California Court Finds Broad Arbitration Clause Unconscionable
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A recent case out of California, Pimpo v. Fitness International, LLC, D071140 (behind paywall), finds an arbitration clause in a contract unenforceable due to unconscionability.
In the case, Pimpo worked at one of Fitness International’s fitness centers, where another employee sexually harassed her. Pimpo made several reports about the other employee’s behavior and ultimately ended up suing over the sexual harassment. Fitness International responded by moving to compel arbitration based on a contract Pimpo electronically signed when she submitted her application for employment with Fitness International. However, the very terms of that agreement said it was only effective for 45 days, so it had expired by the time Pimpo filed suit. Fitness International tried to argue that Pimpo had signed a different arbitration agreement upon accepting employment but the trial court found no evidence of such agreement and the appellate court said that Fitness International’s statement that it moved to compel arbitration based on this other agreement for which there was no evidence “border[ed] on a misrepresentation to this court.”
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