COURTS, NOT ARBITRATORS, TO DETERMINE EXISTENCE OF CONTRACT “AS A WHOLE”
MemberWorks, Inc.’s (“MemberWorks”) enrolled Sanford in a discount shopping program without her consent, charging her a fee for the program. The membership agreement contained an arbitration provision. Sanford sued MemberWorks, challenging the validity of the contract and seeking damages. The District Court compelled arbitration, holding that Sanford's challenge to the contract should be decided by an arbitrator. The arbitrator intially opined that he did not have jurisdiction to consider the validity of the contract; rather, that the validity of the contract was an issue for the court. The arbitrator then found the contract to be invalid, awarding Sanford $72 in damages, plus interest and arbitration fees, but denying Sanford's other claims. The District Court confirmed the award.
The Ninth Circuit found that Sanford had not waived her right to challenge the order compelling arbitration by waiting to challenge that decision after the arbitration award had been entered, and that the District Court should have ruled on the validity of the contract prior to compelling arbitration. The Court vacated the arbitration award and remanded the case for a determination by the District Court of whether a contract had been formed between Sanford and MemberWorks. Sanford v. MemberWorks, Inc., Case No 05-55175 (9th Cir. April 16, 2007).
