In re Checking Account Overdraft Litigation

915 F. Supp. 2d 1334, 2013 WL 151179
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Florida
DecidedJanuary 11, 2013
DocketNos. 1:09-MD-02036-JLK, 1:10-CV-22190-JLK, 5:10-cv-329; MDL No. 2036
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 915 F. Supp. 2d 1334 (In re Checking Account Overdraft Litigation) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Checking Account Overdraft Litigation, 915 F. Supp. 2d 1334, 2013 WL 151179 (S.D. Fla. 2013).

Opinion

ORDER DENYING MOTION TO COMPEL ARBITRATION

JAMES LAWRENCE KING, District Judge.

THIS CAUSE comes before the Court on Defendant RBC Bank (USA)’s Renewed Motion to Compel Arbitration (DE # 1929). Oral Argument was held on December 13, 2012.

I. Background.1

This Court previously denied a motion to compel arbitration filed by RBC Bank (USA) (“RBC”). (DE # 763). During the [1336]*1336pendency of RBC’s appeal of that Order, the parties agreed to vacate the Order and remand the case for this Court to consider the decision in AT & T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion, — U.S. -, 131 S.Ct. 1740, 179 L.Ed.2d 742 (2011). Following remand, RBC filed its Renewed Motion to Compel Arbitration (DE # 1929) and Plaintiffs filed their Response in Opposition (DE # 2020) along with a Motion to Defer Ruling, seeking leave to conduct limited, arbitration-specific discovery (DE # 2021). This Court granted Plaintiffs permission to conduct discovery. (DE # 2191). After the conclusion of discovery, the parties submitted supplemental briefing on the pending motion (DE # 3008, 3009, 3016, 3017).2

In their supplemental briefing, Plaintiffs assert that there is no longer an arbitration clause in their account agreement. (DE # 3008, pp. 1-5). Specifically, Plaintiffs contend that as a result of the acquisition of RBC Bank by PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (“PNC”) and the bank’s issuance in March 2012 of a comprehensive new deposit agreement — which does not require, or even mention, arbitration — the former RBC deposit agreement became ineffective. Id. RBC disputes this argument, contending that the arbitration requirement from the former RBC deposit agreement still governs, notwithstanding the fact that it was superseded in March 2012. (DE # 3017, pp. 2-8). RBC asserts that under applicable law, the subsequent PNC agreement, which does not contain an arbitration provision, did not supersede, repeal, or eliminate the broad arbitration provision in the prior RBC agreement between the parties because (1) the RBC agreement contemplated that the arbitration provision would survive as to transactions conducted thereunder in the event that RBC was acquired by another bank or the RBC agreement was terminated; (2) all of Plaintiffs’ arbitrable claims were asserted against RBC (not PNC) and arose out of the RBC agreement (not the PNC agreement); and (3) there is no explicit language in the PNC agreement retroactively waiving arbitration rights that had accrued and vested under the RBC agreement.

The Court agrees with Plaintiffs’ argument and, therefore, denies the Renewed Motion to Compel Arbitration for the reasons set forth herein.

II. Discussion.

The Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) embodies a strong policy in favor of enforcing valid arbitration agreements. Green Tree Fin. Corp.-Ala. v. Randolph, 531 U.S. 79, 89, 121 S.Ct. 513, 148 L.Ed.2d 373 (2000). Under the FAA and North Carolina law, a court may only compel arbitration if it finds (i) a valid written agreement to arbitrate exists, and (ii) that the dispute falls within the scope of the agreement. D.P. Solutions, Inc. v. Xplore-Tech Servs. Private Ltd., 710 S.E.2d 297, 299-300 (N.C.Ct.App.2011); Doe v. Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd., 657 F.3d 1204, 1214 (11th Cir.2011) (“parties will not be required to arbitrate when they have not agreed to do so”). “The question of whether a dispute is subject to arbitration is an issue for judicial determination.” D.P. Solutions, 710 S.E.2d at 299-300; Revels v. Miss Am. Org., 165 N.C.App. 181, 599 S.E.2d 54, 59 (2004).

[1337]*1337“[Ajrbitration is simply a matter of contract between the parties; it is a way to resolve those disputes — but only those disputes — that the parties have agreed to submit to arbitration.” Evangelistic Outreach Ctr. v. Gen. Steel Corp., 181 N.C.App. 723, 640 S.E.2d 840, 843 (2007); Levin v. Alms & Assocs., Inc., 634 F.3d 260, 266 (4th Cir.2011). To determine whether parties have an agreement to arbitrate, courts must review the operative agreement. D.P. Solutions, 710 S.E.2d at 300; Rodgers Builders, Inc. v. McQueen, 76 N.C.App. 16, 331 S.E.2d 726, 731 (1985).

“Parties to an arbitration must specify clearly the scope and terms of their agreement to arbitrate.” Emmanuel AME Church v. Reynolds Constr. Co., Inc., 718 S.E.2d 201, 203 (N.C.Ct.App.2011); Sloan Fin. Group, Inc. v. Beckett, 159 N.C.App. 470, 583 S.E.2d 325, 330 (2003). Moreover, under North Carolina law, “[t]he party seeking arbitration bears the burden of proving the parties mutually agreed to the arbitration provision.” Emmanuel, 718 S.E.2d at 203; Harbour Point Homeowners’ Ass’n, Inc. v. DJF Enters., Inc., 201 N.C.App. 720, 688 S.E.2d 47, 50 (2010); see also Seaboard Coast Line R.R. Co. v. Trailer Train Co., 690 F.2d 1343, 1348 (11th Cir.1982); Int’l Underwriters AG v. Triple I: Int’l Inv., 533 F.3d 1342, 1348 (11th Cir.2008) (same).

Under the FAA, there is a presumption favoring arbitrability which can only be negated expressly or by clear implication. Integrated Security Servs. v. Skidata, 609 F.Supp.2d 1323, 1326 (S.D.Fla.2009) (citing Nolde Bros., Inc. v. Local No. 358, Bakery & Confectionery Workers Union, AFL-CIO, 430 U.S. 243, 255, 97 S.Ct. 1067, 51 L.Ed.2d 300 (1977)). Under the FAA, the party opposing enforcement of the arbitration agreement bears the burden of proving that the claims are not subject to arbitration. Green Tree, 531 U.S. at 91-92, 121 S.Ct. 513. Given the strong federal policy in favor of arbitration, “any doubts concerning the scope of arbitrable issues should be resolved in favor of arbitration.” Moses H. Cone Mem. Hosp. v. Mercury Constr. Co., 460 U.S. 1, 24-25, 103 S.Ct. 927, 74 L.Ed.2d 765 (1983).

A. Is There An Agreement To Arbitrate?

RBC does not dispute that in March of 2012 it sent all existing RBC customers, including Plaintiffs, PNC’s Account Agreement for Personal Checking, Savings and Money Market Accounts (hereinafter “PNC Agreement”).

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915 F. Supp. 2d 1334, 2013 WL 151179, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-checking-account-overdraft-litigation-flsd-2013.