Certification Statement:
I agree that any claim, dispute, or controversy (including, but not limited to, any and all claims of discrimination and harassment) which would otherwise require or allow resort to any court or other governmental dispute resolution forum between myself and the Company (or its owners, directors, officer, managers, employees, agents, and parties affiliated with its employee benefit and health plans) arising from, related to, or having any relationship or connection whatsoever with my seeking employment with, employment by, or other association with the Company, whether, based on tort, contract, statutory, or equitable law, or otherwise, (with the sole exception of claims arising under the National Labor Relations Act which are brought before the National Labor Relations Board, claims for medical and disability benefits under the California Workers Compensations Act, and Employment Development Department claims), shall be submitted to and determined exclusively by binding arbitration under the Federal Arbitration Act, in conformity with the procedures of the California Arbitration Act (Cal., Code Civ. Proc. Sec 1280 et seq., including Section 1283.05 and all of the Act’s other mandatory and permissive rights to discovery); provided, however, that: In addition to requirements imposed by law, any arbitrator herein shall be a retired California Superior Court judge and shall be subject to disqualification on the same grounds as would apply to a judge of such court. To the extent applicable in civil actions in California courts, the following shall apply and be observes: all rules of pleading (including the rights of demurrer), all rules of evidence, all rights to resolution of the dispute by means of motions for summary judgments, judgment on the pleadings, and judgment under Code of Civil Procedure Section 631.8. Resolution of the dispute shall be based solely upon the law governing the claims and defenses pleaded, and the arbitrator may not invoke any basis (including but not limited to notions of “just cause”) other than such controlling law. The arbitrator shall have the immunity of a judicial officer from civil liability when acting in the capacity of an arbitrator, which immunity supplements any other existing immunity. Likewise, all communications during or in connection with the arbitration proceedings are privileged in accordance with Cal. Civil Code Section 47 (b). As reasonably required to allow full use and benefit of this agreement’s modifications to the act’s procedures, the arbitrator shall extend the times set by the act for the giving of notices and setting of hearings. Awards shall include the arbitrator’s written reasoned opinion and, at either party’s written request within 10 days after issuance of the award, shall be subject to reversal and remand, modification, or reduction following review of the record and arguments of the parties by a second arbitrator who shall, as far as practicable, proceed according to the law and procedures applicable to appellate review by the California Court of Appeal of a Civil judgment following court trial.
I understand that by agreeing to this arbitration provision, both I and the company give up our rights to trial by jury, and I hereby knowingly and voluntarily waive my rights to a jury trial.
If you have any questions regarding this statement, please ask a Company representative before signing. I hereby acknowledge that I have read the above statements and understand the same.
Initials: (6)