FILED
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
MAR 12 2021
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
COSTCO WHOLESALE No. 19-55451
CORPORATION,
D.C. No.
Petitioner-Appellant, 3:18-cv-01953-AJB-BLM
v.
MEMORANDUM*
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD
OF TEAMSTERS, LOCAL NO. 542,
Respondent-Appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of California
Anthony J. Battaglia, District Judge, Presiding
Argued and Submitted June 1, 2020
Pasadena, California
Before: RAWLINSON and N.R. SMITH, Circuit Judges, and KORMAN,**
District Judge.
Dissent by Judge N.R. SMITH
*
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
**
The Honorable Edward R. Korman, United States District Judge for
the Eastern District of New York, sitting by designation.
Costco Wholesale Corp. (Costco) appeals the district court’s judgment
confirming an arbitration award in favor of the International Brotherhood of
Teamsters, Local No. 542 (the Union), and denying Costco’s petition to vacate the
award. A member of the Union, James Diaz, challenged his termination for selling
drugs on Costco premises. The parties participated in arbitration proceedings as
provided in the collective bargaining agreement. Following the presentation of
evidence, matters took a bizarre turn.
We are fully aware of the high standard that must be met to vacate an
arbitration award. See Stead Motors of Walnut Creek v. Auto Machinists Lodge,
886 F.2d 1200, 1208 n.8 (9th Cir. 1989) (en banc) (describing the extremely
limited review on appeal of an arbitrator’s decision). And we do not disagree with
the general principles espoused by our esteemed colleague in dissent.
Nevertheless, an arbitration award may be vacated if the proceedings violate the
rule of fundamental fairness. See Move, Inc. v. Citigroup Glob. Markets, Inc., 840
F.3d 1152, 1158 (9th Cir. 2016).
The arbitrator engaged in “extensive post-hearing ex parte communications
with Diaz and the Union,” including an unauthorized $6,000 settlement offer to
Diaz of which Costco was unaware. The arbitrator rendered his decision via a
vague and bizarre email only sent to the Union and reading: “The above named
2
grievant prevails in his grievance. The Union’s arguments as to double jeopardy
were correct. Union remedy is adopted. So that I can look at myself in the mirror,
my resignation is effective today.” The arbitrator resigned after rendering his
email judgment, thereby preventing Costco from obtaining clarification of his
decision. Costco requested that the arbitrator email a copy of the completed Board
of Adjustment Decision form, but never received the form. A copy of the form
was filed in the district court and stated with no elaboration: “Double Jeopardy
was proved by preponderance of evidence presented. Employee to be made
whole.” Because the arbitrator failed to provide a reasoned decision, Costco was
left with uncertainty as to the parameters of the remedy ordered by the arbitrator.
“Based on the facts of the case before us, we simply cannot conclude that [Costco]
received a fundamentally fair hearing,” and Costco “is entitled to vacatur.” Move,
Inc., 840 F.3d at 1159.
Our colleague in dissent takes issue with our reliance on the language in
Move, Inc. However, the cases relied on by our dissenting colleague also consider
the fairness of the proceedings. See Emp’rs Ins. of Wausau v. Nat’l Union Fire
Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, 933 F.2d 1481, 1491 (9th Cir. 1991) (noting that the
arbitrator’s judgment must be “incorrupt”) (citation omitted); see also U.S. Life
Ins. Co., v. Superior Nat’l Ins. Co., 591 F.3d 1167, 1177 (9th Cir. 2010). Notably,
3
those cases did not involve an arbitrator who failed to render a reasoned decision
and otherwise abandoned his responsibilities.
Our colleague in dissent also insists that the arbitrator’s decision drew its
essence from the collective bargaining agreement. But there was no essence of the
decision because there was no decision rendered, and no reasoning proffered. For
all we know, the arbitrator flipped a coin, consulted a ouija board, or threw darts at
a dartboard to determine the outcome. He certainly gave no explanation to the
parties of his decision despite a request from Costco that he do so.
The dissent posits that we must defer to the arbitrator’s decision “regardless
of whether we believe that the decision finds the facts and states the law
erroneously.” Dissenting Opinion, p. 8 (quoting Stead Motors, 886 F.2d at 1204
(internal quotation marks omitted). However, the fallacy in that argument is that
the arbitrator neither found the facts nor stated the law, so there is nothing to which
we can defer as contemplated by the plain language of Stead Motors. Indeed, in
Stead Motors, we specifically noted that the arbitrator “issued a written opinion
and award.” Id. at 1203.
Finally, our colleague in dissent represents that the record does not reflect
that the arbitrator was biased. But ex parte communications and an unauthorized
settlement offer reflect consummate bias and lack of commitment to a transparent
4
proceeding. See Airgas West, Inc. v. Hawaii Teamsters and Allied Workers, Local
996, No. 12-00454 LEK-KSC, 2013 WL 1856076 at *7 (D. Haw. April 30, 2013)
(“The parties agree that an arbitrator’s ex parte communication may be grounds to
vacate an award . . .”). No party agreeing to arbitration bargained for a proceeding
such as this, and nothing in our precedent compels us to ignore these facts. See
American Exp. Co. v. Italian Colors Restaurant, 570 U.S. 228, 233 (2018) (noting
courts’ obligation to “rigorously enforce . . . the rules under which that arbitration
will be conducted,” as agreed by the parties).
The decision of the district court confirming the arbitration award is
REVERSED and REMANDED for vacatur of the arbitration award.
5
FILED
Costco Wholesale Corp. v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local No. 542,
No. 19-55451 MAR 12 2021
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
N.R. SMITH, Circuit Judge, dissenting:
Arbitration “is a matter of consent, not coercion.” Volt Info. Scis., Inc. v. Bd.
of Trs. of Leland Stanford Junior Univ., 489 U.S. 468, 479 (1989). “By agreeing to
arbitrate . . . , [a party] trades the procedures and opportunity for review of the
courtroom for the simplicity, informality, and expedition of arbitration.” Mitsubishi
Motors Corp. v. Soler Chrysler–Plymouth, Inc., 473 U.S. 614, 628 (1985). As a
sophisticated company, Costco Wholesale Corporation (“Costco”) was aware of
these advantages of arbitration when it chose to resolve its labor disputes in the
arbitral forum. Costco also knew that it would have to “live with that choice,” see
Oxford Health Plans LLC v. Sutter, 569 U.S. 564, 573 (2013), even if “it [were]
disappointed by or disagreed with the result in a particular case,” Stead Motors of
Walnut Creek v. Auto. Machinists Lodge No. 1173, Int’l Ass’n of Machinists &
Aerospace Workers, 886 F.2d 1200, 1217 (9th Cir. 1989) (en banc). For the role of
the arbitrator in a labor dispute is to “state the parties’ bargain,” id. at 1205, such
that “it is the arbitrator’s view of the facts and of the meaning of the contract that
[the parties] have agreed to accept,” United Paperworkers Int’l Union, AFL–CIO v.
Misco, Inc., 484 U.S. 29, 37–38 (1987).
1
Thus, having “chose[n] arbitration, . . . [Costco] agreed with [James Diaz]
that an arbitrator should determine what their contract meant” as it related to their
dispute. See Oxford Health Plans, 569 U.S. at 573. “The arbitrator did what the
parties requested: He provided an interpretation of the contract resolving that
dispute[] . . . .” Id. “His interpretation went against [Costco], [and] maybe
mistakenly so.” Id. But, because “[i]t [was] the arbitrator’s construction which [the
parties] bargained for,” United Steelworkers of Am. v. Enter. Wheel & Car Corp.,
363 U.S. 593, 599 (1960), “[t]he arbitrator’s construction holds, however good,
bad, or ugly,” Oxford Health Plans, 569 U.S. at 573.
Now, Costco seeks relief from the bargain it struck with Diaz, simply
because that bargain “ha[s] turned sour on [it].” Stead Motors, 886 F.2d at 1206.
And despite the fact that Costco “agreed to purchase [the arbitrator’s decision],
eyes open, for better or for worse,” the majority inexplicably grants Costco a
refund by vacating the arbitration award—leaving Diaz without the benefit of his
bargain. See id. (quoting Edgar A. Jones, Jr., “His Own Brand of Industrial
Justice”: The Stalking Horse of Judicial Review of Labor Arbitration, 30 UCLA L.
Rev. 881, 893 (1983)).
The majority reaches this result solely based on one of Costco’s arguments
that the arbitrator’s conduct denied Costco a fundamentally fair hearing. However,
2
for the following reasons, I must respectfully dissent. None of Costco’s arguments
have merit. I will first address the basis of the majority’s decision.
1. The arbitrator’s conduct did not deny Costco a fundamentally fair hearing as
defined by our precedent. A labor arbitration “hearing is fundamentally fair if it
meets ‘the minimal requirements of fairness’—adequate notice, a hearing on the
evidence, and an impartial decision by the arbitrator.” Sunshine Mining Co. v.
United Steelworkers of Am., AFL–CIO, CLC, 823 F.2d 1289, 1295 (9th Cir. 1987)
(quoting Ficek v. S. Pac. Co., 338 F.2d 655, 657 (9th Cir. 1964)); accord Emp’rs
Ins. of Wausau v. Nat’l Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, 933 F.2d 1481, 1491
(9th Cir. 1991) (“[P]erhaps [the movant] did not enjoy a perfect hearing; but it did
receive a fair hearing. It had notice, it had the opportunity to be heard and to
present relevant and material evidence, and the decisionmakers were not infected
with bias. [The movant] was entitled to no more.”); U.S. Life Ins. Co. v. Superior
Nat’l Ins. Co., 591 F.3d 1167, 1177 (9th Cir. 2010) (finding that the movant had
received a fair hearing—and thus failed to establish prejudice under 9 U.S.C.
§ 10(a)(3)—because “[i]t had notice, it had the opportunity to be heard . . . , and
the decisionmakers were not infected with bias” (quoting Emp’rs Ins. of Wausau,
933 F.2d at 1491)).
Remarkably, however, the majority refuses to consider whether the
3
arbitration satisfied these “minimal requirements of fairness” that are so clearly
outlined in our precedent. See Sunshine Mining Co., 823 F.2d at 1295 (quoting
Ficek, 338 F.2d at 657); accord Emp’rs Ins. of Wausau, 933 F.2d at 1491; U.S. Life
Ins. Co., 591 F.3d at 1177.
Here, there is no evidence in the record (and the majority certainly points to
none) indicating that Costco was given inadequate notice or denied the opportunity
to be heard. Instead, the majority decides that Costco did not receive a
fundamentally fair hearing, because the arbitrator engaged in “bizarre”
conduct—e.g., partaking in ex parte communications with Diaz and the
International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local No. 542 (“Union”), rendering a
“vague” decision issued in an unusual manner, extending an unauthorized
settlement offer, and resigning prematurely. However, the FAA “does not
expressly prohibit ex parte contact[,] [e]x parte conduct by an arbitration panel
requires vacatur of an award only if the ex parte contact constitutes misbehavior
that prejudices the rights of a party.” U.S. Life Ins. Co., 591 F.3d at 1176.1 Neither
the majority nor Costco address the necessary prejudice. However bizarre or
1
Because the Union does not challenge the FAA’s applicability in this case,
there is no reason to decide “whether the FAA applies to arbitration of collective
bargaining agreements.” See Matthews v. Nat’l Football League Mgmt. Council,
688 F.3d 1107, 1115 n.7 (9th Cir. 2012).
4
irregular the arbitrator’s conduct may have been, it is undisputed that the
arbitration proceedings met “‘the minimal requirements of fairness’—adequate
notice, a hearing on the evidence, and an impartial decision by the arbitrator.”
Sunshine Mining Co., 823 F.2d at 1295 (quoting Ficek, 338 F.2d at 657).
Therefore, notwithstanding the majority’s “gut feeling” of unfairness, our
precedent demands (in no unclear terms) the conclusion that the arbitration was
fundamentally fair. See id.; accord Emp’rs Ins. of Wausau, 933 F.2d at 1491; U.S.
Life Ins. Co., 591 F.3d at 1177.
It is important to note that the majority also fails to cite any statutory
grounds for vacating the arbitration award, resting its entire decision on the single
“fair hearing” sentence from Move, Inc. v. Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., 840
F.3d 1152 (9th Cir. 2016). Because Move, Inc. vacated an arbitration award under
9 U.S.C. § 10(a)(3)—which permits vacatur “where the arbitrator[] [was] guilty of
. . . misbehavior by which the rights of any party have been prejudiced”—that
provision of the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) must be the basis of the
majority’s decision. See Move, Inc., 840 F.3d at 1158. Yet, there is no resemblance
between the arbitrator’s conduct in this case and “the unique set of facts” at issue
in Move, Inc., which involved the arbitrator defrauding the parties to the
arbitration. See 840 F.3d at 1158–59. Therefore, there is simply no support in this
5
record for the grounds upon which the majority vacates the arbitration award.
2. Costco cites other grounds for vacatur of the arbitration award under the
FAA. These arguments also fail. First, Costco has not shown that the arbitrator
“refus[ed] to hear evidence pertinent and material to the controversy” before the
Board of Adjustment, see 9 U.S.C. § 10(a)(3) (emphasis added), or that any refusal
to hear evidence prejudiced Costco, see U.S. Life Ins. Co., 591 F.3d at 1174.
Second, although the arbitrator rendered his decision in an unusual manner, Costco
has not satisfied the standard for vacatur under 9 U.S.C. § 10(a)(4), because it fails
to show that the arbitration award is “completely irrational” or “exhibits a manifest
disregard of law.” See Biller v. Toyota Motor Corp., 668 F.3d 655, 665 (9th Cir.
2012) (quoting Kyocera Corp. v. Prudential-Bache Trade Servs., Inc., 341 F.3d
987, 997 (9th Cir. 2003) (en banc)).
3. Costco argues that the arbitration award must be vacated, because it does not
“draw its essence” from the collective bargaining agreement (“CBA”). See S. Cal.
Gas Co. v. Util. Workers Union of Am., Local 132, AFL–CIO, 265 F.3d 787,
792–93 (9th Cir. 2001) (“Vacatur of an arbitration award under section 301 of the
[Labor Management Relations Act (“LMRA”)] is warranted . . . when the award
does not draw its essence from the [CBA] and the arbitrator is dispensing his own
brand of industrial justice.”). However, our review of this claim must be
6
“extremely narrow,” Aramark Facility Servs. v. Serv. Emps. Int’l Union, Local
1877, AFL CIO, 530 F.3d 817, 822–23 (9th Cir. 2008) (quoting Federated Dep’t
Stores v. United Foods & Commercial Workers Union, Local 1442, 901 F.2d 1494,
1496 (9th Cir. 1990)), and we must accord the arbitrator a “nearly unparalleled
degree of deference,” Stead Motors, 886 F.2d at 1205. “[E]ven if we were
convinced that the arbitrator misread the [CBA] or erred in interpreting it, such a
conviction would not be a permissible ground for vacating the award.” ASARCO
LLC v. United Steel, Paper & Forestry, Rubber, Mfg., Energy, Allied Indus. &
Serv. Workers Int’l Union, AFL-CIO, CLC, 910 F.3d 485, 490 (9th Cir. 2018)
(quoting Va. Mason Hosp. v. Wash. State Nurses Ass’n, 511 F.3d 908, 913–14 (9th
Cir. 2007)). Thus, we “must limit our review to whether the arbitrator’s solution
can be rationally derived from some plausible theory of the general framework or
intent of the agreement.” Id. at 491 (alteration adopted and footnote omitted)
(quoting United Food & Commercial Workers Int’l Union, Local 588 v. Foster
Poultry Farms, 74 F.3d 169, 173 (9th Cir. 1995)).
Here, the arbitrator “arguably construed [and] applied” the CBA’s proper-
cause provision in finding that Diaz’s termination violated industrial double
jeopardy. See Haw. Teamsters & Allied Workers Union, Local 996 v. United
Parcel Serv., 241 F.3d 1177, 1178 (9th Cir. 2001) (alterations adopted and internal
7
quotation marks omitted) (quoting E. Associated Coal Corp. v. United Mine
Workers of Am., Dist. 17, 531 U.S. 57, 62 (2000)). The arbitrator did not “ignore
the plain language of the contract,” id. at 1181 (alteration adopted) (quoting Stead
Motors, 886 F.2d at 1205 n.6), or “follow his own whims and biases,” id.
(alteration adopted) (quoting Garvey v. Roberts, 203 F.3d 580, 588–89 (9th Cir.
2000)). Therefore, we must conclude that the arbitration award draws its essence
from the CBA. Id. at 1178. “[W]e are bound . . . to defer to the decision of [the
arbitrator],” regardless of whether “we believe that the decision finds the facts and
states the law erroneously.”2 Stead Motors, 886 F.2d at 1204.
4. Costco argues that the arbitration award must be vacated even if it “draws its
essence” from the CBA, because the award violates public policy. See S. Cal. Gas
Co., 265 F.3d at 792–93 (“Vacatur of an arbitration award under section 301 of the
LMRA is warranted . . . when the award is contrary to public policy . . . .”). To
vacate the award on public-policy grounds, Costco must clearly show that an
explicit, well-defined, and dominant public policy specifically militates against
Diaz’s reinstatement. See Aramark, 530 F.3d at 823; see also Stead Motors, 886
F.2d at 1212 (“If a court relies on public policy to vacate an arbitral award
2
The majority argues that the arbitrator’s decision did not have “essence,”
but cites no authority for the proposition that is should.
8
reinstating an employee, it must be a policy that bars reinstatement.”). Because
Costco has failed to identify such a policy that is “ascertain[able] by reference to
. . . laws and legal precedents, not from general considerations of supposed public
interests,” see E. Associated Coal Corp., 531 U.S. at 62 (internal quotation marks
omitted) (quoting W.R. Grace & Co. v. Rubber Workers, 461 U.S. 757, 766
(1983)), we may not vacate the arbitration award on public-policy grounds.
9
Costco v. Ibt Local No. 542
Combined Opinion