In re Samsung Galaxy Smartphone Mktg. & Sales Practices Litig.
This text of 298 F. Supp. 3d 1285 (In re Samsung Galaxy Smartphone Mktg. & Sales Practices Litig.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Opinion
A district court faced with a petition to enforce an arbitration clause engages in a limited two-part inquiry: first, it determines whether the arbitration agreement is valid, and second, it determines whether the agreement encompasses the claims at issue. Ashbey v. Archstone Prop. Mgmt., Inc. ,
III. DISCUSSION
A. Motion to Compel Arbitration
The issue before the Court is a focused one. "[A]rbitration is a matter of contract and a party cannot be required to submit to arbitration any dispute which he has not agreed so to submit." AT & T Techs., Inc. v. Commc'ns Workers of Am. ,
1. Massachusetts
Plaintiff Holzworth is a resident of Massachusetts who purchased an S7 Edge in Massachusetts. FAC ¶ 17. The parties agree that Massachusetts law governs the question whether he formed an agreement to arbitrate with Samsung.
The parties also agree on the universe of applicable cases. In 1-A Equipment Co. v. Icode, Inc. , the Massachusetts District Court Appellate Division held that a buyer was bound by a contractual forum selection clause sent with the purchased software program even though the buyer did not receive the agreement until after the purchase was made. No. 1460,
Both Massachusetts cases rely on two Seventh Circuit cases that approve of inside-the-box agreements; indeed, the court in 1-A Equipment explicitly "adopt[ed] the rationale of these cases."
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A district court faced with a petition to enforce an arbitration clause engages in a limited two-part inquiry: first, it determines whether the arbitration agreement is valid, and second, it determines whether the agreement encompasses the claims at issue. Ashbey v. Archstone Prop. Mgmt., Inc. ,
III. DISCUSSION
A. Motion to Compel Arbitration
The issue before the Court is a focused one. "[A]rbitration is a matter of contract and a party cannot be required to submit to arbitration any dispute which he has not agreed so to submit." AT & T Techs., Inc. v. Commc'ns Workers of Am. ,
1. Massachusetts
Plaintiff Holzworth is a resident of Massachusetts who purchased an S7 Edge in Massachusetts. FAC ¶ 17. The parties agree that Massachusetts law governs the question whether he formed an agreement to arbitrate with Samsung.
The parties also agree on the universe of applicable cases. In 1-A Equipment Co. v. Icode, Inc. , the Massachusetts District Court Appellate Division held that a buyer was bound by a contractual forum selection clause sent with the purchased software program even though the buyer did not receive the agreement until after the purchase was made. No. 1460,
Both Massachusetts cases rely on two Seventh Circuit cases that approve of inside-the-box agreements; indeed, the court in 1-A Equipment explicitly "adopt[ed] the rationale of these cases."
Under these cases, Plaintiff Holzworth is clearly bound by Samsung's arbitration agreement. The outside of the box states that purchase is "subject to additional Samsung terms and conditions." Blackard Decl., ECF 68, Ex. D. Inside the box, there is a guidebook titled "Important Information" and subtitled "Health and Safety Information" and "Warranty Legal Information" with those topics' respective page numbers.
This product is covered under the applicable Samsung Limited Warranty INCLUDING ITS DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEDURE and your right to opt out of arbitration within 30 calendar days of the first consumer *1291purchase. You may opt out by either sending an email to optout@sea.samsung.com with the subject line "Arbitration Opt-Out" or by calling 1-800-SAMSUNG (726-7864).
Plaintiffs' sole challenge is to the remaining element-namely, "a right to return the [product] for a refund if the terms are unacceptable."
In light of these circumstances, Plaintiff Holzworth agreed to arbitrate under Massachusetts law. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Samsung's motion to compel arbitration as to Plaintiff Holzworth.
2. California
Plaintiffs Martin, Atebar, Esther Vega, Jesus Vega, Anguiano, Hernandez, Pirverdian, Salmasian, Kouyoumdjian, Dee, Raymond, and Sanchez are residents of California who acquired their Samsung phones in California. FAC ¶¶ 10-15, 18-23. The parties agree that California law governs the question whether they formed an agreement to arbitrate with Samsung.
The parties dispute the importance of the Ninth Circuit's recent decision in Norcia v. Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC ,
a. Description of Norcia
In Norcia , the Ninth Circuit confronted the question whether the brochure in Samsung's Galaxy S4 box created a binding arbitration contract between Samsung and the consumer.
The Ninth Circuit first laid out the principles of assent under California law. The court started with the indisputable premise that "[a] contract for sale of goods may be made in any manner sufficient to show agreement, including conduct by both parties which recognizes the existence of such a contract."
Applying those principles, the Ninth Circuit concluded that, "[u]nder the circumstances in [the] case," the arbitration provision was unenforceable. Id. at 1290. The court held that the consumer had not assented to the arbitration agreement expressly nor shown an intent that his inaction could be understood as acceptance. Id. at 1285. Nor did either of the two recognized exceptions to the bar on acceptance by silence apply. Id. at 1286. Samsung did not establish that the consumer, either by operation of law or prior course of dealing, had a duty to act in response to the brochure. Id. Similarly, Samsung could not claim that the consumer retained the benefit of the agreement when the consumer was entitled to the benefits of the warranty even if he opted out of arbitration. Id. Accordingly, the court chose to follow the no-acceptance-by-silence rule. Id.
The court also addressed Samsung's arguments that analogies to shrink-wrap agreements and inside-the-box contracts displaced the no-acceptance-by-silence rule. Id. With a shrink-wrap agreement, the packaging on the outside of a product states that the consumer agrees to the terms of the agreement by opening the packaging. Id. The court noted that California law could be read to support the proposition that a consumer has a duty to act to negate the conclusion that he accepted the terms by opening the wrapper. Id. at 1287. But that scenario was different than Samsung's case. Id. The court reasoned that even if a shrink-wrap agreement "could be analogized to a brochure that contains contractual terms, the outside of the Galaxy S4 box did not notify the consumer that opening the box would be considered agreement to the terms set forth in the brochure." Id. at 1287. Thus, the court fell back on "California's general rule that silence or inaction does not constitute acceptance." Id.
As to inside-the-box contracts, the court could identify no California case that had adopted the rationale in the Seventh Circuit's decision in Hill that buyers can be bound by an arbitration clause in a brochure enclosed in a product box merely because the buyer kept the product beyond the specified return window. Id. at 1287-88. In the court's view, Hill 's holding is difficult to square with California's clear rule that silence alone does not constitute assent. Id. at 1290. The court also explained that even in cases that recognize the propriety of enforcing inside-the-box provisions in certain instances, the consumer must have adequate notice of the contractual terms. Id. at 1289. That notice was lacking with regard to the S4. In particular, the arbitration provision appeared *1293in a brochure titled "Product Safety & Warranty Information," so a reasonable person "would not be on notice that the brochure contained a freestanding obligation outside the scope of the warranty." Id. at 1289-90. Further undermining the notice was that a reasonable person would not expect that failing to opt out of an arbitration provision within the seller's warranty would subject even non-warranty claims to arbitration. Id. at 1290. Thus, the court "reject[ed] Samsung's argument that [the consumer] reasonably assented to the arbitration provision because he failed to opt out of the arbitration provision contained in the product box." Id.
In sum, the court determined that "Samsung's inclusion of a brochure in the Galaxy S4 box, and [the consumer]'s failure to opt out, does not make the arbitration provision enforceable against [the consumer]." Id. Armed with that analysis and conclusion, the Court turns to the facts of the instant case.
b. Application of Norcia to the Facts of this Case
Before scrutinizing the individual circumstances present here, the Court notes a simple, but important, distinction that applies to all Plaintiffs in the instant case. Unlike in Norcia , Samsung does not rest its argument for assent entirely on Plaintiffs' "fail[ure] to opt out of the arbitration provision contained in the product box." Id. Rather, because most of the guidebooks premise acceptance on a consumer's use of the device, Samsung relies on each Plaintiff's use of the device. While that difference may seem practically insignificant, it takes this case outside the silence-by-acceptance rubric utilized in Norcia . Indeed, in contrast to silence or inaction, each Plaintiff's use of his or her phone can signify an outward manifestation of consent. See Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 19(2) (1981) (noting that a party's conduct may manifest assent where the party "intends to engage in the conduct and knows or has reason to know that the other party may infer from his conduct that he assents"). The court in Norcia recognized that acceptance by conduct is a valid means of assent under California law.
Thus, because each Plaintiff's use of his or her phone can demonstrate acceptance, the critical issue here is whether Plaintiffs were on notice of the arbitration clause. As Norcia recognized, "regardless of apparent manifestation of his consent, [an offeree] is not bound by inconspicuous contractual provisions of which he was unaware, contained in a document whose contractual nature is not obvious."
Because this inquiry is extremely fact-bound, the Court proceeds by grouping together Plaintiffs with similar or identical circumstances. First, the Court addresses Plaintiffs with S7s or S7 Edges. Next, the Court addresses the one Plaintiff with an S6 Edge+ and Plaintiffs with S6s or S6 Edges. Finally, the Court addresses Plaintiffs with Note5s.
i. S7 and S7 Edge Plaintiffs
Plaintiffs Atebar, Esther Vega, Kouyoumdjian, Dee, and Raymond acquired an S7 or an S7 Edge. FAC ¶¶ 11-12, 20-22. Apart from Plaintiff Dee, who is analyzed separately below, the remaining Plaintiffs' S7 and S7 Edge materials follow a natural progression from the outside of the box to the guidebook's arbitration provision such that a reasonable person would have been on notice that using the phone constitutes acceptance of binding arbitration.
(1) Plaintiffs Atebar, Esther Vega, Kouyoumdjian, and Raymond
The exterior of every S7 and S7 Edge box alerts the consumer that there are additional terms and conditions. The back of two of the boxes states: "Device purchase subject to additional Samsung terms and conditions." Blackard Decl., Exs. C, E. Although these references appear in the middle of a short paragraph of information, they are written in the same font type and size as the surrounding text and are not buried in a way that makes them difficult to see. The third box is even more explicit, instructing buyers to "[s]ee brochures and Terms and Conditions (including arbitration provision) at T-Mobile.com."
The guidebooks within the boxes make clear on the cover that the terms and conditions are contained inside. Although the guidebooks are titled either "Health & Safety and Warranty Guide" or "Product Safety and Warranty Information," all of the guidebooks include the following language in bold on the front: "Please read this manual before operating your device and keep it for future reference. This document contains important terms and conditions with respect to your device. By using this device, you accept those terms and conditions. " Blackard Decl., Exs. G, H, J. Thus, even for Plaintiffs whose boxes do not indicate where to find the terms and conditions, their location is prominently displayed on the front of the guidebook in the box. What is more, the guidebook expressly provides the manner in which the consumer would bind himself or herself to the terms-"[b]y using th[e] device." Plainly, this setup is much more likely to notify consumers than Norcia 's "Product Safety & Warranty Information" brochure, which made no mention of the buyer's obligations but instead referred only to the seller's warranties.
Once the consumer knows to look within the guidebook to find the terms, there is sufficient information to direct the consumer to the arbitration provision. Immediately following the cover, on a page titled "Legal Information," the consumer is informed that important legal information is available on the phone or on samsung.com and instructed to "READ THIS INFORMATION BEFORE USING YOUR MOBILE DEVICE ." Blackard Decl., Ex. G, at 1; Ex. H, at 1; Ex. J, at 1.2 Below those statements is the key passage:
Samsung Limited Warranty -This product is covered under the applicable Samsung Limited Warranty INCLUDING ITS DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEDURE and your right to opt out of arbitration within 30 calendar days of the first consumer purchase. You may opt out by either sending an email to optout@sea.samsung.com with the subject line "Arbitration Opt-Out" or by calling 1-800-SAMSUNG (726-7864). For more detailed procedures, please refer to the "Dispute Resolution Procedures and Arbitration and Opt-Out" section of the Limited Warranty.
From there, it would not take much for the consumer to discover the scope of the arbitration provision. The language cited above tells the consumer exactly where to look: the section dealing with dispute resolution and arbitration. That section, aptly labeled "Procedures for Dispute Resolution/30-day Arbitration and Opt-Out Policy," appears in the Table of Contents as the third item in " Section 2 : Online Legal Information."
The arbitration clause appears conspicuously at the top of the first page of the "Procedures for Dispute Resolution/30-day Arbitration and Opt-Out Policy" section. In capitalized font, the provision reads: "ALL DISPUTES WITH SAMSUNG ARISING IN ANY WAY FROM THIS LIMITED WARRANTY OR THE SALE, CONDITION OR PERFORMANCE OF THE PRODUCTS SHALL BE RESOLVED EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH FINAL AND BINDING ARBITRATION, AND NOT BY A COURT OR JURY."
You may opt out of this dispute resolution procedure by providing notice to SAMSUNG no later than 30 calendar days from the date of the first consumer purchaser's purchase of the Product. To opt out, you must send notice by e-mail to optout@sea.samsung.com, with the subject line: "Arbitration Opt Out."...Alternatively, you may opt out by calling 1-800- SAMSUNG (726-7864) no later than 30 calendar days from the date of the first consumer purchaser's purchase of the Product....
The Second Circuit reached the same conclusion under California law on very similar facts in Meyer v. Uber Technologies, Inc. ,
Moreover, the current trend of California cases has been to enforce contracts even when consumers later receive the terms. Two unpublished, post- Norcia decisions from the California Court of Appeal are informative. See Emp'rs Ins. of Wausau v. Granite State Ins. Co. ,
(2) Plaintiff Dee
This leaves Plaintiff Dee, the final S7 Plaintiff whose facts are somewhat different than the others. Like with the other Plaintiffs, Plaintiff Dee's box provides: "Device purchase subject to additional Samsung terms and conditions." Blackard Decl., Ex. A. However, whereas the front of the guidebook informed the other Plaintiffs that the terms and conditions were contained therein, Plaintiff Dee's does not. Instead, his guidebook follows a nearly identical presentation to the brochure at issue in Norcia -namely, the guidebook was titled "Important Information" and had page numbers for a "Health and Safety Information" section and a "Warranty Legal Information" section. Compare
What fortifies that conclusion is that the exterior of Plaintiff Dee's box counseled against looking inside for the terms and conditions. Specifically, Plaintiff Dee's box provides: "Device purchase subject to additional Samsung terms and conditions. For more information on your device, please visit www.samsung.com." Blackard Decl., Ex. A. Thus, a consumer would likely consult the Internet to search for Samsung's terms and conditions. But the website would not put a reasonable person on notice that he binds himself to arbitration by using his phone. While consumers are instructed in bold, capitalized letters to read the important legal information before using the phone, the website nowhere provides that use of the phone constitutes acceptance of the terms.
Another district court in this circuit similarly concluded that no valid arbitration agreement had been formed in a case involving an S7 with facts virtually identical to Plaintiff Dee's. See Velasquez-Reyes v. Samsung Elecs. Am., Inc. , No. 16-CV-01953-DMG,
ii. S6 Edge+ Plaintiff
Plaintiff Martin purchased an S6 Edge+. FAC ¶ 10. The critical difference between Plaintiff Martin and the foregoing Plaintiffs is that Samsung does not submit an exhibit or argue that the outside of Plaintiff Martin's box said anything about terms and conditions.
The Court does not read Norcia to mandate that notice appear on the exterior of the box to form an agreement. In one passage, the court in Norcia rejected Samsung's analogy to a shrink-wrap agreement by stating "the outside of the Galaxy S4 box did not notify the consumer that opening the box would be considered agreement to the terms set forth in the brochure."
More fundamentally, Plaintiff Martin's case is different than Norcia because acceptance here is tied to the consumer's use of the phone. Thus, in asking what a reasonable person in Plaintiff Martin's shoes would have known at the time the contract was formed, see AIU Ins. Co. ,
Here, the Court concludes that a reasonable person in Plaintiff Martin's position would have been aware of arbitration and that using the phone constituted acceptance. It is true that the outside of the box provided no notification of arbitration or additional contractual terms. But when the consumer dumped out the contents of the box to retrieve the phone, he or she would be confronted with the guidebook. Right on the cover, the guidebook states in bold lettering: "Please read this manual before operating your device and keep it for future reference. This document contains important terms and conditions with respect to your device. By using this device, you accept those terms and conditions. " Blackard Decl., Ex. K at 2. Although that text is written in smaller font below the title "Health & Safety and Warranty Guide"-which is similar to the brochure title at issue in Norcia -the inclusion of the additional language would put the reasonable person on notice that *1300the guidebook contains a freestanding obligation that the consumer agrees to by using the phone. Unlike Norcia , where the brochure did not appear to be a contract because the cover did not go beyond mentioning warranties,
Similarly, in contrast to Norcia , the arbitration clause is not inconspicuous inside the guidebook. The guidebook contents are the same as the S7 and S7 Edge Plaintiffs' guidebook, so the consumer would follow the same course to reach the arbitration clause. In short, the first page directs the consumer to read the important legal information and notes in bold that arbitration applies (at least to warranty claims), the table of contents lists a section for dispute resolution and 30-day opt out of arbitration, and the guidebook includes the capitalized arbitration provision and the bolded procedure describing how to opt out. Blackard Decl., Ex. K at 3, 8, 22-24. The brochure in Norcia did not reference either legal information or arbitration at the front and had no table of contents listing arbitration and the option to opt out. As the Court has already concluded above, the directions at issue here are sufficient to put a reasonable person on notice about the arbitration provision. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Samsung's motion to compel arbitration as to Plaintiff Martin.
iii. S6 and S6 Edge Plaintiffs
Plaintiffs Anguiano, Hernandez, Pirverdian, Salmasian, and Sanchez purchased either an S6 or an S6 Edge. FAC ¶¶ 14-15, 18-19, 23. As to these remaining Plaintiffs, the Court need not do any analytical heavy lifting. Samsung concedes that, under Norcia , these Plaintiffs did not form an agreement to arbitrate; Samsung "move[s] to compel arbitration with respect to these five Plaintiffs for preservation purposes only." Mot. 21. In light of that concession, the Court DENIES Samsung's motion to compel arbitration as to Plaintiffs Anguiano, Hernandez, Pirverdian, Salmasian, and Sanchez.
iv. Note5 Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Atebar purchased a Note5 and Plaintiff Jesus Vega came into possession of a Note5. FAC ¶¶ 11, 13. The cryptic clues and tortuous path that these Plaintiffs would have to follow to arrive at the arbitration clause do not sufficiently place a reasonable person on notice that using the phone constitutes acceptance of arbitration.
The outside of the box mentions terms and conditions (and even arbitration), but the presentation is somewhat obscuring and misleading. Specifically, the box states: "See enclosed materials for manufacturer's Limited Warranty and important user guide information. See brochures and Terms and Conditions (including arbitration provision) at T-Mobile.com, for rate plan information, features and services, coverage maps and additional details." Blackard Decl., Ex. T. That language is sandwiched in the middle of a long paragraph of information and does nothing to set off this information as important. In contrast, earlier in the paragraph, there is bold language stating that "[y]our device may not work if you alter its original software ."
The Note5 guidebook fares no better. The guidebook's title-"Health & Safety and Warranty Guide"-is unhelpful.
Supposing that the Court accepted the dubious proposition that the reasonable consumer would make it to Samsung's website, notice still remains lacking. The webpage that Plaintiffs Atebar and Vega would have viewed has the same uninformative title as the guidebook-"Health & Safety and Warranty Guide."
3. Maryland
Plaintiff Robison is a resident of Maryland who purchased a Samsung Galaxy S6 in Maryland. FAC ¶ 16. The parties agree that Maryland law governs the question whether he formed an agreement to arbitrate with Samsung.
Maryland's law on assent appears to parallel California's in important ways. Under Maryland law, "[a]cceptance may be manifested by acts as well as by words." Cochran v. Norkunas ,
Significant here, an offeree may be bound to terms that were unknown to him so long as the offeree was on notice of the terms.
Like the plaintiff in Shaffer , Plaintiff Robison was not on notice of arbitration. The exterior of his phone box does not mention arbitration and, indeed, says nothing about contractual promises at all. Blackard Decl., Ex. W. His guidebook also is unilluminating. The front includes the title "Product Safety & Warranty Information" and the subscript tells the user to "read this manual before operating your device and keep it for future reference ."
Even if these frustratingly oblique references were sufficient to lead the consumer to Samsung's website, the Internet page still does not conspicuously provide the arbitration provision or otherwise inform the user that an arbitration clause exists. The page is titled "Warranty Information " and the first section is called "Standard Limited Warranty ."
Samsung's arguments to the contrary are unpersuasive. Samsung argues that the arbitration clause was incorporated into the guidebook by reference. Mot. 21. Even if the incorporation by reference doctrine could be invoked here, the Court has already concluded that neither the guidebook nor the website gives adequate notice of the arbitration provision. Next, Samsung analogizes to cases where Maryland courts enforced arbitration agreements based on a consumer's use of a credit card. Id. at 20; Reply 13-14. However, in those cases, the plaintiffs acknowledged or received agreements from their credit card companies that alerted the plaintiff to arbitration and described the actions that would bind the plaintiff. See Bey v. Midland Credit Mgmt., Inc. , No. 15-CV-01329-GJH,
B. Motion to Dismiss Class Claims
For Plaintiffs whose phones are subject to arbitration, Samsung also moves to dismiss their class-action claims. Mot. 23-24. The relevant Plaintiffs' guidebooks included a clause waiving class treatment immediately below the arbitration clause. Specifically, that clause provided that "ANY SUCH DISPUTE SHALL NOT BE COMBINED OR CONSOLIDATED WITH A DISPUTE INVOLVING ANY OTHER PERSON'S OR ENTITY'S PRODUCT OR CLAIM, AND SPECIFICALLY, WITHOUT LIMITATION OF THE FOREGOING, SHALL NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES PROCEED AS PART OF A CLASS ACTION." Blackard Decl., Ex. G at 26; Ex. H, at 28; Ex. I at 30; Ex. J, at 27; Ex. K at 22. The Supreme Court has enforced class waivers in arbitration agreements in functionally identical circumstances. Am. Exp. Co. v. Italian Colors Rest. ,
C. Motion to Stay the Litigation Pending Arbitration
Finally, Samsung requests that if the Court orders arbitration as to any Plaintiff, it should stay all proceedings in this litigation pending arbitration. Mot. 24-25. Under the FAA, the court is authorized to stay proceedings pending arbitration.
IV. ORDER
For the foregoing reasons, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Samsung's motion to compel arbitration and to dismiss class-action claims is GRANTED as to Plaintiffs Martin, Atebar (as to the S7), Esther Vega, Holzworth, Kouyoumdjian, and Raymond. Samsung's motion to compel arbitration and to dismiss class-action claims is DENIED as to Plaintiffs Atebar (as to the Note5), Jesus Vega, Anguiano, Hernandez, Robison, Pirverdian, Salmasian, Dee, and Sanchez. Samsung's motion to stay all proceedings pending the outcome of arbitration is GRANTED. Within seven days of the resolution of the arbitration, the parties shall file a joint status report advising the Court of the resolution of the matter and any further action required by the Court.
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