Dirse et al v. Rent-A-Center East, Inc., No. 1:2016cv23530 - Document 13 (S.D. Fla. 2016)
Court Description: 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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Dirse et al v. Rent-A-Center East, Inc. Doc. 13 UN I TED STA TES DI STR I CO URT FOR TH E CT SO UTHERN D I STRI OF FLO RI CT DA M i m iDi s on a vi i C a e N um be 1 23530- I - O REN O s r: 6C V M STEPH EN D I RSE a J LI DI nd U E RSE, Pl i if , a ntf s REN T- A CENTER EAST,m C, Def nt enda . O RD ER G R AN TI G M O TI N TO C O M PE L A RBI ATI N N O TR O THI CAUSE c S ame bef e t Cou t upon Def nts M oton t Compel Bi ng or he r enda ' i o ndi Ar tatona Dimis ori t Alenai StyCas ( E.8 ,fld onAuzus 23.201 bir i nd s s, n he tr tve, a e D. ) ie t 6. TH E CO URT ha c i e t m oton, t t r s s ons der d he i he he e pons i oppos ton,t r pl i e n ii he e y n s ppor spe tnen por i oft r or a i f l ad s d i t pr m i e .l i 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 ha he t o o om l r t a i s or t r as s a ed i t s Or . he e ons t t n hi der 1 . BAC K G RO UN D Pl i i f J i Di s a St phen Di s a l ge f c a ntf s ule r e nd e r e le our ount aga ns D ef nda Re - s i t e nt ntA Ce e Ea t l nt r s , nc. The f c our ount c i t of t f l ng: neglg e aga ns D e e ntby s ons s he olowi i enc i t f nda Pl ntf J i Dis ( ai if ule re Count1,neglg e a i tDee ntby Pli ifSt n Dis ( ) iene gans fnda antf ephe re Count 2) I s of c ori a i t Defnda by Pli if J i Dis ( , os ons tum gans e nt antf ule re Count 3) and l s of , os c o tum a i tDeenda by Pli ifStphe Dis ( ons ri gans f nt antf e n re Count4) . Pli if aleg t tt y weeij e whe t i bed rntd,i t l a a s mbld antfs l e ha he r nurd n her e e nsaled, nd s e e by Def nt colaps on a l s t oc s ons l r pons D e e nt m oves t c pel enda -- l ed t ea t wo ea i . n es e, f nda o om Dockets.Justia.com abtaino t ee tr c mplita d mo e t Co r t dimiso t sa j dca p o e dn s r irt n h nie o an n v s he u to s s r o ty u iil r c e ig o i t sCaus Spe iialy,Def ntas e t t tt Pa te e c e a r nt agr e e t t n hi e. c fc l enda s rs ha he ris xe ut d e al e m nt ha c ai ed a a bir ton pr s on t ts a es i r l va pa t a f l s: ont n n r ta i ovi i ha t t , n e e nt r , s olow PLEA SE R EAD TH I A R BI R ATI N A G R EEM EN T, I S T O T BI NG AND ENFORCEABLE UNLESS YOU SEND NDI I S A REJECTI NOTI AS SET OUT I PARAGRAPH ( BELOW . ON CE. N A) 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 cons e s ' m ea t 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 l ret urn recei reques pt ted, t R ent A - ent Legal D epart ent 5501 o: - c er m , H eadquart D ri Pi T X 75024ers ve, ano 5837. ( W hatCl msAr Cover d:Youa ( ntA- tr a e t t i a 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 - ' .- FE RI A .M CO EN O UN I TED STA TES D I STRI JUD G E CT Copi f ni hed t es ur s o: Couns ofRecor el d 6
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