Dirse et al v. Rent-A-Center East, Inc.
Filing
13
ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO COMPEL ARBITRATION 8 : Closing Case. Motions Terminated: 8 MOTION to Compel Binding Arbitration MOTION to Dismiss 1 Notice of Removal (State Court Complaint), or, in the alternative, M OTION to Stay Case, and Incorporated Memorandum of Law filed by Rent-A-Center East, Inc.. Signed by Judge Federico A. Moreno on 10/27/2016. (cgy) NOTICE: If there are sealed documents in this case, they may be unsealed after 1 year or as directed by Court Order, unless they have been designated to be permanently sealed. See Local Rule 5.4 and Administrative Order 2014-69.
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TH E CO URT ha c i e t m oton, t t r s
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e n
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u
t ri t tons he ec d, nd s uly vi e n he e s s t s
O R DER ED AN D A DJU D G ED t tt m o i n t c pe a bir ton i G R AN TED f
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BAC K G RO UN D
Pl i i f J i Di s a St phen Di s a l ge f c
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r e le our ount aga ns D ef nda Re - s i t
e nt ntA
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abtaino t ee tr c mplita d mo e t Co r t dimiso t sa j dca p o e dn s
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c fc l
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s rs ha he ris xe ut d e al e m nt ha
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Thi Ar taton Agr ment(i ee
s bir i
ee
'Agr menf' i bewe n a t Cons r As
) s t e nd he
ume.
us d i t s Agr m e , t t r Scons e ' or i
e n hi
ee nt he e m i
um r'
k
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um r '
n he
c t e swho sgn t s Agr e e ...Exce asot r s pr ded i t s
usom r
i hi
e m nt
pt
he wie ovi
n hi
Agr me ,you and ( ntA- elheeb a eet t i t eve ofan
ee nt
Re - centr r y gr ha, n he nt
y
dip t o cam bewe n u , ih ry uo g n- ce tr ma ee tt h v
s u e r li t e s et e o r Re tA- n el y lc o a e
t tdiput orcli r ol by bi ng a bir ton on a i vi bassi
ha s e
am es ved
ndi r ta i
n ndi dual i n
ac or nc wih t t r sa pr e ess tf t i t sAgr me .
c da e t he e m nd oc dur e orh n hi
ee nt
( Yo r Riht t Re e t I yo wa t r j c t s Ar ir to
A) u g o j c : f u nt o ee t hi b ta i n
Agr eme ,you mus s awrten Ree i Notc by ce tfed mai,
e nt
t end
it
jcton ie,
r ii
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ret
urn recei reques
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ted, t R ent A - ent Legal D epart ent 5501
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m ,
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5837.
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B)
ai
e
e
nd Re - cenel gre ha,n ny
diput orcam bewee us eihe youorg ntA- nt lma elc t have
s e li t n , t r
Re - ce er y e t o
t t diput or c am r s ved by bi ng ar ta i Thi a e nt t
ha s e
l i e ol
ndi
bir ton. s gr eme o
abtae i itn e t b itr rtd a b o dy a te ( d rlAr i ain
r i t s n e d d o e nep ee s r a l s h Fe e a bt to
r
r
Ac)alws Cli s be t oabtai nicu e b taen tlmie t
t l . ams u j c t r irto n ld , u r o i td o:
o
* c ai s ars ng under a i i out of or r a i i a w a t a
lm
ii
, r s ng
,
el tng n ny y o ny
Cons rConta te ee i obewe n youa gt ntA- ntr atan
ume
rc ntrd nt t e
nd le - ce el y
tme and or a s r i e r nde e unde or t t r a e t a s h
i , / ny e v c s e r d
r
ha elt o ny uc
Cons m e Cont a t
u r
r c.
( E.83a 1 (mphassi orgi l ( t ai )
D. - t ) e
i n i na) alertons.
I . JU R SI I O N A N D V EN U E
I
D CTI
Pli tfs fld t i Compl i i t Elve h J ci Cicui, M i iD a Count
a n if ie he r
ant n he e nt udi al r t am - de
y,
Fl i Def ntt tl a notc ofr mova t t sCour pur ua t 28 U .S. j 1 ()
orda. enda hen ied
ie e
l o hi
t s nt o
C. 441a
a 28U. C.j 1
nd
S.
332. t cvi a ton br
û
Any i l ci oughti a St ecour ofwhih t dititcoursof
n at
t
c he src
t
t Unied Stt ha orgi lj idi i ma be r
he t aes ve i na urs cton, y emoved by t defnda .'28 U. C.j
he e nt'
S.
l 1a) Thepowert de i c esbewe n ciie ofdif e saesi de i d fom Aril
44 ( .
o cde as t e tz ns
fernt tt s rve r
tce
Il of t Unie St t s Cons iuton. See U . Cons . at 11 j2. Howe r Congrs l t
l
he
td ae
tt i
S.
t r. 1,
ve ,
e s i ed
mi
tes o eo lwe fd r lc u tdv riyj rs ito b rq iig tepate t t el iain t
h c p f o r e ea o r ie st u idci n y e u rn h ris o h i g to o
t
ha a m i m um m one ar a ount i c r r y. Se Sm ih v G TE Cor ,236 F. 1
ve
ni
ty m
n ont ove s
e
t .
p.
3d 292,
1 300 ( 1h Ci.2001;Sn r v Har i,394 U. 332,334 ( 969) Seci 1 oft
2991t r
) yde . rs
S.
1 . ton 332 he
Untd S ae Co e p o i e t tS ititc u t s alh v oi ia j rs ito o alcv l
ie tts d r v d s ha k src o rs h l a e rgn l u id cin f l ii
d
a tons wher t ma t i c r r y exc eds t s or va ue of $75,
ci
e he ter n ontove s
e
he um
l
000,e usve of
xcl i
i ees a c t,a i bewe n ciie ofdifr Stt . 28 U. C.j 1 a( ) Hee,
ntr t nd oss nd s t e tz ns
feent aes'
'
S.
332()l . r
Def nt alege a Pli tf s do not diput t t Pli if a e r i nt of t sa e of
enda s l , nd a n if
s e, ha antf s r esde s
he tt
Fl i a t tDef nda ,a c por ton or ni ed a exitng unde t l wsoft sa e of
orda nd ha
e nt or a i
ga z nd si
r he a
he tt
Te swih isprncpl pl e ofbusnes i t sa e ofTexas i a ctz n oft sa e o Te s
xa t t i i e ac
i s n he t t
, s ii e
he t t f xa .
Fu t rDe e ntas e t,a Pl ntf doesnotdiput t tbas on t da a alege i
rhe f nda
s rs nd ai if
s e, ha
ed
he m ges l d n
e ch of t f coun s a t naur of t a lga i ,t amount i c r r y i t s
a
he our
t nd he t e
he le tons he
n ontove s n hi
ltga i e ee $75,
ii ton xc ds
000. Thus t Cour fndst tr mova i t sca ei per s i ea t t
, he
t i ha e
l n hi s s misbl nd ha
tec u t a j rs ito o e t i c s .Ac o digy,h Cou t idsta t M imi v so o
h o r h s u id ci n v r hs a e c r n l t e r fn h t he a Diiin f
t Sout r Di ti t of Fl i i pr r ve
he
he n s r c
orda s ope nue f t s ca e. Se 28 U .S. jj 1 ()a
or hi s
e
C. 441a nd
1 46( .
4 a)
1 1 LE G A L STA N DA R D AN D LEG A L A N ALY SI
1.
S
Pli t fag e t a t pat sdd n ta ret a btae l t esae o Flrd ,ith e
ani r u s h t he ri i o g e o r irt. n h tt f o i a ' l re
f
e
l
fcor mus be c i rd bef e a tilc tmay gr ta moton t c
a t s t onsdee
or ra our
an
i o ompe abirton:(1
l r tai
)
whehe a vald a e me t abirt exit,( whehe a abir bl sue e ss a (
t r
i gre nt o r tae ss 2) t r n r ta eis xit, nd 3)
wh t e terg tt a btai nwa wav d' S f r v US.Ho Cop. 7 0 S 2 6 3 6 6
eh r h ih o r i to s ie . e e t .
r
'
me r , 5 o. d 3 , 3
( a 1 ) The Fede al Ar ta i Ac embodi çt sr f de al polc i f vo of
Fl. 999).
r
bir ton t
es 'he tong e r
iy n a r
enf ng ar t aton agr ent ' D ean W it Re ds, l v. Syrl, 470 U . 213, 2l7
orci
bir i
eem s.'
ter ynol
nc.
S.
( 985 .Ke pi wiht spolcy,t SuprmeCour hasma edt tl ny doubt conc r ng
1 ) e ng t hi i he
e
t
ndat ha l
a
s eni
3
t s ope ofa bir e is s s d be r ol d i f vorofa bir ton. M o e H Co M e 1
he c
r tabl sue houl
es ve n a
r ta i ' s s
'
ne m
Hos v Mer ur Consr Cor ,460U. 1 24- ( 983) MS De erSe v .Cor v Fr ln,
p. . c y
t. p.
S. , 25 1 ;
al r s p. . anki
1 F.d 942,947 (1 t Ci.1 . Ass h,$apa t rssi ar tai be st bur n of
77 3
1h r 999)
uc 1 ry e itng birton ar he de
pr di t tt cl i s a i s a e uns t bl f a bir i ' Gre n Tr e Fi . Cor Al v.
ovi ng ha he a m t s ue r
uia e or r taton.' e
e n
p. a.
Randol 531 U. 79,91 (
ph,
S.
2000) Howe ,'g pa t ca
.
ver ça) ry nnot pl e t ma ng of t
ac he ki
he
a bir ton a ee e i i s s m pl by opi ng t t no a e en e s s Ra he ,t t pa t
r ta i gr m nt n s ue i y
ni ha
gr em t xi t .
t r ha r y
m us s t nta e t de aloft c r c w ih enough evi e t m a t de a c or bl .''
t ubs a i t he ni
he ont a t t
denc o ke he ni l ol a e
Chasai v Robi on- mphry Co. l . 957 F. 851 855 ( lh Ci. 1 . The Cour
t n . ns Hu e
, nc,
2d ,
1 t r 992)
t
add es e e h Pl i ifi t .
r s s ac a ntf n um
A . Pl i i fJ i D is
a ntf ule r e
Pli ifJ i Dis c
antf ule r e once s t t s t er d i a c r c t r nt a be r m e a a
de ha he ' e n onta t o e
ent
dfa
nd
mate sfo De e d n . D. 9! 1 rhe, anifJ leDis alg st tûa sar s l o
trs r m fn a t' E. .Fu t r Plitf u i re le e ha d l e ut f
'
g
gh c la sn b d , n often gie twa t eDe e da tha a smbe t er ne b d, t
te olp i g e l a d h e l n y h fn n d se ld h e td e boh
g
panif s san d sro sa p r n n ij re . S eD. 9! 4 . Th re r r te t,a d
litfs u tie ei u nd e ma e t nu is e E. ! -5 e e o d el cs n
Pl ntf J i Dis doe notde Pl ntf endor e t a bir i pr son. See D . 9 at22.
ai if ule r e s
ny, ai if
s d he r taton ovii
E.
l r pons ,Deen ntase t t tt t ume Ar tai Agre ntsae Youand gk nt
n es e f da srs ha he '
Cons r bir ton e me tts:
le -
A- nela ret t i tee e to a dipu eorca m b t e u ,et e y u o r e tAce tr g e ha, n h v n f ny s t
li e we n s ih r o r l nt
Ce elma eec t havet tdipue orcam r ol d by bi ng abirton. D. 8 ! 7
ntr y l t o
ha s t
li es ve
ndi r tai ' E.
'
(ii Cons r Ar tai Agr e , Se . ûB)' I lght of Plitf J i Dis s
ctng
ume birton
e ment ct t .' n i
(
anif ule re'
a s i t l ngua of t ar ta i pr son,and t sr f der lpolc i f
dmison, he a
ge
he bir ton ovii
he tong e a
iy n avorof
enf c ng a bir ton,t Cour fnds t tan a bir ton a e e be w ee Pl ntf J i D is
or i r t a i he
ti
ha
r t a i gr em nt t n ai if ule r e
a De e
nd f ndan e s s t t a a bir bl i s be wee t pa te e s s and t t rght t
t xi t , ha n r ta e s ue t n he r i s xi t ,
hat he i
o
a bir ton h not bee wai d. Thus t Cour fnds t t t a bir ton pr s on as t
r t a i as
n
ve
, he
ti
ha he r ta i
ovi i
o
4
Plitf J leDis i bndn S f r, 5 S 2 a 6 6; a WitrRe od ,I c, 7 U..
anif u i re s i ig. e e t 7 0 o. d t 3 De n te yn ls n .4 0 S
a 21 ' ee Tr Fi Cor Al ,5 U. a 91 Chasai 957F. a 855.
t 7,Gr n ee n. p. a. 31 S. t ;
t n,
2d t
B . Pl i t f St phe D i s
a n if e n r e
Pli ifStphe Dis as e t t the i notbound by t a bir ton pr son be us he
antf e n r e s rs ha
s
he r ta i
ovii
ca e
di no sg t c r c . Spec fc l Pli ifSt phen Dis a s rst tt t
d t i n he onta t
ii aly, antf e
r e s e t ha s hough t Re al
al
he nt Pur s Agr e e , i caes bot Pl ntfs as Les e ,t onl sgna ur f t Le s
cha e
e m nt ndi t
h ai if
s es he y i t e or he s ee
a ar t beJ E DI
ppe s o
ULI RSE' , l STEPH EN DI SE di notsgn t c r 'a t tt
S whie
R
d
i he ont act' nd ha he
C
b um e Ar ta i Agr e e ,whi h wa i op o aed i a e cu ed wih t Re t l
cons r bir ton
e m nt
c
s nc r t n nd xe t
t he n a Pur has A g e m ent doesnot i ude a s gna ur f om STEPH EN D I .'Se D. 9a !
c e re
,
ncl
ny i t e r
RSE ' e E. t !
1 8.(mpha i i orgi l (ntr lquottons omit . As s h,Pl ntf Stphe Dis
6-1 e
ss n i na) i ena
ai
ted)
uc ai if e n re
a g st thi c am sta enotgo r d by t a bir ton a e m e .' D. 9! 1
r ue ha s l i ir
ve ne
he r tai gr e nt ' E.
9.
I r y,Def nda as e t t tbot Pli if a e bound by t conta ' a bir ton
n epl
e nt s rs ha
h a ntfs r
he
r cts r ta i
pr s on. De e
ovi i
f ndant r i , i pa t on Kong v Alid Prf s in lI s r n e Co,7 0 F.d
eles n r ,
le oe so a n u a c . 5 3
.
l
295,1 2 ( lh Ci.201 ,f t pr ii t tPl ntf Dis a nonsgnaor t t
30 1 t r
4) or he oposton ha ai if re
i t y o he
a bir ton agr e e i none hees bound by t a bir ton pr son be us he i e i d
r ta i
e m nt s
t l s
he r ta i
ovii
ca e
' ceve
r
s t ng mor t n a i i nt orco eque i be i oft contac .' Kong,a 13
ome hi
e ha n ne de al
ns ntal neft he
r t'
t 02. The
Kon c tr le he viy on t r as ng pr c i d i Ge mann v Agel to -a.l . 91
g, our e id a l
he e oni
es rbe n r
ns. fbl , nc, 2
.
So. 5 5 ( a.2dDCA 2005) I Ge mann,t dee nta sredt lcamsb oug by
2d 90, 92 F1
.n r
he fnda se t ha li r ht
t pe s
he ronalr e e ai oft de ede ' e t t we e gove n by a a bir ton pr son
epr s nt tve
he e nts s ae r
r ed
n r tai
ovii
c t i d wihi t c r c be us t dec dentwas a t r pa t be fcir ofa c r t
on a ne t n he onta t ca e he e
hid- ry ne i a y
ontac .
Se l a 5
e d t 90. The Ge m ann cour exa i d t o crt i f whi h t c a m s oft de ede '
r
t m ne w
iera or c he l i
he c nts
ett c d bebound by a abir ton pr son:( )i t dec dentr c i d s t ng mo e
sae oul
n r tai ovii 1 f he e
e eve omehi
r
t n a i i a be i asar ul oft c r tor( i t de ede wa a itndedt r
ha n ncdentl neft
es t he ontac 2) f he c nt s n ne
hid-
pat benei ay oft conta I (nt na q ttonsomit He e Dee nta srst t
ry
fcir
he rd. d. i er l uoai
ted. r , fnda s et ha
5
'h p e s oft i e tr a to i ij r t b t Plitfsr s t fo u e o a la tt
' e r mie hs n ie cin s n u y o o h anif e ulng r m s , n t e s wo
t
i
oc s ons of a be r nt t t m by REN T- ca i ,
d e ed o he
A CEN TER. A s s
uch, bot Pl n if m us
h ai tf s
t
a wldget tt y r c ve abe ftfom t rntl' D. 1 ! 8. TheCo ta e a
ckno e ha he e ei d nei r he e a. E. 2
'
ur gres nd
fndsPli ifStphen Dis sa g e suna ii i lg oft f t pr s nt a t sr
i
antf e
r e' r um nt
va lng n i ht he ac s e e ed nd he tong
f de alpolcy i f vorofe or ng a bir ton ag ee e s.De Wit rRe ds I . 470 U .
e r
i n a
nf ei r ta i
r m nt
an te ynol , nc ,
S.
a 21 Gr e Tr e Fi Cor Al ,5 U . a 91 M os s H .Cone M e 1 H os ., 460 U . a 24t 7) e n e n. p. a. 31 S. t ;
e
m
p
S. l
25; Fr i 1 F. a 947. Thus t Cour t nds t t Pl i if St phe D is r ce ved
ankln, 77 3d t
, he
ti
ha a ntf e n r e e i
s t ng m or t n a i i albe ft as a r s t of Pl i if J i Dis s co a l wih
ome hi
e ha n ncdent
ne i
e ul
antf ule r e' nt c t
De e nt f t r nt d be a t t Pl i if Stphe Dis was a i t nde t r pa t
f nda or he e e
d nd ha antf e n r e
n n e d hid- ry
be i i y of t be r nal c r t K on 75 F. d a 13 Ger
nefc ar
he d e
ontac .
g, 0 3 t 02;
mann,91 So.2d a 592;
2
t
Cha t n,957 F. at8
s ai
2d
55.
I .
V
C O N CL U SI N
O
Fort r a ons s a ed,i i
he e s
tt t s
ORDERED AND ADJUDG ED t tDef nda ' M o i t Com pe Bi ngAr ta i
ha
e nts ton o
l ndi
bir ton
i G R AN TED . l i f t r
s
t s urhe
O R DER ED A N D A DJU D G ED t ta1 pe ng m otons a e DEN I A S M O O T a
ha l ndi
i
r
ED
nd
t a
he bove s yl d C a e i D I I
-t e
us s SM SSED .
ZN
DO NE A N D O RD ERE D i Cha ber atM i i Fl i t s
n
m s
am , or da, hi
x.
A
ofO c obe 201 .
t r 6
v y'--p
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.-
FE RI A .M
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STRI JUD G E
CT
Copi f ni hed t
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o:
Couns ofRecor
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d
6
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