Duffy, D. v. Tatum, R.

2026 Pa. Super. 41
CourtSuperior Court of Pennsylvania
DecidedMarch 3, 2026
Docket483 EDA 2025
StatusPublished
AuthorPanella

This text of 2026 Pa. Super. 41 (Duffy, D. v. Tatum, R.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Superior Court of Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Duffy, D. v. Tatum, R., 2026 Pa. Super. 41 (Pa. Ct. App. 2026).

Opinion

J-A30025-25 2026 PA Super 41

DANIEL DUFFY AND LAVERNE DUFFY, : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF H/W : PENNSYLVANIA : : v. : : : ROBERT TATUM, JASON REEVES, : DOLLY, INC., UPDATER, INC., : No. 483 EDA 2025 JOHN/JAN DOES 1-9, ABC : CORPORATIONS 1-9 : : : APPEAL OF: DOLLY, INC. :

Appeal from the Order Entered February 3, 2025 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Civil Division at No(s): 240501856

BEFORE: LAZARUS, P.J., PANELLA, P.J.E., and SULLIVAN, J.

OPINION BY PANELLA, P.J.E.: FILED MARCH 3, 2026

Dolly, Inc (“Dolly”) appeals from the order overruling its preliminary

objections alleging the parties agreed to an alternative dispute resolution

disposition. Dolly argues the trial court erred in finding Dolly’s website did not

provide reasonably obvious notice of its terms of service to Daniel Duffy

(“Duffy”) prior to Duffy purchasing Dolly’s services and, as such, Duffy never

agreed to waive his constitutional right to a jury trial. After careful review, we

affirm.

The trial court set forth the relevant factual and procedural history:

On November 30, 2022, [Duffy] used a web browser on his iPad or laptop to access Dolly’s website (www.Dolly.com). On Dolly’s website, [Duffy] clicked “Book a Dolly,” selected, among other things, the desired service, number of movers, item the movers J-A30025-25

would move, vehicle the movers would use to move the item, and the date, time, and location of the move.

Dolly’s website then required [Duffy] to provide, among other things, his first and last name, a mobile phone number, and to checkmark a box labeled “By checking this box I accept the Dolly Terms of Service” before [Duffy] was permitted to register and purchase services. The phrase “Dolly Terms of Service” was underlined. The website provided [Duffy] with the ability to click on the underlined phrase “Dolly Terms of Service” as it was a hyperlink to Dolly’s full Terms of Service Agreement. If [Duffy] clicked on the hyperlink, Dolly’s Terms of Service Agreement would appear in a new web browser window. On Page 3, Dolly’s Terms of Service Agreement contained the following provision:

Governing Law; Arbitration

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS CAREFULLY BECAUSE THEY REQUIRE YOU TO ARBITRATE DISPUTES WITH DOLLY AND LIMIT THE MANNER IN WHICH YOU CAN SEEK RELIEF FROM DOLLY.

These Terms shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington and the United States of America, without resort to any conflict of law provisions.

In the event of any controversy or claim arising out of or relating in any way to these Terms or the Dolly platform, you and Dolly agree to consult and negotiate with each other and, recognizing our mutual interests, try to reach a solution satisfactory to both parties. If we do not reach settlement within a period of 60 days, then either of us may, by notice to the other[,] demand mediation under the mediation rules of the American Arbitration Association in Seattle, Washington. We both give up our right to litigate our disputes and may not proceed to arbitration without first trying mediation, but you and Dolly are NOT required to arbitrate any dispute in which either party seeks equitable and other relief from the alleged unlawful use of copyrights, trademarks, trade names, logos, trade secrets or patents. Whether the dispute

-2- J-A30025-25

is heard in arbitration or in court, you and Dolly will not commence against the other a class action, class arbitration or other representative action or proceeding.

If settlement is not reached within 60 days after service of a written demand for mediation, any unresolved controversy or claim will be resolved by arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association before a single arbitrator in Seattle, Washington. The language of all proceedings and filings will be English. The arbitrator will render a written opinion including findings of fact and law and the award and/or determination of the arbitrator will be binding on the parties, and their respective administrators and assigns, and will not be subject to appeal. Judgment may be entered upon the award of the arbitrator in any court of competent jurisdiction. The expenses of the arbitration will be shared equally by the parties unless the arbitration determines that the expenses will be otherwise assessed and the prevailing party may be awarded its attorneys’ fees and expenses by the arbitrator. It is the intent of the parties that, barring extraordinary circumstances, arbitration proceedings will be concluded within 90 days from the date the arbitrator is appointed. The arbitrator may extend this time limit only if failure to do so would unduly prejudice the rights of the parties. Failure to adhere to this time limit will not constitute a basis for challenging the award. Consistent with the expedited nature of arbitration, pre-hearing information exchange will be limited to the reasonable production of relevant, non-privileged documents, carried out expeditiously.

For any disputes that are not handled by arbitration, you agree that any action at law or in equity arising out of or relating to these Terms shall be filed only in the state and federal courts located in Seattle, Washington and you hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consent and submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of these Terms or the use of the Dolly Platform.

-3- J-A30025-25

If [Duffy] had looked at Dolly’s Terms of Service Agreement, there would have been no statement on the first page of the Terms of Service stating in bold capitalized letters that the user is waiving the right to [a] jury trial. No other part of the website stated that a user is waiving the right to [a] jury trial. If [Duffy] had not check marked the box, the website would not have allowed [Duffy] to proceed to registration and to purchase services but instead would return him to a window in which the phrase “By checking this box I accept the Dolly Terms of Service” would be in red font. There was no other way to register and purchase services other than check marking the box. If [Duffy] had check marked the box, the website would permit [Duffy] to register and purchase services. The website did not require [Duffy] to click the underlined “Dolly Terms of Service” hyperlink in order to register and purchase services. The website did not require [Duffy] to scroll to the bottom of the Terms of Service Agreement in order to register and purchase services.

On November 30, 2022, [Duffy] purchased from Dolly through its website moving services which, during such moving services, an accident occurred, and [Duffy] was injured.

On May 15, 2024, Plaintiffs filed a request for the issuance of a Writ of Summons, which was issued on that same date, and, on September 24, 2024, filed a Complaint against Defendants in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas for negligence and loss of consortium. On October 11, 2024, Dolly filed Preliminary Objections to Plaintiffs’ Complaint arguing that Plaintiffs had entered into an agreement for alternative dispute resolution with Dolly for such claims. On November 4, 2024, Plaintiffs filed a response to Dolly’s Preliminary Objections arguing that there exists no valid alternative dispute resolution agreement between the parties. On November 25, 2024, the trial court issued a Rule permitting each party to conduct discovery on the issue of the agreement for alternative dispute resolution and then to submit supplement[al] briefs. On January 31, 2025, the trial court overruled Dolly’s Preliminary Objections. On February 19, 2025, Dolly filed a timely appeal of the [] order.[1] ____________________________________________

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Bluebook (online)
2026 Pa. Super. 41, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/duffy-d-v-tatum-r-pasuperct-2026.