In the wake of AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion, the California Supreme Court granted review in three cases involving significant arbitration issues, including key questions about whether the Federal Arbitration Act preempts California law concerning the enforceability of arbitration agreements. My colleagues and I have filed amicus briefs on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: California
California Trial Court Rejects “Trial by Formula” Approach to False-Advertising Class Action and Sets Aside Verdict
Posted in Class Certification, Motions PracticeIn state courts, sometimes you lose even when you win. In a recent false-advertising class action, a California Superior Court entered an order concluding that the testimony of the plaintiffs’ expert—who was the linchpin of the case for class certification and on the merits—was inadmissible, which meant that the defendant was entitled to judgment as… Continue Reading
California Supreme Court Grants Review In Employment Arbitration Case
Posted in Arbitration, EmploymentThe California Supreme Court granted review last week in Franco v. Arakelian Enterprises Inc., No. S207660, in which the California Court of Appeal had refused to enforce an agreement to arbitrate on an individual basis in the context of a wage-and-hour class action. For more on Franco, please see our prior post. The California Supreme… Continue Reading
Privacy and Mobile Apps: The California AG Speaks Out
Posted in Class Action TrendsIn recent months, we have seen growing interest in potential privacy issues in the context of mobile applications. Earlier this month, California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris released an official report—“Privacy On the Go: Recommendations for the Mobile Ecosystem”—with new privacy recommendations for the mobile industry. The report, while providing a “template” for best practices,… Continue Reading
Brinker’s Impact on Certification of Meal-Break Class Actions in California
Posted in Class Certification, Employment, PredominanceClass actions alleging that employers’ meal-break policies violate California law have long been a favorite of the plaintiffs’ bar. Earlier this year, however, the California Supreme Court handed employers a victory in Brinker Restaurant Corp v. Superior Court, 53 Cal. 4th 1004 (Cal. 2012), holding that the obligation under the California Labor Code to provide… Continue Reading
California Court Of Appeal Strikes Down Arbitration Agreement In Wage-And-Hour Class Action Despite Concepcion
Posted in Arbitration, EmploymentA California appellate court weighed in last week with another effort to circumvent the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion. In Franco v. Arakelian Enterprises, Inc. (pdf), a panel of the Court of Appeal in Los Angeles affirmed an order refusing to enforce an employee’s agreement to arbitrate disputes with his… Continue Reading
Ninth Circuit Grants Rehearing En Banc In Kilgore v. KeyBank To Determine Whether California May Exempt Claims For “Public” Injunctions From Arbitration
Posted in ArbitrationIn an effort to avoid the enforcement of arbitration agreements after AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion, the plaintiffs’ bar has sought to invoke provisions of California’s Unfair Competition Law and Consumers Legal Remedies Act that allow for consumers to pursue claims for injunctive relief on behalf of the “general public.” They point to two pre-Concepcion decisions… Continue Reading