Galen

Filed 7/21/

CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

SCOTT GALEN,

Plaintiff and Respondent, A138642

v. (Alameda County REDFIN CORPORATION, Super. Ct. No. RG13663672) Defendant and Appellant.

In this employment dispute, defendant Redfin Corporation appeals from the trial court’s order denying its motion to compel arbitration of the claims asserted in plaintiff Scott Galen’s class action lawsuit. The court concluded plaintiff’s claims are based on alleged statutory violations and are therefore not encompassed by the parties’ contractual agreement. Additionally, the court found that even if the claims fall within the agreement, the agreement’s arbitration provision is unconscionable and therefore invalid. We now reverse.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Defendant provides residential real estate brokerage services for home buyers and sellers. The company is based in Seattle, Washington. Plaintiff lives in Danville, California. On August 26, 2009, the parties entered into a “Field Agent Independent…