Hernandez

FACTS

A. Arbitration Agreement Hernandez began working for Ladera as a mortgage loan officer in 2020. On his first day of employment, Hernandez completed an online “onboarding” process in which he electronically signed several documents, including the Agreement. Although Hernandez was able to view the documents on a computer screen, he was not provided a paper copy, nor was the Agreement explained to him. Hernandez does not dispute he signed the Agreement. He does not contend the Agreement was difficult to read or that he requested to have it explained to him.

2 The Agreement incorporates the rules of the California Arbitration Act (Code Civ. Proc., § 1280 et seq.1; CAA). The Agreement comprises four paragraphs on a single page. The second paragraph contains 23 lines in single point font. The second paragraph provides in relevant part as follows: “2. I also acknowledge that the [c]ompany promotes a voluntary system of alternative dispute resolution which involves binding arbitration to resolve all disputes which may arise out of the employment context. Because of the mutual benefits . . . which private binding arbitration can provide both the [c]ompany and myself, I voluntarily…