Douglas Hopper v. American Arbitration Assn.

Ninth Circuit

Douglas Hopper v. American Arbitration Assn.

708 F. App'x 373

CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

DecidedDecember 26, 2017

Docket16-55573

StatusUnpublished

This text of 708 F. App'x 373 (Douglas Hopper v. American Arbitration Assn.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Douglas Hopper v. American Arbitration Assn., 708 F. App'x 373 (9th Cir. 2017).

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Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Douglas Hopper appeals the dismissal of his false advertising claim against the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) on the basis of arbitral immunity. 1 We review a dismissal pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) de novo. New Mexico State Inv. Council v. Ernst & Young LLP, 641 F.3d 1089, 1094 (9th Cir. 2011). We reverse and remand for further proceedings. 2

Arbitral immunity extends to claims that arise out of a decisional act and exists to “protect the decision-maker from undue influence and protect the decision-making process from reprisals by dissatisfied litigants.” 3 Sacks v. Dietrich, 663 F.3d 1065, 1069 (9th Cir. 2011) (citation omitted). But Hopper’s false advertising claim is predicated on AAA’s descriptions of its arbitrators disseminated through its website and direct mail. Commercial advertisement, designed to sway individuals to choose AAA over its competitors — as Hopper alleges occurred here — is distinct and distant from the decisional act of an arbitrator. Therefore, adjudication of claims, like false advertising, that arise before a formal arbitration relationship between parties to arbitration, arbitrators, and arbitration companies like AAA will not lead to “undue influence” over the arbitration process, nor will it expose arbitrators’ decisions to “reprisals by dissatisfied litigants.” Id.

REVERSED; REMANDED FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS.

**

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.

1

. At oral argument, Hopper stated that he was appealing only the dismissal of his false advertising cause of action.'

2

. On remand, the district court may limit Hopper’s recovery to restitution to preclude intrusion into the arbitrators’ decisional acts, which are protected by arbitral immunity.

3

. Hopper does not dispute that arbitral immunity applies to entities, such as AAA, that facilitate arbitration.

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MEMORANDUM **

Douglas Hopper appeals the dismissal of his false advertising claim against the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) on the basis of arbitral immunity. 1 We review a dismissal pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) de novo. New Mexico State Inv. Council v. Ernst & Young LLP, 641 F.3d 1089, 1094 (9th Cir. 2011). We reverse and remand for further proceedings. 2

Arbitral immunity extends to claims that arise out of a decisional act and exists to “protect the decision-maker from undue influence and protect the decision-making process from reprisals by dissatisfied litigants.” 3 Sacks v. Dietrich, 663 F.3d 1065, 1069 (9th Cir. 2011) (citation omitted). But Hopper’s false advertising claim is predicated on AAA’s descriptions of its arbitrators disseminated through its website and direct mail. Commercial advertisement, designed to sway individuals to choose AAA over its competitors — as Hopper alleges occurred here — is distinct and distant from the decisional act of an arbitrator. Therefore, adjudication of claims, like false advertising, that arise before a formal arbitration relationship between parties to arbitration, arbitrators, and arbitration companies like AAA will not lead to “undue influence” over the arbitration process, nor will it expose arbitrators’ decisions to “reprisals by dissatisfied litigants.” Id.

REVERSED; REMANDED FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS.

**

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.

1

. At oral argument, Hopper stated that he was appealing only the dismissal of his false advertising cause of action.'

2

. On remand, the district court may limit Hopper’s recovery to restitution to preclude intrusion into the arbitrators’ decisional acts, which are protected by arbitral immunity.

3

. Hopper does not dispute that arbitral immunity applies to entities, such as AAA, that facilitate arbitration.

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708 F. App'x 373, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/douglas-hopper-v-american-arbitration-assn-ca9-2017.

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