Two decisions within the past few days emphasize the limits on class action arbitration waivers, despite recent United States Supreme Court opinions that breathed new life into such provisions. With these recent decisions, we see courts relying on both federal and state law concepts to invalidate arbitration provisions when the courts conclude that an individual plaintiff could not feasibly pursue arbitration.
Vindication of Federal Rights.
The Second Circuit visited the issue for the third time in In re American Express Merchants’ Litigation, No. 06-1871-cv (2d Cir. Feb. 1, 2012). Merchants there are pursuing Sherman Act antitrust claims against American Express, alleging that American Express improperly ties its non-premium credit cards to its premium charge card services. Because charge card customers are much more desirable from the merchants’ perspective, American Express is able to charge higher processing fees for those transactions. These plaintiffs allege that American Express forces merchants to also accept its credit cards and to pay higher processing fees for them even though the credit card customers tend to make smaller purchases.
In two earlier opinions, 554 F.3d 300 (2d Cir. 2009) and 634 F.3d 187 (2d Cir. 2011), the Second Circuit held that the arbitration provision in the merchants’ agreements with American Express was unenforceable. Following the Supreme Court’s opinion in AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion, 131 S. Ct. 1740 (2011), the Second Circuit asked for supplemental briefing on the topic. Although Concepcion held that the Federal Arbitration Act preempts state law that imposes particular restrictions on arbitration provisions, the Second Circuit held for a third time that American Express’ arbitration clause is unenforceable because it prevents an aggrieved party from vindicating a federal statutory right.
In this third opinion, the Second Circuit concluded that Supreme Court authority “leaves open the question presented on this appeal: whether a mandatory class action waiver clause is enforceable even if the plaintiffs are able to demonstrate that the practical effect of enforcement would be to preclude their ability to bring federal antitrust claims.” [Slip Op. at 15] These plaintiffs satisfied the Second Circuit that they would be precluded from doing so in individual arbitrations because individual damages (a mean of $5,300 and a maximum of $39,000) could not compare to the several hundred thousands of dollars needed for an expert economic analysis of liability and damages. [Id. at 22] Thus, “the only economically feasible means for plaintiffs enforcing their statutory rights is via a class action.” [Id.] It is not enough that the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. § 15, allows for treble damages, attorneys’ fees, and expenses. A plaintiff must advance the expert costs and then must assume the risk of losing—a significant deterrent to pursuing civil antitrust claims in the court’s mind. [Id. at 23]
Those plaintiffs relied on an economist’s declaration to establish the likely cost of the necessary analysis. The court concluded that American Express did not seriously challenge that evidence, which amounted to a concession that an individual plaintiff could not reasonably pursue the claims, whether in court or arbitration. [Id.] Just as notable, the court’s “decision in no way relies upon the status of plaintiffs as ‘small’ merchants. We rely instead on the need for plaintiffs to have the opportunity to vindicate their statutory rights.” [Id. at 24]
Other courts, particular lower courts in the Second Circuit, have applied this vindication of federal right approach to other statutory claims, such as Title VII employment discrimination suits. E.g., Chen-Oster v. Goldman, Sachs & Co., 2011 WL 2671813 (S.D.N.Y. July 7, 2011). With the Second Circuit’s most recent opinion, expect such attacks on arbitration provisions to increase. It will become more important to challenge the validity of an expert’s assertion of the costs of proceeding with individual arbitration—perhaps to the point of seeking Daubert hearings as part of this process. While Concepcion and other Supreme Court opinions strengthen defendants’ positions regarding enforcing arbitration provisions, the law is by no means settled.
Traditional Unconscionability.
On the other side of the country one day earlier, the Northern District of California relied on traditional unconscionability principles to invalidate an arbitration provision in Lau v. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, No. CV 11-1940-MEJ (N.D. Cal. Jan. 31, 2012). That plaintiff bought a luxury car but had numerous mechanical problems with it. Mercedes sought to compel arbitration when the plaintiff filed suit. The court found the provision procedurally and substantively unconscionable.
The contract contained paragraph in capital letters noting the plaintiff’s ability to take the contract to review it and that it contained an arbitration provision on the back. The arbitration provision had a bold font heading and also was in capital letter. [Slip Op. at 2] The court found that procedural unconscionability existed because the dealership presented the contract on a take-it-or-leave-it basis. It did not matter that the plaintiff signed next to a paragraph mentioning the arbitration provision on the back of the contract. While the plaintiff negotiated the price (apparently exceeding $100,000), he “was never offered the opportunity to negotiate the inclusion or exclusion of specific pre-printed terms.” [Id. at 12]
The court found substantive unconscionability because the plaintiff faced substantial expenses in arbitration that do not exist in litigation. Those expenses include the arbitrator’s hourly fee and the administrative body’s fees. [Id. at 13] The provision also was unbalanced because it allowed for a de novo appeal to a three-member panel only if the award was $0 or in excess of $100,000. The practical effect was to deny plaintiff an appeal right if he recovered less than his full reimbursement right of more than $100,000 but allowed Mercedes to appeal if plaintiff received that full recovery. Of course, plaintiff also faced advancing more costs if he appealed any award. [Id. at 14]
Courts frequently undertake this traditional unconscionability analysis to invalidate arbitration provisions. Plaintiffs’ counsel are being more aggressive in attacking provisions on those grounds, including seeking discovery about a corporation’s experience in arbitration in hopes of showing that the deck is stacked against the consumer. Thus, it is crucial to take care in drafting an arbitration provision, presenting it to the consumer/employee, and documenting those efforts well before the threat of suit arises. Consider having the business advance the costs of the arbitration, forgoing seeking its fees (unless the claim against it is frivolous), and ensure that the clause treats the parties equally.