Act, and the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) seeks unspecified damages for the 15 workers plus all other California workers employed by Carter Bros. and AT&T Digital Life as independent contractors during the last four years, plus hundreds of workers nationwide during the last three years.
In denying Carter Brothers’ motions, Judge Morrison wrote:
The Court agrees with Plaintiffs’ characterization of the Agreements as an apparent attempt by Carter Brothers to avoid paying employment taxes and other benefits that would, in turn, give it a competitive edge over employers who properly paid applicable taxes and benefits. In that regard, then, the Agreements have an unlawful purpose.
Now that its motions have been denied and its employment agreements have been characterized by the court as unlawful, Carter Brothers has answered the lawsuit denying any wrongdoing. Attorneys for Carter Brothers told Rose Law they intend to appeal Judge England’s decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Quoted below is the full text of the court’s decision. For more information about this lawsuit, please contact plaintiffs attorneys at (800) 456-3767 or (916) 273-1260, or visit www.joeroselaw.com/carter.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
RAMSES GUTIERREZ, et al., individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated,
Plaintiffs,
v.
CARTER BROTHERS SECURITY SERVICES, LLC, AT&T DIGITAL LIFE, INC., PACIFIC BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY DBA AT&T DATACOMM, INC., AT&T CORP. and DOES 1 through 10, inclusive,
Defendants.
No. 2:14-cv-00351-MCE-CKD
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
On March 10, 2014, Plaintiffs filed the instant class action on behalf of themselves and other putative class members (collectively “Plaintiffs or “Class Members”) against Carter Brothers Security Services, LLC (“Carter Brothers”), AT&T Digital Life, Inc. (“AT&T”), Pacific Bell Telephone Company dba AT&T Datacomm, Inc. (“PacBell”), AT&T Corp., and Does 1 through 10 inclusive (“Doe Defendants”). See ECF No. 8. Plaintiffs are seeking damages, restitution, civil penalties, and injunctive relief as a result of Defendants’ alleged violations of both state and federal labor laws. Plaintiffs further allege causes of action for conversion and violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law. Id. Presently before the court are two motions brought by Defendant Carter
BACKGROUND
In 2012, Carter Brothers entered into a contract with AT&T that called for Carter Brothers to provide technicians for the installation of AT&T Digital Life security systems in customer homes and businesses. Carter Decl., ¶ 2. Under the terms of that contract, Carter Brothers pledged to hire, train, and supply labor and construction related installation and monitoring technicians to AT&T in California and various other states. Prior to commencing work, Carter Brothers required Plaintiffs and Class Members to sign an Independent Contractor Agreement (“Agreement”), which Plaintiffs allege misclassified them as independent contractors rather than employees. Plaintiffs claim that Carter Brothers entered into these Agreements knowing the contract between Carter Brothers and AT&T did not include sufficient funds to comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws or regulations governing the labor or services to be provided.
The thrust of Plaintiffs’ argument is that Plaintiffs were required to enter into the Agreements so that Carter Brothers and AT&T could avoid and evade federal and state labor laws, wage and hour laws, and other laws, taxes, and requirements. According to Plaintiffs, Carter Brothers and AT&T knew that their contract failed to provide sufficient funds to comply with such requirements. As an inducement for Plaintiffs to sign the Agreements, Plaintiffs claim that Defendants fraudulently promised Class Members they would be converted to W-2 employees after a short introductory period of employment, which never happened. The Agreements, Plaintiffs claim, contained illegal, unconscionable, void and voidable terms. Those terms included provisions relating to non-competition, indemnification, dispute resolution, and governing law. Plaintiffs seek to rescind the Agreements, and request that the Court find the Agreements unconscionable and therefore invalid and unenforceable in their entirety.
Although Plaintiffs signed Agreements purporting to state they were independent contractors, Plaintiffs claim they were in fact employees of both Carter Brothers and AT&T. In support of that proposition, Plaintiffs aver that Class Members were given their work schedule, for example, by both Carter Brothers and AT&T, and were expected to abide by the scheduling dictated by those two entities. Additionally, Class Members were required to drive vehicles owned and provided by AT&T, that displayed AT&T’s logo and branding. Class Members were not allowed to use those vehicles for any personal reason. Class Members had no ownership or investment in the work they did for Carter Brothers and for AT&T, and had to provide their own tools and supplies, even though Carter Brothers and AT&T promised those items would be provided. Class Members were also required to wear uniforms bearing AT&T logos and were expressly forbidden from engaging in any outside work with competing employers during and after the term of the Agreements. Class Members were required to participate in a two-week initial training session provided by Carter Brothers and AT&T, and to also participate in on-going training sessions. Additionally, Class Members’ work was regularly overseen, supervised, and directed by Carter Brothers and by AT&T.
In Carter Brothers’ first motion, the company seeks to compel arbitration under the terms of the Agreement and to dismiss the present action by virtue of the Agreement’s alternative dispute resolution provisions. See ECF No. 34. In Carter
Brothers’ second motion, it asks the Court to transfer this action to Georgia under
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(3) and 28 U.S.C. §1406(a), pursuant to the forum selection clause contained in the Agreement, and to accordingly dismiss the action pending in this District. Alternatively, Carter Brothers requests that these proceedings be stayed pending completion of arbitration proceedings. See ECF No. 33.
As set forth below Defendant’s motions to compel arbitration and to dismiss or stay the action based upon the arbitration provision are denied. Because the Court concludes the Agreements at issue are unconscionable and therefore unenforceable,
Defendant Carter Brothers’ Motion to Compel Arbitration based on the Agreements must necessarily fail. Additionally, the fact that the Agreements are unenforceable means that Carter Brothers’ second motion, to dismiss or transfer venue of the action based on the Agreements’ forum selection clause, also fails.
ANALYSIS
The Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) provides that a written provision in a “contract evidencing a transaction involving commerce to settle by arbitration a controversy thereafter arising out of such contract . . . shall be valid, irrevocable, and enforceable, save upon such grounds as exist at law or in equity for the revocation of any contract.” 9 U.S.C. § 2. The FAA allows a party to seek a court order compelling arbitration where another party refuses to arbitrate. 9 U.S.C. § 4. Valid arbitration agreements must be “rigorously enforced.” Perry v. Thomas, 482 U.S. 483, 490 (1987) (citation omitted). The FAA “leaves no place for the exercise of discretion by a district court, but instead mandates that district courts shall direct the parties to proceed to arbitration on issues as to which an arbitration agreement has been signed.” Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc. v. Byrd, 470 U.S. 213, 218 (1985) (emphasis in the original).
Generally, in deciding whether a dispute is subject to the arbitration agreement, a court must answer two questions: (1) “whether a valid agreement to arbitrate exists,” and, if so, (2) “whether the agreement encompasses the dispute at issue.” Chiron Corp. v. Ortho Diagnostic Sys., Inc., 207 F.3d 1126, 1130 (9th Cir. 2000). If a party seeking arbitration establishes these two factors, the court must compel arbitration. 9 U.S.C. § 4; Chiron, 207 F.3d at 1130. Accordingly, the Court’s role “is limited to determining arbitrability and enforcing agreements to arbitrate, leaving the merits of the claim and any defenses to the arbitrator.” Republic of Nicaragua v. Standard Fruit Co.,\ 937 F.2d 469, 479 (9th Cir. 1991).
In determining the existence of an agreement to arbitrate, the district court looks to “general state-law principles of contract interpretation, while giving due regard to the federal policy in favor of arbitration.” Wagner v. Stratton Oakmont, Inc., 83 F.3d 1046, 1049 (9th Cir. 1996).
“Although ‘courts may not invalidate arbitration agreements under state law applicable only to arbitration provisions,’ general contract defenses such as fraud, duress, or unconscionability, grounded in state contact law, may operate to invalidate arbitration agreements.” Circuit City Stores, Inc. v. Adams, 279 F.3d 889, 892 (9th Cir. 2002) (quoting Doctor’s Ass’n., Inc. v. Casarotto, 517 U.S. 681, 687 (1996)). However, courts cannot apply even generally applicable defenses to contract enforceability, such as duress and unconscionability, in a way that disfavors and undermines arbitration. AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion, 131 S. Ct. 1740, 1747 (2011). Finally, “as a matter of federal law, any doubts concerning the scope of arbitrable issues should be resolved in favor of arbitration, whether the problem at hand is a construction of the contract language or an allegation of waiver, delay, or like defense to arbitrability.” Moses H. Cone Memorial Hosp. v. Mercury Const. Corp., 460 U.S. 1, 24-25 (1983). “An order to arbitrate . . . . should not be denied unless it may be said with positive assurance that the arbitration clause is not susceptible of an interpretation that covers the asserted dispute.” United Steelworkers v. Warrior & Gulf Navigation Co., 363 U.S. 574, 582-83 (1960).
1. Choice of Law
As a threshold matter, when an agreement contains a choice of law provision, the parties’ choice of law applies “unless the analytical approach articulated in § 187(2) of the Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws (‘§ 187(2)”) dictates a different result.” Hoffman v. Citibank (S. Dakota), N.A., 546 F.3d 1078, 1082 (9th Cir. 2008). First, it must be determined whether the chosen state, Georgia, “has a substantial relationship to the parties or their transaction … or whether there is any other reasonable basis for the parties’ choice of law.” Id. Carter Brothers’ principal place of business is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and therefore Georgia has a substantial relationship to the parties. ECF No. 8 at 4; See Ruiz v. Affinity Logistics Corp., 667 F.3d 1318, 1323 (9th Cir. 2012). The next step in the inquiry is whether the “chosen state’s law is contrary to a fundamental policy of California.” Hoffman, 546 F.3d at 1082. If the answer to that question is in the affirmative, then “the court must determine whether California has a materially greater interest than the chosen state in the determination of the particular issue.” Id.
Under Georgia law, Plaintiffs are presumptively independent contractors. Ruiz, 667 F.3d at 1324. Under California law, on the other hand, courts must consider legislation designed to protect and aid employees when determining the employee independent contractor issue. Id. Applying Georgia law would therefore contravene fundamental California public policy “in favor of ensuring worker protections.” Id. California also has a materially greater interest than Georgia in determining this case in any event. Plaintiffs completed all work in California, were domiciled in California, and signed the agreements in California, while the only connection to Georgia is Carter Brothers’ principal place of business. ECF No. 38 at 7; ECF No. 38-2 at 2; See Ruiz, 667 F.3d at 1324. Given this materially greater interest, California law should apply in adjudicating this matter.
2. Unconscionability
As indicated above, Defendant Carter Brothers moves to compel arbitration of the claims asserted against them in the Complaint pursuant to the terms of its Agreement with Plaintiffs, and urges the Court to dismiss or stay the action, pending arbitration. See ECF No. 34 at 8, 12. According to Carter Brothers, the arbitration provision is valid and enforceable because “[p]laintiffs signed the Agreements under circumstances free of fraud, duress, or other untoward circumstances.” ECF No. 34 at 9.
In evaluating the validity of arbitration agreements, federal courts “should apply ordinary state-law principles that govern the formation of contracts.” First Options of Chicago, Inc. v. Kaplan, 514 U.S. 938, 944, (1995) (citations omitted). In determining whether a contract is unconscionable, the court must first determine whether or not the agreement at issue is one of adhesion. Armendariz v. Found. Health Psychcare Servs., Inc., 24 Cal.4th 83, 113 (2000) (citing Graham v. Scissor-Tail, Inc., 28 Cal. 3d 807, 817- 819 (1981)). Once the contract is found to be adhesive, the court must then assess whether the contract is unduly oppressive or unconscionable. Id. In order to find a contract unenforceable, the unconscionability analysis requires that the court find both a procedural and substantive element are present. A & M Produce Co. v. FMC Corp., 135 Cal. App. 3d 473, 486 (1982). The procedural element focuses on “surprise” and “oppression,” while cases have found the substantive element looks to whether there are “one-sided” or “overly harsh” results. Id. at 486-487. These two elements however, do not need to be present in the same degree. A sliding scale approach is invoked, where a greater showing of one element requires less of a showing of the other. Armendariz, 24 Cal. 4th at 114.
As an initial matter, the Supreme Court has held that “generally applicable contract defenses, such as fraud, duress, or unconscionability, may be applied to invalidate arbitration agreements without contravening § 2 [of the FAA].” Doctor’s Assocs., Inc. v. Casarotto, 517 U.S. 681, 686 (1996). Contrary to Defendants’ position, the validity of an arbitration provision is subject to “initial court determination.” Nitro-Lift Technologies, L.L.C. v. Howard, 133 S. Ct. 500, 503 (2012). If the court finds the arbitration provision is valid, only then is the validity of the remainder of the contract for the arbitrator to decide. Id.
3. Adhesion Contracts
The Ninth Circuit describes a contract of adhesion as a “standard-form contract, drafted by the party with superior bargaining power, which relegates to the other party the option of either adhering to its terms without modification or rejecting the contract entirely.” Circuit City Stores, 279 F.3d 889, 893 (citing Stirlen v. Supercuts, Inc., 51 Cal. App. 4th 1519, 1533 (1997)). In this case, the Agreement was a standardized contract, drafted by Carter Brothers. Because Plaintiffs’ only option was to either accept or reject the Agreements, with no opportunity to negotiate their terms, Carter Brothers\ clearly had superior bargaining strength and the Agreements must be considered contracts of adhesion. See Graham, 28 Cal. 3d 807, 817 (a contract of adhesion is signified by “a standardized contract, which, imposed and drafted by the party of superior bargaining strength, relegates to the subscribing party only the opportunity to adhere to the contract or reject it”) (citing Neal v. State Farm Ins. Cos., 188 Cal.App.2d 690, 69 (1961)). That determination is not the end of the Court’s inquiry, however, since in order to be found unenforceable the Court must look to whether the Agreement is both procedurally and substantively unconscionable. That inquiry follows.
4. Procedural Unconscionability
Procedural unconscionability focuses on the manner in which the contract was negotiated by the parties, and specifically focuses on factors of oppression and surprise. Kinney v. United HealthCare Servs., Inc., 70 Cal. App. 4th 1322, 1329 (1999) (citing A & M Produce Co., 135 Cal. App. 3d at 486) (explaining oppression arises from an inequality of bargaining power devoid of any real negotiations, and surprise relates to whether or not the terms of the contract are hidden by using excess text in the contract) (citations omitted). Plaintiffs’ declarations clearly indicate they were required to sign the Agreements as a condition of employment, and would have had to obtain employment elsewhere if they chose not to do so. See Decl. of Sapasap, ECF No. 38-1 at 20 (stating “I knew if I did not sign the agreement I could not work for Carter Brothers and AT&T”), Decl. of Jacob ECF No. 38-1 at 25 (“I thought I had to sign the Agreement to get a job”), Decl. of Osorio, ECF No. 38-1 at 5 (“I was required to sign an Independent Contractor Agreement as a condition of employment”). Furthermore, the Ninth Circuit has held that “[a] finding of a contract of adhesion is essentially a finding of procedural unconscionability.” Flores v. Transamerica HomeFirst, Inc., 93 Cal. App. 4th 846, 853 (2001). Consequently, the procedural element of the unconscionability analysis is met.
5. Substantive Unconscionability
The substantive element of unconscionability hinges on the “terms of the agreement and whether those terms are so one-sided as to shock the conscience.”
Ingle v. Circuit City Stores, Inc., 328 F.3d 1165, 1172 (9th Cir. 2003) (citing Kinney, 70 Cal. App. 4th 1322, 1330). In this case, numerous substantive terms of the Agreement are one-sided; in particular, the provisions concerning arbitration, non-competition, and governing law. See ECF No. 38-2 at 2-10.
First and foremost, the dispute resolution and choice of law provisions are one sided. ECF No. 38-2 at 6-10 (requiring Plaintiffs to travel to Atlanta, Georgia, pay for one-half of the arbitration costs and fees, and consent to jurisdiction in a venue that has no relation to where the work was performed). The arbitration provision does not provide notification to the Plaintiffs that by agreeing to binding arbitration they forfeit substantial rights such as potentially waiving their right to class arbitration. ECF No. 38-2 at 7. Also, the burden placed on Plaintiffs to pay for travel and lodging expenses, along with mediation and arbitration fees and costs, are likely much larger than any of the Plaintiffs’ individual wage claims. Decl. of Rose, ECF No. 38-4 at 1-2.
The financially onerous conditions set forth in the Agreements are further amplified in the event Plaintiffs do not ultimately prevail. Pursuant to the arbitration provision, Plaintiffs may be required to pay “one-half of the costs of the arbitration against the party who does not prevail.” ECF No. 38-2 at 7. In addition, any party who seeks to enforce the arbitration provision is entitled to all costs, fees, and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, to be paid “by the party against whom enforcement is ordered.” Id.
Under these circumstances, the alternative dispute resolution provision of the Agreements fail to provide an accessible forum for Plaintiffs to vindicate their statutory rights. See, Shankle v. B-G Maint. Mgmt. of Colorado, Inc., 163 F.3d 1230, 1235 (10th Cir. 1999) (Arbitration provision was unenforceable where “it prohibited use of the judicial forum, where a litigant is not required to pay for a judge’s services, and the prohibitive cost substantially limited use of the arbitral forum,” concluding the costs associated with arbitration failed to provide an accessible forum where Plaintiff could vindicate his statutory rights, rendering the Agreement unenforceable.). Similarly one-sided is the non-competition provision, which restrains Plaintiffs from competing in the same market for one year after expiration of their “Term,” which was limited to one year under the Agreement. ECF No. 38-2 at 2-4. Not only is this provision overly-harsh and one-sided, it is also contrary to California Law. See Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 16600 (every contract which restrains one from engaging in a lawful profession is to that extent void). Assuming Plaintiffs can prove they were employees of Carter Brothers, the indemnification provision in the Agreement is also contrary California law and unenforceable. See ECF No. 38-2 at 6, Cal. Lab. Code §§ 2802, 2804 (requiring an employer to indemnify employees for necessary expenditures or losses, and an agreement to waive this benefit is void). Because these one-sided provisions favor Defendant Carter Brothers, under California law these terms are substantively unconscionable.
6. Illegality
In addition to finding the above-mentioned provisions unconscionable, under California law, if a contract’s “central purpose” is “tainted with illegality,” then the contract as a whole is unenforceable. Armendariz, 24 Cal. 4th 83, 124. The California Supreme Court explained that if a court is unable to distinguish between the lawful and unlawful parts of the contract, the “illegality taints the entire contract, and the entire transaction is illegal and unenforceable.” Keene v. Harling, 61 Cal. 2d 318, 321 (1964). The Court agrees with Plaintiffs’ characterization of the Agreements as an apparent attempt by Carter Brothers to avoid paying employment taxes and other benefits that would, in turn, give it a competitive edge over employers who properly paid applicable taxes and benefits. In that regard, then, the Agreements have an unlawful purpose. See ECF No. 30 at 16. Agreements whose object, “directly or indirectly, is to exempt [their] parties from violation of the law are against public policy and may not be enforced.” Iskanian v. CLS Transp. Los Angeles, LLC, 59 Cal. 4th 348, 382 (2014) (citing In re Marriage of Fell, 55 Cal. App. 4th 1058, 1065 (1997)). Because the Agreements’ underlying purpose appears to be illegal, the Court declines to enforce it.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, Defendant’s Motion to Compel Arbitration, and to dismiss or stay this action based upon the Agreements’ arbitration provisions (ECF No. 34) is DENIED. Moreover, the fact that the Court has found the Agreements at issue to be unconscionable and therefore unenforceable means that Carter Brothers’ second motion to dismiss the action, given the Agreement’s arbitration provisions or to transfer venue based on the Agreement’s forum selection clause, also fails. That Motion, ECFNo. 33, is consequently DENIED as moot.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: October 29, 2014