Mwithiga v. Uber Techs., Inc.

376 F. Supp. 3d 1052
CourtDistrict Court, D. Nevada
DecidedMarch 14, 2019
DocketCase No.: 2:18-cv-00768-GMN-CWH
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 376 F. Supp. 3d 1052 (Mwithiga v. Uber Techs., Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Nevada primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Mwithiga v. Uber Techs., Inc., 376 F. Supp. 3d 1052 (D. Nev. 2019).

Opinion

Gloria M. Navarro, Chief Judge

Pending before the Court are Defendant Uber Technologies, Inc.'s ("Defendant") Motion to Compel Arbitration, (ECF No. 10), and Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings, (ECF No. 11);1 or, in the alternative, Motion to Stay During Pendency of Arbitration, (ECF No. 12). Pro se Plaintiff Peter Mwithiga2 ("Plaintiff") filed a single *1055Response, (ECF No. 13),3 to the Motions. Defendant filed a Reply, (ECF No. 20), and Plaintiff filed a Surreply, (ECF No. 21).

Also pending before the Court is Defendant's Motion to Strike Plaintiff's Surreply, (ECF No. 22), or, in the alternative, Motion for Leave to File a Response to Surreply, (ECF No. 23). Plaintiff filed a Response, (ECF Nos. 24, 25), and Defendant filed a Reply, (ECF No. 26).

I. BACKGROUND

A. Defendant's Uber App and the Underlying Technology Services Agreement

Defendant is a technology company that offers a smartphone application ("Uber App") to connect people looking for transportation ("riders") to transportation providers ("drivers") looking for riders. (Rosenthal Decl. ¶ 3, ECF No. 10-1). When drivers seek to use Defendant's Uber App to begin connecting with riders, they must enter into the Technology Services Agreement ("TSA") with Defendant's subsidiary, Rasier, or a related entity. (Id. ¶ 8). To accept the TSA, a driver must first log on to the Uber App using a unique username (the driver's email address) and password. (Id. ¶ 7). The driver personally selects the unique username and password at the time he signs up to use the Uber App, and the driver's account can only be accessed by inputting that unique username and password. (Id. ).

Once a new driver logs on to the Uber App, he is given an opportunity to review the TSA by clicking a hyperlink presented on the screen within the Uber App. (Id. ¶ 9). At the top of this screen, the Uber App states: "TO GO ONLINE, YOU MUST REVIEW ALL THE DOCUMENTS BELOW AND AGREE TO THE CONTRACTS BELOW." (Id. ). Clicking the link opens the TSA, which can be reviewed by scrolling through. (Id. ). The driver is free to spend as much time as he wishes reviewing the TSA on his smartphone. (Id. ). To advance past the screen which contains the link to the document, the driver must click "YES, I AGREE" to the TSA. (Id. ). Directly above "YES, I AGREE," the Uber App states: "By clicking below, you represent that you have reviewed all the documents above and that you agree to all the contracts above." (Id. ). After clicking "YES, I AGREE," the driver is prompted to confirm acceptance a second time. (Id. ). On the second screen, the Uber App states: "PLEASE CONFIRM THAT YOU HAVE REVIEWED ALL THE DOCUMENTS AND AGREE TO ALL THE NEW CONTRACTS." (Id. ). After clicking "YES, I AGREE" a second time, the driver is able to access the Uber App, and the TSA is immediately sent to the driver's "Driver Portal," where the driver can access the TSA at any time. (Id. ).

As pertinent to this case, the TSA contains an arbitration provision ("Arbitration Provision"), which provides as follows:

This Arbitration Provision is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq. (the "FAA") and evidences a transaction involving interstate commerce. This Arbitration Provision applies to any dispute arising out of or related to this Agreement or termination of the Agreement and survives after the Agreement terminates.

(TSA § 15.3(i), Ex. D to Rosenthal Decl., ECF No. 10-1). It further states in boldface text:

*1056Except as it otherwise provides, this Arbitration Provision is intended to apply to the resolution of disputes that otherwise would be resolved in a court of law or before any forum other than arbitration, with the exception of proceedings that must be exhausted under applicable law before pursuing a claim in a court of law or in any forum other than arbitration. Except as it otherwise provides, this Arbitration Provision requires all such disputes to be resolved only by an arbitrator through final and binding arbitration on an individual basis only and not by way of court or jury trial, or by way of class, collective, or representative action.

(Id. ). Additionally, it contains a delegation clause ("Delegation Clause"), which provides:

Except as provided in Section 15.3(v), below, regarding the Class Action Waiver, such disputes include without limitation disputes arising out of or relating to interpretation or application of this Arbitration Provision, including the enforceability, revocability or validity of the Arbitration Provision or any portion of the Arbitration Provision....

(Id. ). The TSA then explicitly states:

Except as it otherwise provides, this Arbitration Provision also applies, without limitation, to all disputes between You and the Company or Uber, as well as all disputes between You and the Company's or Uber's fiduciaries, administrators, affiliates, subsidiaries, parents, and all successors and assigns of any of them, including but not limited to any disputes arising out of or related to this Agreement and disputes arising out of or related to your relationship with the Company, including termination of the relationship. This Arbitration Provision also applies, without limitation, to disputes regarding any city, county, state or federal wage-hour law, trade secrets, unfair competition, compensation, breaks and rest periods, expense reimbursement, termination, harassment and claims arising under the ... Fair Labor Standards Act ... and state statutes, if any, addressing the same or similar subject matters, and all other similar federal and state statutory and common law claims.

(Id. ).

B. Factual Allegations and Procedural Background

Plaintiff alleges that he applied to be a driver for Defendant in January 2016. (Am. Compl. 2:18-20, ECF No. 5). As part of the application process, Plaintiff accepted the TSA via Defendant's Uber App. (Id. 3:5-12, 21:9-12). However, Defendant ultimately rejected Plaintiff's January 2016 application. (Id. 4:20-5:4).

In April 2016, Plaintiff reapplied to be a driver for Defendant. (Id. 5:5-7). Plaintiff alleges that he was not presented with the TSA as part of the application process, and therefore, he did not accept the TSA.4 (See id. 5:23-6:3). Defendant, however, alleges that Plaintiff was presented with the TSA, and that he accepted it through the Uber App. (Mot. to Compel 3:7-12, ECF No. 10). Nevertheless, Plaintiff contends that *1057

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376 F. Supp. 3d 1052, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mwithiga-v-uber-techs-inc-nvd-2019.