Tradehill, Inc. v. Dwolla, Inc. et al, No. 3:2012cv01082 - Document 30 (N.D. Cal. 2012)
Court Description: ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS' MOTION TO COMPEL ARBITRATION; DENYING AS MOOT DEFENDANTS' ALTERNATIVE MOTION TO DISMISS; VACATING HEARING. Signed by Judge Maxine M. Chesney on May 9, 2012. (mmclc1, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 5/9/2012)
Download PDF
<![CDATA[
Tradehill, Inc. v. Dwolla, Inc. et al Doc. 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 8 FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 9 For the Northern District of California United States District Court 10 11 TRADEHILL, INC., Plaintiff, 12 13 14 No. C-12-1082 MMC ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO COMPEL ARBITRATION; DENYING AS MOOT DEFENDANTS’ ALTERNATIVE MOTION TO DISMISS; VACATING HEARING v. DWOLLA, INC., et al., Defendants. 15 / 16 17 Before the Court is defendants Dwolla, Inc. (“Dwolla”), Ben Milne (“Milne”), and 18 Charise Flynn’s (“Flynn”) “Motion to Compel Arbitration or, in the Alternative, to Dismiss for 19 Lack of Personal Jurisdiction, Failure to State a Claim, and Improper Venue,” filed April 9, 20 2012. Plaintiff TradeHill, Inc. (“TradeHill”) has filed opposition, to which defendants have 21 replied. Having read and considered the papers filed in support of and in opposition to the 22 motion, the Court deems the matter suitable for determination on the parties’ respective 23 written submissions, VACATES the hearing scheduled for June 1, 2012, and rules as 24 follows. 25 26 BACKGROUND In the operative complaint, the First Amended Complaint (“FAC”), TradeHill alleges 27 that, until it “shut down operations on February 13, 2012,” it was “one of the world’s leading 28 resources for Bitcoin, a virtual currency.” (See FAC ¶¶ 8, 52.) TradeHill also alleges that, Dockets.Justia.com 1 in June 2011, it entered into a contract with Dwolla, under which agreement it “would direct 2 its customers to Dwolla for purchases of TradeHill services.” (See FAC ¶ 14.) TradeHill 3 further alleges that it entered into said agreement because of Dwolla’s “very low transaction 4 fee” and because Dwolla had “heavily advertised that it did not ‘chargeback.’” (See id.) A 5 “chargeback,” according to TradeHill, occurs when “a customer complains to his financial 6 institution that he did not receive a product or service as promised from a merchant and 7 files appropriate paperwork (such [as] an affidavit),” and the transfer of the customer’s 8 payment to the merchant is then “reversed and the customer’s funds [ ] returned.” (See 9 FAC ¶ 15.) 10 During the course of its relationship with Dwolla, some of TradeHill’s customers 11 allegedly complained to their financial institutions that they had been charged for TradeHill 12 products they did not receive, after which the charges were reversed. (See FAC ¶¶ 21, 13 22.) TradeHill alleges that, in light of Dwolla’s advertised “no chargeback policy,” which 14 policy TradeHill had “confirmed” with Dwolla’s “customer services representatives” both 15 before it entered into its agreement with Dwolla and during the course of the agreement, 16 “Dwolla should have been responsible for absorbing the loss of these chargebacks,” but 17 instead, “without notice,” withheld payments from TradeHill in the amount of $164,878.72 18 corresponding to reversed charges. (See FAC ¶¶ 16, 22-23, 28-31.) 19 Based on the above allegations, TradeHill’s FAC asserts a federal claim under the 20 Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), 18 U.S.C. § 1964(c), based 21 on alleged wire fraud and bank fraud, and also asserts eight causes of action arising under 22 state law, specifically, “False Advertising,” “Breach of Contract,” “Intentional 23 Misrepresentation,” “Negligent Misrepresentation,” “Concealment,” “Restitution after 24 Rescission,” “Conversion,” and “Gross Negligence.” 25 TradeHill acknowledges in the FAC that the written agreement governing the 26 contractual relationship between TradeHill and Dwolla contains “an arbitration provision 27 requiring all disputes between Dwolla and its customers be settled with the assistance of an 28 arbitration firm in Minnesota.” (See FAC ¶ 33.) TradeHill alleges, however, that the 2 1 arbitration provision is “unconscionable” and that Dwolla “has waived [the] arbitration 2 provision”; consequently, TradeHill asserts, it can “enforce its rights” in federal court. (See 3 id.) DISCUSSION 4 5 6 7 By the instant motion, defendants seek an order compelling arbitration of TradeHill’s claims, pursuant to the arbitration clause set forth in the parties’ written agreement.1 Under the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), “[i]f any suit or proceeding be brought in 8 any of the courts of the United States upon any issue referable to arbitration under an 9 agreement in writing for such arbitration, the court in which such suit is pending, upon 10 being satisfied that the issue involved in such suit or proceeding is referable to arbitration 11 under such an agreement, shall on application of one of the parties stay the trial of the 12 action until such arbitration has been had in accordance with the terms of the agreement, 13 providing the applicant for the stay is not in default in proceeding with such arbitration.” 14 See 9 U.S.C. § 3. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 The subject arbitration clause, titled “Arbitration” and contained in the “Dwolla User Agreement,”2 reads as follows: In the event a dispute shall arise between the parties to this [contract, lease, etc.], it is hereby agreed that the dispute shall be referred to USAM Minneapolis, Minnesota St. Paul, MN for arbitration in accordance with the applicable United States Arbitration and Mediation Rules of Arbitration. The arbitrator’s decision shall be final and legally binding and judgment may be entered thereon. Each party shall be responsible for its share of the arbitration fees in accordance with the applicable Rules of Arbitration. In the event a party fails to proceed with arbitration, unsuccessfully challenges the arbitrator’s award, or fails to comply with 22 1 23 24 25 26 27 28 In the alternative, the motion seeks dismissal of the initial complaint for lack of personal jurisdiction, failure to state a claim, and improper venue. After the motion was filed, however, TradeHill filed the FAC. In opposition to the instant motion, TradeHill argues, and defendants have not disagreed, that defendants’ motion, to the extent it seeks dismissal of the initial complaint, is moot. TradeHill’s point is well-taken, and, accordingly, the motion to dismiss will be denied as moot. See Bullen v. De Bretteville, 239 F.2d 824, 833 (9th Cir. 1956) (holding “an amended pleading supersedes the original, the latter being treated thereafter as non-existent”), cert. denied, 353 U.S. 947 (1957). 2 Both parties refer to said agreement as the “Terms of Service” (see Defs.’ Mot. to Compel Ex. 1 (“Milne Decl.”) ¶ 7; Pl.’s Opp. Ex. 1 (“Kenna Decl.”) ¶ 3), although that title does not appear therein. 3 the arbitrator’s award, the other party is entitled to costs of suit, including a reasonable attorney’s fee for having to compel arbitration or defend or enforce the award. 1 2 THIS CONTRACT CONTAINS A BINDING ARBITRATION PROVISION, WHICH AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND MAY BE ENFORCED BY THE PARTIES. 3 4 (See Milne Decl. Ex. A at 6 (brackets in original); FAC Ex. 1.) 5 Defendants argue, and TradeHill has not disputed, that all of TradeHill’s claims fall 6 within the scope of the above-quoted arbitration clause. The Court agrees. The broad 7 language of the arbitration clause covers any “dispute” between the parties to the User 8 Agreement (see id.), specifically, TradeHill and Dwolla, and each of TradeHill’s claims 9 arises from a dispute between TradeHill and Dwolla regarding Dwolla’s chargeback 10 practices. Further, because TradeHill’s claims against the individual defendants, Milne and 11 Flynn, are wholly based on actions allegedly taken in the course of said individuals’ 12 employment with Dwolla (see, e.g., FAC ¶¶ 4, 11, 12), TradeHill’s claims against Milne and 13 Flynn likewise are covered by the arbitration agreement. See Letizia v. Prudential Bache 14 Securities, Inc., 802 F.2d 1185, 1187-88 (9th Cir. 1986) (holding “nonsignatories of 15 arbitration agreements may be bound by the agreement under ordinary contract and 16 agency principles”; finding, where plaintiff and securities brokerage firm agreed to arbitrate 17 “any dispute arising out of or relating to [the plaintiff’s] securities account,” plaintiff’s claims 18 against employees of brokerage firm fell within scope of arbitration agreement where said 19 claims “related to [the employees’] handling of [the plaintiff’s] securities account”). 20 Nonetheless, TradeHill argues, it should not be compelled to arbitrate its claims 21 against defendants. Specifically, TradeHill argues, the arbitration clause cannot be 22 enforced because it is unconscionable and because it requires the parties to split the 23 arbitration fees; TradeHill further argues that, irrespective of enforceability, defendants 24 have waived their right to rely on the arbitration clause. 25 The Court considers each of TradeHill’s arguments in turn. 26 // 27 // 28 4 1 2 A. Unconscionability “The overarching purpose of the FAA . . . is to ensure the enforcement of arbitration 3 agreements according to their terms so as to facilitate streamlined proceedings.” AT&T 4 Mobility LLC v. Concepcion, 131 S. Ct. 1740, 1748 (2011). Nonetheless, an arbitration 5 agreement may be invalidated by “generally applicable contract defenses,” such as 6 “unconscionability.” See id. at 1746. Here, TradeHill relies on the defense of 7 unconscionability as recognized under California law. 8 “Under California law, courts may refuse to enforce any contract found to have been 9 unconscionable at the time it was made, or may limit the application of any unconscionable 10 clause.” Id. (internal quotation and citation omitted). “A finding of unconscionability 11 requires a procedural and a substantive element, the former focusing on oppression or 12 surprise due to unequal bargaining power, the latter on overly harsh or one-sided results.” 13 Id. (internal quotation and citation omitted). 14 With respect to the latter of the two elements, TradeHill argues the subject 15 arbitration clause is substantively unconscionable because, when read in connection with 16 other provisions of the User Agreement, it produces a “one-sided” result; in particular, as 17 TradeHill interprets the clause, it does not require Dwolla to submit any claim against its 18 customers to arbitration. See, e.g., Armendariz v. Foundation Health Pyschcare Servs., 19 Inc., 24 Cal. 4th 83, 120-21 (2000) (finding arbitration clause “unconscionabl[y] one-sided,” 20 where clause required employee but not employer to arbitrate claims). As discussed 21 below, the Court is not persuaded. 22 While acknowledging the arbitration clause, on its face, requires both Dwolla and 23 TradeHill to arbitrate all disputes they have against each other, TradeHill argues that, as a 24 practical matter, Dwolla would never have a claim against TradeHill. In support thereof, 25 TradeHill relies on provisions in the User Agreement that require Dwolla’s customers, e.g., 26 TradeHill, to provide “credit card information” to Dwolla (see Milne Decl. Ex. A at 3-4), and 27 allow Dwolla to “charge the credit [card] on file” for any “fees or fines [the customer’s] 28 Dwolla account balance does not cover” (see id. Ex. A at 5). 5 TradeHill’s argument necessarily assumes that the only type of dispute Dwolla would 1 2 ever have with a customer would be a dispute involving Dwolla’s collection of a fee or fine. 3 Such assumption overlooks, however, the scope of potential disputes between contracting 4 parties, as well as the scope of coverage attributed by law to broad arbitration clauses. 5 See, e.g., Simula, Inc. v. Autoliv, Inc., 175 F.3d 716, 720, 723-25 (9th Cir. 1999) (holding 6 claims alleging antitrust violations, misappropriation of trade secrets, and defamation fell 7 within scope of arbitration clause, where clause provided for arbitration of “[a]ll disputes 8 arising in connection with this Agreement”). Indeed, here, the User Agreement itself 9 identifies at least one other type of dispute, and, significantly, one that would not be 10 resolved by the provision pertaining to the collection of fees and fines. Specifically, the 11 User Agreement provides: “You agree that you will not at any time attempt to falsify your 12 identity or defraud Dwolla or other Dwolla users in any way. You agree in the event you 13 are found to be defrauding or falsify[ing] your identity to Dwolla or other Dwolla users, legal 14 action will be taken against you.” (See Milne Decl. Ex. A at 1.) In the event that Dwolla 15 were to assert it had incurred damages by reason of any fraud or falsification by a 16 customer, Dwolla would be required, under the terms of the arbitration clause, to seek relief 17 in the identified arbitral forum. Even assuming, arguendo, the only type of dispute Dwolla would ever have with a 18 19 customer would be a dispute involving Dwolla’s collection of a fee or fine, the provisions on 20 which TradeHill relies do not render the arbitration clause one-sided. As Dwolla correctly 21 observes, if the credit card on file were subsequently cancelled, or the amount of credit 22 available thereon were insufficient to cover the fee or fine, Dwolla would be required, under 23 the terms of the arbitration clause, to bring any collection action in an arbitral forum. In sum, TradeHill has failed to show the arbitration clause only applies to Dwolla’s 24 25 customers. 26 // 27 // 28 // 6 1 Accordingly, the Court finds TradeHill has failed to meet its burden to show the 2 arbitration clause is substantively unconscionable.3 Under such circumstances, to the 3 extent TradeHill’s challenge is based on grounds of unconscionability, such challenge fails. 4 See Kilgore v. Keybank, National Assn., 673 F.3d 947, 954 (9th Cir. 2012) (holding party 5 “challenging the enforceability of the arbitration clause” has burden to establish 6 unenforceability). 7 B. Fee Splitting 8 TradeHill next argues the arbitration clause is unenforceable because it requires the 9 parties to split the arbitration fees and “there is no way [TradeHill] will be able to afford any 10 fee-splitting of the arbitrator fees.” (See Pl.’s Opp. at 6:15-16.) Again, the Court finds 11 TradeHill’s argument unpersuasive. 12 At the outset, the Court observes that the arbitration clause does not itself require 13 the parties to split the arbitration fees. Rather, as set forth above, it provides that each 14 party is “responsible for its share of the arbitration fees in accordance with the applicable 15 Rules of Arbitration,” which rules are identified as the “United States Arbitration and 16 Mediation Rules of Arbitration.” (See Milne Decl. Ex. A at 6.) TradeHill has not provided a 17 copy of those rules, nor does TradeHill even assert they require fee splitting. Further, even 18 assuming, arguendo, the applicable Rules of Arbitration require fee splitting in all instances, 19 the Court finds TradeHill has failed to show any such requirement renders the arbitration 20 clause unenforceable. 21 First, to the extent TradeHill argues that, under California law, an arbitration clause 22 is per se unenforceable when it requires fee splitting, TradeHill is incorrect. Indeed, as 23 defendants correctly observe, the default rule under California law is that the parties must 24 split the fees of the arbitrator on a pro rata basis. Specifically, “[u]nless the arbitration 25 agreement otherwise provides or the parties to the arbitration otherwise agree, each party 26 3 27 28 In light of this finding, the Court does not address TradeHill’s argument that the arbitration clause is procedurally unconscionable. See Armendariz, 24 Cal. 4th at 114 (adhering to “prevailing view” that both “procedural and substantive unconscionability” must be shown to render contract unenforceable). 7 1 to the arbitration shall pay his pro rata share of the expenses and fees of the neutral 2 arbitrator, together with other expenses of the arbitration incurred or approved by the 3 neutral arbitrator, not including counsel fees or witness fees or other expenses incurred by 4 a party for his own benefit.” See Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1284.2. Consequently, even 5 assuming the subject arbitration clause in fact requires the parties to split the fees, any 6 such provision cannot be said to be contrary to California policy; rather, such a provision 7 would fully comport with California policy as set forth in the above-quoted statute.4 8 Second, to the extent TradeHill seeks to avoid enforcement of the arbitration clause 9 by demonstrating an inability to pay arbitration fees, TradeHill’s argument fares no better. 10 “[W]here, as here, a party seeks to invalidate an arbitration agreement on the ground that 11 arbitration is prohibitively expensive, that party bears the burden of showing the likelihood 12 of incurring such costs.” Green Tree Financial Corp.-Alabama. v. Randolph, 531 U.S. 79, 13 92 (2000). TradeHill has offered no evidence to establish the amount of arbitration fees it is 14 likely to incur, let alone that it lacks the ability to pay fees in such amount. The conclusory 15 assertion of TradeHill’s owner that it “will be unable to afford the thousands of dollars in 16 arbitration fees” (see Kenna Decl. ¶ 6) is insufficient, particularly given that TradeHill fails to 17 explain why it can afford the expenses associated with a potentially lengthy federal court 18 proceeding, but cannot afford the expenses associated with arbitration, which, as 19 characterized by the Supreme Court, is a “streamlined proceeding.” See AT&T Mobility 20 LLC, 131 S. Ct. at 1748. 21 22 Accordingly, irrespective of whether the arbitration clause requires the parties to split the arbitration fees, TradeHill has failed to show it is unenforceable. 23 24 25 26 27 28 4 TradeHill’s reliance on Armendariz, 24 Cal. 4th 83, is unavailing. In Armendariz, the California Supreme Court interpreted the Fair Housing and Employment Act (“FEHA”) as “implicitly” requiring that, where an employer requires an employee to enter into an agreement promising to arbitrate any claim arising under FEHA, the employer must “bear the arbitration forum costs.” See id. at 112-13. Accordingly, the Supreme Court found that where an arbitration clause was silent as to the parties’ responsibility to pay the arbitration fees and the plaintiff sought relief under FEHA, said implicit provision, rather than the “default provisions of section 1284.2,” applied. See id. The instant action does not involve a claim under FEHA or any similar statute. 8 1 C. Waiver Lastly, TradeHill contends defendants have waived their contractual right to 2 3 arbitrate. “Waiver of a contractual right to arbitration is not favored.” Fisher v. A.G. Becker 4 5 Paribas Inc., 719 F.2d 691, 694 (9th Cir. 1986). Accordingly, “any party arguing waiver of 6 arbitration bears a heavy burden of proof.” See id. (internal quotation and citation omitted). 7 Specifically, “[a] party seeking to prove waiver of a right to arbitration must demonstrate: 8 (1) knowledge of an existing right to compel arbitration; (2) acts inconsistent with that 9 existing right; and (3) prejudice to the party opposing arbitration resulting from such 10 inconsistent acts.” See id. 11 Here, the sole evidence offered by TradeHill in support of its argument that 12 defendants have waived their right to arbitrate is set forth in a declaration by TradeHill’s 13 owner: I and other representatives of TradeHill attempted to communicate with Dwolla multiple times from August 2011 through February 2012 to resolve our dispute. In February 2012, an attorney sent Dwolla a demand letter. Dwolla never responded substantively to any communication, its customer service representatives falsely represented that Dwolla’s corporate officers will personally get in touch with TradeHill, and Dwolla never suggested that this matter be sent to arbitration. 14 15 16 17 (See Kenna Decl. ¶ 7.) 18 Essentially, TradeHill offers evidence to show that Dwolla declined to respond to 19 TradeHill’s requests to resolve the parties’ dispute informally. TradeHill cites no authority, 20 and the Court has found none, suggesting a declination to respond to one or more requests 21 of such nature is inconsistent with an intent to exercise one’s right to compel arbitration of 22 the dispute. Moreover, even if such authority did exist, TradeHill offers no evidence, nor 23 has it otherwise shown, that Dwolla’s failure to respond to any such request(s) prejudiced 24 TradeHill in any manner. See Fisher, 791 F. 2d at 694 (“More is required than action 25 inconsistent with an arbitration provision; prejudice to the opposing party must also be 26 shown.”) (internal quotation and citation omitted). 27 // 28 9 1 2 Accordingly, the Court finds TradeHill has failed to meet its burden to establish defendants waived their contractual right to arbitration. CONCLUSION 3 4 For the reasons stated above: 5 1. To the extent defendants seek an order compelling TradeHill to arbitrate its 6 7 claims, the motion is hereby GRANTED. 2. To the extent defendants seeks dismissal of the initial complaint for lack of 8 personal jurisdiction, failure to state a claim, or lack of proper venue, the motion is hereby 9 DENIED as moot. 10 IT IS SO ORDERED. 11 12 Dated: May 9, 2012 MAXINE M. CHESNEY United States District Judge 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 10
]]>
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You
should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
