Gray v. Uber, Inc.
Gray v. Uber, Inc.
Opinion of the Court
THIS CAUSE comes before the Court upon Defendant's Motion to Compel Arbitration and Stay all Court Proceedings (Dkt. 9); Defendant's Motion to Stay (Dkt 10); Plaintiff's Motion to Deny Respondents Motion to Compel Arbitration (Dkt. 12); Plaintiff's Motion for Discovery (Dkt. 13); Defendant's Response (Dkt. 15); and Plaintiff's Motion for Hearing (Dkt. 16). The Court, having reviewed the Motions and responses, and being otherwise advised in the premises, concludes that only Defendant's Motion to Compel Arbitration should be granted.
BACKGROUND
Plaintiff Phillip Gray ("Gray") alleges that while he was a driver for Defendant Uber, Inc. ("Uber"), a passenger accused him of sexual harassment.
LEGAL STANDARD
Federal policy favors arbitration over litigation. Seaboard Coast Line R. Co. v. Trailer Train Co. ,
DISCUSSION
Uber argues that Gray agreed to arbitrate his claims. Uber states that when Gray signed up as a driver, he reviewed the Services Agreement and accepted its terms, twice. The Arbitration Provision contained in the Services Agreement states in relevant part:
This Arbitration Provision is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act,9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq. (the "FAA") and evidences a transaction involving interstate commerce. This Arbitration Provision applies to any dispute arising out of or related to this Agreement or termination of the Agreement and survives after the Agreement terminates....
Except as it otherwise provides, this Arbitration Provision is intended to apply to the resolution of disputes that otherwise would be resolved in a court of law or before any forum other than arbitration, with the exception of proceedings that must be exhausted under applicable law before pursuing a claim in a court of law or in any forum other than arbitration. Except as it otherwise provides, this Arbitration Provision requires all such disputes to be resolved only by an arbitrator through final and binding arbitration on an individual basis only and not by way of court or jury trial, or by way of class, collective, or representative action.
... such disputes include without limitation disputes arising out of or relating to interpretation or application of this Arbitration Provision, including the enforceability, revocability or validity of the Arbitration Provision or any portion of the Arbitration Provision. All such matters shall be decided by an Arbitrator and not by a court or judge.
Except as it otherwise provides, this Arbitration Provision also applies, without limitation, to all disputes between You and the Company or Uber ... including but not limited to any disputes arising out of or related to this Agreement and disputes arising out of or related to your relationship with the Company, including termination of the relationship. This Arbitration Provision also applies, without limitation, to disputes regarding any city, county, state or federal wage-hour law, ... termination, harassment and claims arising under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, Civil Rights Act of 1964, Americans With Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (except for individual claims for employee benefits under any benefit plan sponsored by the Company and covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or funded by insurance), Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, and state statutes, if any, addressing the same or similar subject matters, and all other similar federal and state statutory and common law claims.
This Agreement is intended to require arbitration of every claim or dispute that lawfully can be arbitrated, except for those claims and disputes which by the terms of this Agreement are expressly *1245excluded from the Arbitration Provision....
Dkt. 11, p. 28-29. To determine if Gray must arbitrate his claims, "the Court must consider (1) whether [the parties] entered into a binding agreement to arbitrate and (2) if so, whether the threshold issue of arbitrability is to be decided by the Court or by the arbitrator." Steel, LLC v. Sauer Group, Inc. , 6:17-CV-1812-ORL-KRS,
By alleging that he opted out of the Arbitration Provision, Gray challenges whether an agreement to arbitrate exists. It is "well settled that where the dispute at issue concerns contract formation, the dispute is generally for courts to decide," not arbitrators. Granite Rock Co. v. Int'l Broth. of Teamsters ,
Looking to the evidence in the record, Uber and Gray each submitted one declaration/affidavit. Uber attached a declaration from one of its paralegals, Dylan Tonti. See Dkt. 11. Tonti stated that, based on Uber's records, Gray accepted the Services Agreement. Id. at 3-4. After accepting the Services Agreement, a driver can opt out of the Arbitration Provision within 30 days of the date of acceptance by sending Uber an email or letter with the driver's name and intention to opt out. Id. at 32. According to Tonti, when a driver decides to opt out of the Arbitration Provision, Uber keeps the opt-out notice in an electronic file. Id. at 6. Uber's records reflect that Gray did not opt out of arbitration within thirty days of his acceptance of the Services Agreement. Id.
Gray submitted an affidavit stating that he opted out of the Services Agreement's Arbitration Provision "over 3 years ago." Dkt. 12-1. Gray admits that he "has no evidence of his refusal" to arbitrate. Id.
Gray's contention that he opted out of the Arbitration Provision more than three years ago does not mean that he timely opted out. And "a conclusory assertion that the plaintiff has no evidence to prove his case" does not create a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett ,
Gray's other arguments involve the enforceability of the Services Agreement and its Arbitration Provision. This Court has previously held (in relation to an identical Arbitration Provision) that:
The Delegation Clause at issue here provides that "disputes arising out of or relating to interpretation or application of this Arbitration Provision, including the enforceability, revocability or validity of the Arbitration Provision or any portion of the Arbitration Provision ...
*1246shall be decided by an Arbitrator and not by a court or judge." ... adjudication of Plaintiffs' attacks on the Arbitration Provision should be left to the arbitrator because it is clear and unmistakable that the parties agreed to arbitrate arbitrability.
Suarez v. Uber Techs., Inc. , 8:16-CV-166-T-30MAP,
Upon review and consideration, it is therefore
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that:
1. Defendant's Motion to Compel Arbitration and Stay all Court Proceedings (Dkt. 9) is GRANTED.
2. All other pending motions are denied as moot.
3. The Clerk is directed to stay the case pending arbitration.
4. The parties are directed to arbitrate the claims pursuant to the Services Agreement's Arbitration Provisions.
DONE and ORDERED in Tampa, Florida, this 22nd day of February, 2019.
The passenger is Defendant "unknown individual."
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Phillip GRAY v. UBER, INC. and Unknown Individual
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published