Meza et al v. Sirius XM Radio Inc.

Filing 71

ORDER: (1) Denying 55 Without Prejudice Defendant's Motion to Strike Plaintiff's Class Allegations, and (2) Denying Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Complaint. Signed by Judge Anthony J. Battaglia on 2/25/2020. (mme)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

9

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

10
11

13

MICHELLE MEZA and STEVE MEZA,
Individually and on Behalf of All Others
Similarly Situated,
Plaintiffs,

14

v.

15

SIRIUS XM RADIO INC.,

12

Case No.: 17-CV-02252-AJB-JMA
ORDER:
(1) DENYING WITHOUT PREJUDICE
DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO STRIKE
PLAINTIFFS’ CLASS
ALLEGATIONS, AND

Defendant.

16

(2) DENYING DEFENDANT’S
MOTION TO DISMISS PLAINTIFFS’
COMPLAINT (Doc. No. 55)

17
18
19
20

Presently before the Court is Defendant Sirius XM Radio Inc.’s (“Sirius XM”)

21

motion to strike class allegations, and motion to dismiss the Complaint. (Doc. No. 55.)

22

Plaintiffs Michelle Meza and Steve Meza (“Plaintiffs”) opposed the motion, (Doc. No. 62),

23

and Defendant replied, (Doc. No. 63.) The United States of America also opposed the

24

motion, and filed a brief in support of the constitutionality of the Telephone Consumer

25

Protection Act of 1991 (“TCPA”), 42 U.S.C. § 227(b)(1)(A)(iii). (Doc. No. 64.) For the

26

reasons set forth below, the Court DENIES WITHOUT PREJUDICE Sirius XM’s

27

motion to strike the class allegations, and DENIES Sirius XM’s motion to dismiss

28

Plaintiffs’ Complaint.
1
17-CV-02252-AJB-JMA

1

I.

BACKGROUND
Plaintiffs’ Allegations

2

A.

3

This is a putative class action alleging violation of the TCPA. On or before July of

4

2016, Plaintiffs allege they purchased a Hyundai Sonata which included a “free” three-

5

month trial subscription to Sirius XM Radio. (Doc. No. 1, Complaint (“Compl.”) ¶ 9.)

6

According to Plaintiffs, at no time did Plaintiffs provide their current cellular telephone

7

numbers. (Id. ¶ 10.) But around October of 2016, Sirius XM apparently contacted Plaintiffs

8

on their respective cellphones. (Id. ¶ 12.) It is Plaintiffs’ contention that the calls were

9

placed using an “automatic telephone dialing system,” (“ATDS”) and an “artificial or

10

prerecorded voice” in violation of the TCPA. (Id. ¶ 13.) The calls were made in an effort

11

to convince Plaintiffs to pay to extend Sirius XM’s radio service following expiration of

12

the free trial. (Id. ¶ 14.) Plaintiffs expressed to Sirius XM they were not interested in the

13

service, but nevertheless continued to receive calls to their cellphones. (Id. ¶ 14–15.)

14

Plaintiffs allege that at the beginning of some of the calls, there was a long pause before a

15

live agent of Sirius XM would come on the line, which Plaintiffs claims demonstrates that

16

the telephone dialing equipment used by Sirius XM has the capacity to store or produce

17

telephone numbers to be called, using a random or sequential number generator. (Id. ¶ 19.)

18

B.

19

On November 3, 2017, Plaintiffs filed suit in this Court. (Doc. No. 1.) However,

20

Sirius XM states that in 2013, before this action was filed, another plaintiff by the name of

21

Francis Hooker brought a class action in the United States District Court for the Eastern

22

District of Virginia against Sirius XM, alleging Sirius XM had violated the TCPA by using

23

ATDS equipment to call class members’ cell phones. See Hooker v. Sirius XM Radio Inc.,

24

Case No. 13-CV-3 (E.D. Va. 2013) (“Hooker Action”). The same attorneys that

25

represented the plaintiff in the Hooker Action, Abbas Kazerounian and Jason Ibey, also

26

represents Plaintiffs here. (Doc. No. 55-1 at 6.) Attorneys Kazerounian and Ibey also

27

represented a Hooker companion case in this Court in 2012, Knutson v. Sirius XM Radio

28

Inc., Case No. 12-CV-418-AJB-DHB (S.D. Cal. 2012) (“Knutson Action”). The Knutson

The Hooker Settlement

2
17-CV-02252-AJB-JMA

1

Action similarly alleged the use of ATDS equipment to call cell phones in violation of the

2

TCPA. (Doc. No. 55-1 at 6.)

3

Sirius XM settled the claims in Hooker, Knutson and two other companion cases.

4

See Hooker v. Sirius XM Radio Inc., Case No. 13-CV-3 (E.D. Va. 2013), Doc. No. 186-2

5

at 6. The Hooker settlement contained specific provisions regarding the equipment that

6

Sirius XM’s telemarketing vendors would use going forward in dialing wireless numbers.

7

(Doc. No. 55-1 at 7.) Sirius XM contended it never used equipment that generated and

8

dialed random or sequential numbers. (Id.) Instead, the equipment dialed numbers from a

9

list of Sirius XM subscribers. (Id.) However, before Knutson and Hooker, “that equipment

10

operated in different modes depending on whether the calls were made to wireless numbers

11

(covered by the ATDS provision) or landlines (not covered).” (Id.) When calling landlines,

12

the equipment operated in “predictive” mode by dialing a group of numbers from a list at

13

once, doing so based on a prediction of the likely number of answered calls, and then

14

connected the calls that actually were answered to live agents. (Id.) By contrast, when

15

calling wireless numbers, the equipment operated only in “preview” mode in which a

16

computer would preview a specific telephone number from the list to a live agent. (Id.) The

17

agent would make a decision to click to initiate the call, and the agent would remain on the

18

line throughout the entire call, repeating the process with a new number after the call ended.

19

(Id.)

20

As part of the Hooker settlement, Sirius XM agreed its vendors would use separate

21

and distinct systems to contact landline and wireless numbers. (Id.) Specifically, when

22

calling wireless numbers, Sirius XM agreed to require its vendors to use manual telephone

23

dialing systems that utilize human intervention to initiate calls and that are separate and

24

distinct from any automatic dialing systems, including any predictive dialing systems, used

25

by those vendors to call landline phones. (Id.)

26

C.

27

On November 3, 2017, after the parties settled in Hooker, Plaintiffs—represented by

28

the same attorneys from Hooker—brought an action against Sirius XM in this Court

This Action and its Procedural History

3
17-CV-02252-AJB-JMA

1

alleging TCPA violations. (Doc. No. 1.) On January 2, 2018, Sirius XM moved to dismiss

2

or stay Plaintiffs’ Complaint. (Doc. No. 16.) Sirius XM moved to dismiss based on (1)

3

Plaintiffs’ failure to plead that Sirius XM used an ATDS, and (2) the unconstitutionality of

4

the TCPA provision Plaintiffs relied. (Doc. No. 16-1 at 11–16.) More specifically, Sirius

5

XM argued 47 U.S.C. § 227(b)(1)(A)(iii), which prohibited the use of ATDS equipment or

6

prerecorded voices to call cell phone numbers “unless such call is made solely to collect a

7

debt owed to or guaranteed by the United States” was unconstitutional because it was a

8

content-based restriction not passing muster under strict scrutiny. (Id. at 14.) Sirius XM

9

also moved to strike the class allegations. (Id. at 16.) Lastly, Sirius XM moved for a stay

10

pending the D.C. Circuit’s review of the FCC’s 2015 Declaratory Ruling, which set forth

11

the FCC’s interpretation of the ATDS provision. (Id. at 8.) The United States intervened to

12

oppose Sirius XM’s assertions of unconstitutionality and filed a brief in support of the

13

TCPA. (Doc. No. 36.)

14

On September 25, 2018, the Court stayed the litigation pending the outcome of

15

several Ninth Circuit cases that would address the constitutionality of the TCPA’s debt-

16

collector exemption. (Doc. No. 50 at 6–9.) On June 13, 2019, the Ninth Circuit issued an

17

opinion in Duguid v. Facebook, Inc., 926 F.3d 1146 (9th Cir. 2019). In Duguid, the Ninth

18

Circuit held that: (1) the debt-collection exception was content-based and subject to strict

19

scrutiny analysis, (2) the debt-collection exception was unconstitutional, and (3) the debt-

20

collection exception was severable from the rest of the TCPA. 926 F.3d 1146, 1153–57.

21

Likewise, a month later in Gallion v. United States, the Ninth Circuit reaffirmed the holding

22

in Duguid, and once again stated the debt-collection exception was unconstitutional but

23

severable from the remainder of the TCPA. 772 F. App’x 604, 605 (9th Cir. 2019).

24

On July 9, 2019, in light of Duguid and Gallion, this Court lifted the stay. (Doc. No.

25

54.) The Court also granted Sirius XM permission to file an amended motion to dismiss.

26

(Id. at 2.) Sirius XM filed its amended motion to strike Plaintiffs’ class allegations, and

27

motion to dismiss on August 6, 2019. (Doc. No. 55.) In its motion to dismiss, Sirius XM

28

again raises another constitutional challenge to the TCPA. (Doc. No. 55-1 5–6.) Sirius XM
4
17-CV-02252-AJB-JMA

1

argues that the autodialer provision, as construed by the Ninth Circuit in Marks v. Crunch

2

San Diego, LLC, 904 F.3d 1041 (9th Cir. 2018), violates the First Amendment “because it

3

is a wildly overbroad restriction on protected speech” and “renders every smartphone an

4

ATDS.” (Doc. No. 55-1 at 6.) Plaintiffs opposed Sirius XM’s motions, and the United

5

States filed a brief in support of the constitutionality of the TCPA. (Doc. Nos. 62, 64.)

6

Sirius XM replied to both oppositions. (Doc. Nos. 63, 65.) This order follows.

7

II.

REQUEST FOR JUDICIAL NOTICE

8

Plaintiffs request judicial notice of three documents filed in the Hooker Action in

9

the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. (Doc. No. 62-1 at 1.)

10

Judicial notice is sought for: (1) the final order approving settlement and certifying the

11

settlement class; (2) the settlement agreement in Hooker; and the docket report in Hooker.

12

(Id.) Sirius XM does not oppose this request.

13

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 201 permits a court to take judicial notice of an

14

adjudicative fact if it is “not subject to reasonable dispute.” Fed. R. Evid. 201(b). A fact is

15

“not subject to reasonable dispute” if it is “generally known,” or “can be accurately and

16

readily determined from sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned.” Fed.

17

R. Evid. 201(b)(1)-(2). Under this rule, a court may “take judicial notice of matters of

18

public record without converting a motion to dismiss into a motion for summary

19

judgment,” but it “cannot take judicial notice of disputed facts contained in such public

20

records.” Khoja v. Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc., 899 F.3d 988, 999 (9th Cir. 2018).

21

Under Rule 201, judicial notice of the final order approving settlement, the

22

settlement agreement, and the docket report in Hooker is appropriate. “Courts have

23

consistently held that courts may take judicial notice of documents filed in other court

24

proceedings.” See NuCal Food, Inc. v. Quality Egg LLC, 887 F. Supp. 2d 977, 984 (E.D.

25

Cal. 2012). However, “[w]hile the authenticity and existence of a particular order, motion,

26

pleading or judicial proceeding, which is a matter of public record, is judicially noticeable,

27

veracity and validity of its contents . . . are not.” United States v. S. Cal. Edison Co., 300

28
5
17-CV-02252-AJB-JMA

1

F. Supp. 2d 964, 974 (E.D. Cal. 2004). Based on this authority, the Court GRANTS

2

Plaintiffs’ request for judicial notice.

3

III.

LEGAL STANDARDS

4

A.

5

Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(f), the court may “strike from a pleading

6

an insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter.”

7

Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(f). The function of a Rule 12(f) motion is “to avoid the expenditure of

8

time and money that must arise from litigating spurious issues by dispensing with those

9

issues prior to trial.” Whittlestone, Inc. v. Handi–Craft Co., 618 F.3d 970, 973 (9th Cir.

10

2010). Rule 12(f) motions to strike are generally regarded with disfavor because of the

11

limited importance of pleading in federal practice, and because they are often used as a

12

delay tactic. See California Dept. of Toxic Substances Control v. Alco Pacific, Inc., 217 F.

13

Supp. 2d 1028, 1033 (C.D. Cal. 2002). Motions to strike are generally not granted unless

14

it is clear that the matter sought to be stricken could have no possible bearing on the subject

15

matter of the litigation. In re Wal–Mart Stores, Inc. Wage and Hour Litigation, 505 F.

16

Supp. 2d 609, 614 (N.D. Cal. 2007). Any doubt concerning the import of the allegations to

17

be stricken weighs in favor of denying the motion to strike. Id.

Motion to Strike

18

Moreover, “[d]ismissal of a class at the pleading stage is rare because ‘the class

19

determination generally involves considerations that are enmeshed in the factual and legal

20

issues comprising the plaintiff’s cause of action.’” Mirkarimi v. Nevada Prop.1, LLC, Case

21

No. 12-cv-2160-BTM-DHB, 2013 WL 3761530, at *4 (S.D. Cal. July 15, 2013) (quoting

22

Gen. Tel. Co. of the Sw. v. Falcon, 457 U.S. 147, 160 (1982)). Thus, “[a]lthough it is not

23

per se improper for a defendant to move to strike class allegations before the motion for

24

class certification, most courts decline to grant such motions because the shape and form

25

of a class action evolves only through the process of discovery.” Simpson v. Best W. Int’l,

26

Inc., Case No. 3:12-cv-4672-JCS, 2012 WL 5499928, at *9 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 13, 2012)

27

(internal citation and quotations omitted).

28
6
17-CV-02252-AJB-JMA

1

B.

2

A motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) tests the legal

3

sufficiency of the pleadings and allows a court to dismiss a complaint upon a finding that

4

the plaintiff has failed to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. See Navarro v.

5

Block, 250 F.3d 729, 732 (9th Cir. 2001).

Motion to Dismiss

6

A complaint or counterclaim generally must satisfy the minimal notice pleading

7

requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2) to evade dismissal under a Rule

8

12(b)(6) motion. A.E. ex rel. Hernandez v. Cnty. of Tulare, 666 F.3d 631, 637 (9th Cir.

9

2012). Rule 8(a)(2) requires that a pleading stating a claim for relief contain “a short and

10

plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed R. Civ. P.

11

8(a)(2). “While a complaint attacked by a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss does not need

12

detailed factual allegations, a plaintiff’s obligation to provide the ‘grounds’ of his

13

‘entitlement to relief’ requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation

14

of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S.

15

544, 555 (2007). A complaint does not “suffice if it tenders ‘naked assertion[s]’ devoid of

16

‘further factual enhancement,’” and the reviewing court need not accept “legal

17

conclusions” as true. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Twombly, 550

18

U.S. at 557). “Factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the

19

speculative level.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555 (citing 5 C. Wright & A. Miller, Federal

20

Practice and Procedure § 1216, pp. 235–36 (3d ed. 2004)).

21

“To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter,

22

accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Hartmann v. Cal.

23

Dept. of Corr. & Rehab., 707 F.3d 1114, 1122 (9th Cir. 2013) (quoting Iqbal, 556 U.S. at

24

678). “Dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6) is appropriate only where the complaint lacks a

25

cognizable legal theory or sufficient facts to support a cognizable legal theory.” Mendiondo

26

v. Centinela Hosp. Med. Ctr., 521 F.3d 1097, 1104 (9th Cir. 2008). “[C]ourts must consider

27

the complaint in its entirety, as well as other sources courts ordinarily examine when ruling

28

on Rule 12(b)(6) motions to dismiss, in particular, documents incorporated into the
7
17-CV-02252-AJB-JMA

1

complaint by reference, and matters of which a court may take judicial notice.” Tellabs,

2

Inc. v. Makor Issues & Rights, Ltd., 551 U.S. 308, 323 (2007).

3

IV.

DISCUSSION

4

Sirius XM urges the Court to strike the class allegations from the Complaint, or

5

dismiss the Complaint entirely based on the unconstitutionality of the TCPA provision

6

which Plaintiffs rely. (Doc. No. 55-1 at 11, 14.) The Court will address each motion in turn.

7

A.

Motion to Strike Plaintiffs’ Class Allegations

8

1.

9

Sirius XM’s Dialing Practices

Sirius XM’s Motion to Strike To the Extent Plaintiffs Challenge

10

As an initial matter, Sirius XM requests that to the extent Plaintiffs are challenging

11

Sirius XM’s dialing practices generally, Plaintiffs’ class allegations should be stricken

12

because Plaintiffs’ counsel has a conflict of interest. (Doc. No. 55-1 at 11.) This alleged

13

conflict of interest arises out of the purported conflicting arguments Plaintiffs’ counsel will

14

have to make in this case, and the position counsel advocated for in the Hooker Action. In

15

particular, the putative class members here may have an interest in arguing that Sirius XM’s

16

dialing practices, as authorized by the Hooker settlement, violate the TCPA. (Id. at 12.)

17

But according to Sirius XM, Plaintiffs’ counsel cannot effectively make such an argument

18

because the same counsel argued for Sirius XM to adopt those very practices in Hooker,

19

and agreed that the practices complied with the TCPA. (Id.) In opposition, Plaintiffs

20

respond by pointing out that Plaintiffs seek to represent a putative class covering a time

21

period not covered by the Hooker settlement class, thus precluding a finding of a conflict

22

of interest. (Doc. No. 62 at 11.) Additionally, Plaintiffs assert a motion to strike is

23

premature before discovery can be conducted, and before a motion for class certification.

24

(Id. at 12.)

25

The Court finds Plaintiffs’ position persuasive. In effect, Sirius XM challenges the

26

adequacy of class counsel under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23. The requirement of

27

adequate representation asks whether the representative “will fairly and adequately protect

28

the interests of the class.” See Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a)(4). Courts are to inquire (1) whether
8
17-CV-02252-AJB-JMA

1

the named plaintiffs and counsel have any conflicts of interest with the rest of the class and

2

(2) whether the named plaintiff and counsel will prosecute the action vigorously for the

3

class. Olney v. Job.com, Inc., No. 1:12-CV-01724-LJO, 2013 WL 5476813, at *14 (E.D.

4

Cal. Sept. 30, 2013). However, “courts may not resolve ‘disputed and substantial factual

5

or legal issue[s] in deciding . . . a motion to strike.’” Whittlestone, 618 F.3d at 973. While

6

class allegations can be stricken at the pleadings stage if the claim could not possibly

7

proceed on a classwide basis, “it is in fact rare to do so in advance of a motion for class

8

certification.” Cholakyan v. Mercedes–Benz USA, LLC, 796 F. Supp. 2d 1220, 1245 (C.D.

9

Cal. June 30, 2011); AIIRAM LLC v. KB Home, No. 19-CV-00269-LHK, 2019 WL

10

3779185, at *8 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 12, 2019) (“[T]he district court cases holding that a

11

‘potential conflict of interest’ can render a class representative inadequate or class counsel

12

inappropriate were all decided on motions for class certification, not motions to strike or

13

dismiss.”).

14

Here, in order to rule on this motion to strike, the Court would have to delve into

15

factual and legal issues before determining whether a conflict of interest in fact exists. For

16

example, Sirius XM is concerned about the appearance of impropriety if counsel “assumes

17

a certain position in a legal proceeding,” “succeeds in maintaining that position,” and later,

18

is allowed to assume a contrary position “simply because [their] interests have changed.”

19

(Doc. No. 55-1 at 12 (quoting New Hampshire v. Maine, 532 U.S. 742, 750 (2001).) Indeed,

20

Sirius XM insists Plaintiffs’ counsel cannot attest to the legality of Sirius XM’s dialing

21

practice in Hooker, and then turn in an about-face and argue those same practices violate

22

the TCPA. (Id.) But in order to resolve whether there is in fact a conflict of interest,

23

discovery could be helpful in determining whether those same practices are even at issue.

24

If, for instance, discovery reveals that an ATDS was not used, or Sirius XM has adopted

25

different dialing practices, then it necessarily follows that Plaintiffs’ counsel would not

26

have a conflict of interest. Although Plaintiffs’ counsel may eventually turn out to be

27

inadequate class counsel, that question should be saved for another day as the Court must

28

test whether Plaintiffs satisfy Rule 23 against evidentiary proof. See Sandoval v. Ali, 34 F.
9
17-CV-02252-AJB-JMA

1

Supp. 3d 1031, 1046–47 (N.D. Cal. 2014) (declining to consider whether to disqualify class

2

counsel prior to class certification). As such, a motion to strike is an improper vehicle to

3

test the purported conflict of interest here, the issue of adequacy of counsel may more

4

appropriately be addressed in the context of a motion for class certification.
Sirius XM’s Motion to Strike To the Extent Plaintiffs Only Seek

5

2.

6

to Challenge Sirius XM’s Compliance with the Hooker Settlement

7

Alternatively, Sirius XM argues that to the extent Plaintiffs seek only to challenge

8

Sirius XM’s compliance with the Hooker settlement, the Court should dismiss Plaintiffs’

9

Complaint in favor of the Hooker court, or limit Plaintiffs’ claims to only a challenge to

10

compliance with the terms of the Hooker settlement, and not a challenge to the legality of

11

the dialing practices specified in that settlement. (Doc. No. 55-1 at 14.)

12

In arguing that the Complaint should be dismissed, Sirius XM draws attention to the

13

fact that the Hooker court retained “continuing and exclusive jurisdiction over . . . the

14

execution, consummation, administration, and enforcement of the terms of the Settlement

15

Agreement.” See Hooker v. Sirius XM Radio Inc., Case No. 13-CV-3 (E.D. Va. 2013), Doc.

16

No. 209 at 6. But as Plaintiffs point out, they seek to represent a different class of

17

individuals called by Sirius XM than the class that was at issue in the Hooker Action. (Doc.

18

No. 62 at 11.) The proposed class period here is July 6, 2016 through November 3, 2017,

19

whereas the class period in the Hooker Action covered a period that ended in July 5, 2016.

20

(Id.) Further, there is no indication that the Hooker court sought to deprive all other courts

21

of jurisdiction to hear TCPA disputes against Sirius XM. Indeed, the final order in Hooker

22

only states that jurisdiction applies to “the parties, including all members of the Settlement

23

Class, and the execution, consummation, administration, and enforcement of the terms of

24

the Settlement Agreement.” (Doc. No. 62 at 12 (emphasis added).) There is no mention of

25

non-settlement class members.

26

It is also not necessary to restrict Plaintiffs to only arguing noncompliance with the

27

Hooker settlement agreement, given that Plaintiffs were not parties to that agreement.

28

Indeed, Plaintiffs and the putative class do not appear to be from the same class period as
10
17-CV-02252-AJB-JMA

1

those class members called by Sirius XM in the Hooker Action. Of course, Plaintiffs’

2

counsel should be mindful of their ethical obligations to their clients and this Court in light

3

of their representations to the Hooker court. However, at this time, the Court does not find

4

sufficient reasons to warrant limiting Plaintiffs at the pleading stage.

5

***

6

In summation, striking the class allegations at the pleading stage is an extreme and

7

harsh measure the Court is not willing to take at this time. Accordingly, the Court DENIES

8

WITHOUT PREJUDICE Sirius XM’s motion to strike Plaintiffs’ class allegations.

9

B.

Motion to Dismiss

10

Next, the Court will turn to Sirius XM’s motion to dismiss the Complaint. (Doc. No.

11

55-1 at 16.) Sirius XM’s sole ground for dismissing the Complaint is that Sirius XM may

12

not be held liable for its alleged violations of the TCPA’s ATDS provision because that

13

provision, as interpreted by the Ninth Circuit in Marks v. Crunch San Diego, LLC, 904

14

F.3d 1041 (9th Cir. 2018), violates the First Amendment as an overbroad restriction on

15

protected speech. (Id.) In particular, Sirius XM maintains that the Ninth Circuit’s

16

interpretation in Marks results in all smartphones qualifying as ATDS equipment. (Id. at

17

17.)

18

1.

Background on the TCPA

19

Passed in 1991, the TCPA makes it unlawful for any person “to make any call . . .

20

using any automatic telephone dialing system” to certain types of telephones without the

21

called party’s prior express consent. 47 U.S.C. § 227(b)(1)(A)(iii). The term “automatic

22

telephone dialing system”—which has remained the same since its enactment—is defined

23

as “equipment which has the capacity—(A) to store or produce telephone numbers to be

24

called, using a random or sequential number generator; and (B) to dial such numbers.” 47

25

U.S.C. § 227(a)(1); Duguid v. Facebook, Inc., 926 F.3d 1146, 1149 (9th Cir. 2019). By

26

2003, the FCC became concerned with the advent of “predictive dialers,” which did not

27

“dial[] a random or sequential block of numbers,” but rather “automatically dialed a list of

28

numbers that had been preprogrammed and stored in the dialer.” Rules & Regulations
11
17-CV-02252-AJB-JMA

1

Implementing the Tel. Consumer Prot. Act of 1991, 18 FCC Rcd. 14,014, 14,017, 14,022

2

(2003). Naturally, this led to the question of whether these “predictive dialers” qualified as

3

ATDS equipment, subject to the purview of the TCPA. Answering this question required

4

evaluation of whether the predictive dialer equipment was “automatic.” Marks, 904 F.3d

5

at 1045.

6

Ultimately, the FCC determined that predictive dialers qualified as an ATDS, even

7

if they did not generally generate or store random or sequential numbers. Id. In its 2003

8

ruling, the FCC explained that a predictive dialer may have the “capacity” to dial random

9

and sequential numbers, even if it was not currently being used for such a purpose. Id. Then

10

in 2015, the FCC established that a device could have the requisite “capacity” if it had any

11

potential to be configured for that purpose. Rules & Regulations Implementing the Tel.

12

Consumer Prot. Act of 1991, 30 FCC Rcd. 7961, 7974 (2015).

13

The FCC’s definition of an ATDS, among other things, was eventually challenged

14

in ACA Int’l v. FCC, 885 F.3d 687 (D.C. Cir. 2018). In part of their challenge, Petitioners

15

disputed the FCC’s conclusion that equipment qualifies as an ATDS so long as it can

16

automatically dial from a list of numbers, even if it does not have the capacity to store or

17

produce random or sequential numbers. Id. at 694. The D.C. Circuit concluded the FCC’s

18

interpretation of “capacity” was overbroad because the “straightforward understanding of

19

the Commission’s ruling is that all smartphones qualify as autodialers because they have

20

the inherent ‘capacity’ to gain ATDS functionality by downloading an app.” Id. at 700.

21

Further, the court reasoned “[i]t cannot be the case that every uninvited communication

22

from a smartphone infringes federal law, and that nearly every American is a TCPA-

23

violator-in-waiting, if not a violator-in-fact.” Id. at 698.

24

Shortly after the ACA Int’l v. FCC decision, the Ninth Circuit in Marks v. Crunch

25

San Diego, LLC clarified the definition of an ATDS as: “equipment which has the

26

capacity—(1) to store numbers to be called or (2) to produce numbers to be called, using a

27

random or sequential number generator—and to dial such numbers automatically.” Marks,

28

904 F.3d 1041, 1053. The court concluded that the statutory definition of an ATDS
12
17-CV-02252-AJB-JMA

1

“includes a device that stores telephone numbers to be called, whether or not those numbers

2

have been generated by a random or sequential number generator.” Id. at 1043. It is the

3

Marks decision that is at issue for this motion to dismiss.

4

2.

Sirius XM’s First Amendment Challenge

5

Now, Sirius XM challenges the Ninth Circuit’s definition of an ATDS to include

6

equipment that “has the capacity . . . to store numbers to be called . . . and to dial such

7

numbers” automatically. Marks, 904 F.3d at 1052. Sirius XM states the definition of an

8

ATDS is an overbroad restriction on protected speech. (Doc. No. 55-1 at 16.) Sirius XM’s

9

challenge starts with the premise that “[a]s currently programmed, however, hundreds of

10

millions of smartphones have that capacity.” (Doc. No. 55-1 at 17.) For example, Sirius

11

XM argues iPhones equipped with the “Do Not Disturb” feature may be subjected to TCPA

12

liability because an iPhone user who wishes not to be disturbed may activate this feature

13

and thereby instruct her phone to send automated responses, either to all incoming calls

14

and messages or to a select group from a contact list. (Id.) Interpreting the ATDS provision

15

in the way held by Marks would create an absurd result, Sirius XM argues.

16

Importantly, as an initial matter, the Court notes that Sirius XM is not actually

17

challenging the TCPA and its ATDS provision itself as unconstitutional. Indeed, Sirius

18

XM’s argument cannot be construed as an attack on the ATDS provision as it currently

19

stands today. Rather, Sirius XM appears to disagree with the Ninth Circuit’s interpretation

20

of the ATDS provision in Marks, arguing that the way the Ninth Circuit has defined an

21

ATDS results in an overbroad restriction on speech.

22

Turning to Sirius XM’s objection to the Ninth Circuit’s reading of the ATDS

23

provision in Marks, Sirius XM argues, “[i]n Marks itself, the Ninth Circuit did not discuss

24

whether its interpretation transformed smartphones into ATDSs, nor did it assess the

25

constitutional implications of that result.” (Doc. No. 55-1 at 19.) However, in Duguid v.

26

Facebook, Inc.—which was decided after Marks—the Ninth Circuit examined the very

27

issue Sirius XM raises now. In Duguid, the plaintiff, Noah Duguid claimed that Facebook

28

used an ATDS to alert users, as a security precaution, when their account was accessed
13
17-CV-02252-AJB-JMA

1

from an unrecognized device or browser. See 926 F.3d 1146, 1149 (9th Cir. 2019). But

2

somehow, Duguid received the messages despite not being a Facebook user and never

3

having consented to such security alerts. Id. Duguid sued Facebook for violations of the

4

TCPA. Id. In defense, Facebook challenged the sufficiency of the allegations that it used

5

an ATDS, and additionally asserted a constitutional challenge to the TCPA. Id. Facebook

6

contended that the TCPA’s inclusion of a government debt collector exception rendered

7

the statute unconstitutional in violation of the First Amendment. Id. The Ninth Circuit

8

agreed, and held that the exception was “content-based and incompatible with the First

9

Amendment.” Id. Unwilling to invalidate the entire TCPA, however, the Ninth Circuit

10

severed the exception from the rest of the statute. Id.

11

In addressing the sufficiency of the allegations in Duguid, the Ninth Circuit

12

explicitly noted a similar argument Sirius XM is now asserting. Specifically, in response

13

to Facebook’s contention that the equipment Duguid characterized in his complaint was

14

not an ATDS, the Ninth Circuit concluded that Marks foreclosed that position. Id. at 1151.

15

The court reaffirmed the ATDS definition articulated in Marks: “an ATDS need not be able

16

to use a random or sequential generator to store numbers—it suffices to merely have the

17

capacity to ‘store numbers to be called’ and ‘to dial such numbers automatically.’” Id. In

18

opposition this definition, Facebook asserted a challenge similar to Sirius XM’s argument

19

here:

20
Facebook responds that Marks cannot possibly mean what it says, lest the
TCPA be understood to cover ubiquitous devices and commonplace consumer
communications. In particular, Facebook cautions, such an expansive reading
of Marks would capture smartphones because they can store numbers and,
using built-in automated response technology, dial those numbers
automatically. And if smartphones are ATDSs, then using them to place a
call—even without using the automated dialing functionality—violates the
TCPA.

21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28

Id.
To avoid this result, Facebook urged the court to adopt a distinction between calls
that are made “proactively” and “reactively.” Id. Facebook pointed to the statutory
14
17-CV-02252-AJB-JMA

1

requirement that an ATDS store numbers “to be called.” 47 U.S.C. § 227(a)(1)(A). The

2

ATDS at issue in Marks was designed to send promotional text messages to a list of stored

3

numbers—“a proactive advertising campaign.” Marks, 926 F.3d at 1151. By contrast,

4

Facebook in Duguid distinguished its equipment, arguing that it stored numbers “to be

5

called” only reflexively as a preprogrammed response. Id. Facebook then argued Marks

6

should be inapplicable to such purely “responsive messages,” because numbers stored to

7

send such messages were not stored “to be called.” Id. According to Facebook, drawing

8

this distinction would circumvent the outcome of deeming smartphones an ATDS and

9

rendering the ATDS provision, as construed by Marks, unconstitutional. Id. However, the

10

Ninth Circuit rejected Facebook’s contention, stating “[w]e are unpersuaded by

11

Facebook’s strained reading of Marks and the TCPA.” Id. The court reasoned that

12

“Facebook’s argument that any ATDS definition should avoid implicating smartphones

13

provides no reason to adopt the proposed active-reflexive distinction.” Id. at 1152.

14

As Duguid demonstrates, the Ninth Circuit was well aware of the argument Sirius

15

XM is offering, and rejected it in the context of a motion to dismiss. Indeed, the Ninth

16

Circuit had an opportunity in Duguid to revisit the ATDS definition it articulated in Marks.

17

Not only did it uphold the definition, it was presented with the same argument Sirius XM

18

now makes, and specifically stated it was not persuaded by such a reading of Marks and

19

the TCPA. Marks, 926 F.3d at 1151. Marks and Duguid are recent, binding authority on

20

this Court, and so, this Court is bound to follow the decisions of the Ninth Circuit.

21

Additionally, the arguments offered by Sirius XM presents this Court with no reason

22

to deviate from binding authority. In its own words, “Sirius XM’s constitutional argument

23

is [] simple: because nearly every smartphone has the capacity to store and automatically

24

dial numbers, nearly every smartphone qualifies as an ATDS under the interpretation set

25

out in Marks. As a result, the ATDS provision violates the First Amendment.” (Doc. No.

26

63 at 10.) But Sirius XM is not actually asserting a direct challenge to the TCPA or its

27

statutory provisions. No argument is made that Sirius XM used a smartphone to call

28

Plaintiffs, and so, the provision as applied to it is unconstitutional. Neither is Sirius XM
15
17-CV-02252-AJB-JMA

1

asserting a facial challenge to the TCPA. Sirius XM is not even arguing that this case is

2

somehow distinguishable from Marks, and so this Court should not follow it. Instead, Sirius

3

XM’s fundamental disagreement is with the Ninth Circuit’s decision. However, Sirius XM

4

has not provided any authority holding that a district court may strike a statute or statutory

5

provision based on a binding circuit court’s opinion. Under the principle of stare decisis,

6

federal district courts “are bound by earlier published decisions” of the Supreme Court and

7

the circuit court of appeals in which their district sits. See Oregon Nat. Desert Ass’n v. U.S.

8

Forest Serv., 550 F.3d 778, 782 (9th Cir. 2008). Federal judges “may not respectfully (or

9

disrespectfully) disagree” with their colleagues on their “own court of appeals who have

10

ruled on a controlling legal issue, or with Supreme Court Justices writing for a majority of

11

the Court.” Hart v. Massanari, 266 F.3d 1155, 1170 (9th Cir. 2001). “Binding authority

12

must be followed unless and until overruled by a body competent to do so.” Id. As neither

13

Marks nor Duguid have been overruled, this Court is bound by these decisions and rejects

14

Sirius XM’s constitutional attacks.

15

Even if the Court were to construe Sirius XM’s argument as a direct attack on the

16

constitutionality of the TCPA and ATDS provisions, the Court finds that there is ample

17

binding authority holding that the ATDS provision, as promulgated by Congress, survives

18

intermediate scrutiny. See Moser v. F.C.C., 46 F.3d 970, 975 (9th Cir. 1995) (“The

19

provision in the [TCPA] of 1991 banning automated, prerecorded calls to residences is

20

content-neutral. Congress adequately demonstrated that such calls pose a threat to

21

residential privacy. The ban is narrowly tailored to advance that interest, and leaves open

22

ample alternative channels of communication. Thus, it does not violate the First

23

Amendment.”); Gomez v. Campbell-Ewald Co., 768 F.3d 871, 876 (9th Cir. 2014), aff’d,

24

136 S. Ct. 663 (2016), as revised (Feb. 9, 2016) (reaffirming Moser and 47 U.S.C.

25

§ 227(b)(1)(A)(iii) of the TCPA as constitutional); Duguid, 926 F.3d at 1157 (“Excising

26

the debt-collection exception preserves the fundamental purpose of the TCPA and leaves

27

us with the same content-neutral TCPA that we upheld—in a manner consistent with

28
16
17-CV-02252-AJB-JMA

1

Reed—in Moser and Gomez.”); Gallion, 772 F. App’x at 605–06 (reaffirming Duguid and

2

upholding TCPA and ATDS provision as constitutional).
Accordingly, the Court DENIES Sirius XM’s motion to dismiss Plaintiffs’

3
4

Complaint.

5

V.

CONCLUSION

6

In light of the foregoing, the Court DENIES WITHOUT PREJUDICE Sirius

7

XM’s motion to strike Plaintiffs’ class allegations and DENIES Sirius XM’s motion to

8

dismiss Plaintiffs’ Complaint.

9
10

IT IS SO ORDERED.

11

Dated: February 25, 2020

12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
17
17-CV-02252-AJB-JMA