Toth v. GSF Mortgage Corporation et al

Filing 30

Memorandum of Opinion and Order denying defendants GSF Mortgage Corporation and Chad Jampedro's Motion to compel arbitration (Related Doc # 15 ). The Court has also separately entered a Case Management Plan pursuant to LR 16.3(b)(4). Judge Benita Y. Pearson on 6/8/2017(C,KA)

PEARSON, J.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
EASTERN DIVISION
ANDY TOTH,
Plaintiff,
v.
GSF MORTGAGE CORPORATION, et al.,
Defendants.

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CASE NO. 5:16CV2101
JUDGE BENITA Y. PEARSON

MEMORANDUM OF OPINION
AND ORDER
[Resolving ECF No. 15]

Pending is Defendants GSF Mortgage Corporation (“GSF”) and Chad Jampedro’s
Motion to Compel Arbitration (ECF No. 15). Defendants contend that Plaintiff Andy Toth
cannot maintain this lawsuit in federal court because his claims are squarely covered by the
“Resolution of Disputes” provision in the “Employment Agreement Producing Branch Manager”
(ECF No. 15-1) he entered into with GSF, which establishes mandatory procedures for resolving
such disputes through arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association
(“AAA”). ECF No. 15-1 at PageID #: 100, ¶ 24.
The Court has been advised, having reviewed the record, the parties’ briefs, and the
applicable law. The Court has also considered the arguments of counsel offered during the
telephonic oral argument held on June 1, 2017. For the reasons set forth below, the motion is
denied.
A party aggrieved by the refusal of another party to arbitrate under an agreement for
arbitration may petition the court for an order directing that such arbitration proceed according to
the terms of the agreement. 9 U.S.C. § 4. The Court’s task is to “determine whether the parties

(5:16CV2101)
agreed to arbitrate the dispute at issue.” Stout v. J.D. Byrider, 228 F.3d 709, 714 (6th Cir. 2000).
Whether the parties’ contract evinces an agreement to arbitrate is governed by principles of state
contract law. First Options of Chicago, Inc. v. Kaplan, 514 U.S. 938, 944 (1995). When “the
dispute at issue concerns contract formation, the dispute is generally for courts to decide.”
Granite Rock Co. v. Int’l Bhd. of Teamsters, 561 U.S. 287, 296 (2010).
The parties agree that the Sixth Circuit applies a four-part test to determine whether a
court should grant a motion to stay litigation and compel arbitration:
first, it must determine whether the parties agreed to arbitrate; second, it must
determine the scope of that agreement; third, if federal statutory claims are
asserted, it must consider whether Congress intended those claims to be
nonarbitrable; and fourth, if the court concludes that some, but not all, of the
claims in the action are subject to arbitration, it must determine whether to stay
the remainder of the proceedings pending arbitration.
Stout, 228 F.3d at 714. The parties also agree that the first two elements are at issue in the
within motion.
In examining a motion to compel arbitration, “courts treat the facts as they would in
ruling on a summary judgment motion, construing all facts and reasonable inferences that can be
drawn therefrom in a light most favorable to the non-moving party.” Jones v. U-HAUL Co. of
Mass. and Ohio, Inc., 16 F. Supp.3d 922, 930 (S.D. Ohio 2014) (quoting Raasch v. NCR Corp.,
254 F. Supp.2d 847, 851 (S.D. Ohio 2003)).
Because arbitration agreements are contracts, their enforceability is reviewed according
to the applicable state law of contract formation. Seawright v. American General Financial
Services, Inc., 507 F.3d 967, 972 (6th Cir. 2007) (citing First Options of Chicago, Inc., 514 U.S.
at 943-44). Defendants have argued that “[t]he document attached as Exhibit 1 to Defendant[s]’
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Motion to Compel Arbitration [ECF No. 15-1] is a true and correct copy of the Employment
Agreement Mr. Toth entered into with GSF on or about April 18, 2016.” Declaration of Chad
Jampedro (ECF No. 27-1) at PageID #: 203, ¶ 3. Plaintiff, however, argues to the contrary that
“[w]hile employed by GSF, I never signed or executed the Employment Agreement which is
attached to Defendants’ Motion to Compel Arbitration as Exhibit 1 (“Employment Agreement”)
[ECF No. 15-1].” Affidavit of Andy Toth (ECF No. 21-1) at PageID #: 170, ¶ 5. Therefore,
there is at the very least a genuine dispute of material fact as to the existence of a contract, and
thus the arbitration provision. Ackison Surveying, LLC v. Focus Fiber Solutions, LLC, No.
2:15-cv-02044, 2016 WL 4208145, at *2 (S.D. Ohio Aug. 10, 2016).
Given this genuine dispute of material fact, the Court does not reach Plaintiff’s
arguments that (1) the “Resolution of Disputes” provision (ECF No. 15-1 at PageID #: 100, ¶ 24)
is invalid and unenforceable and (2) several of his claims fall outside of the “Employment
Agreement Producing Branch Manager” (ECF No. 15-1).
Accordingly, Defendants GSF Mortgage Corporation (“GSF”) and Chad Jampedro’s
Motion to Compel Arbitration (ECF No. 15) is denied. The Court has also separately entered a
Case Management Plan pursuant to LR 16.3(b)(4).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

June 8, 2017
Date

/s/ Benita Y. Pearson
Benita Y. Pearson
United States District Judge

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