Zepeda

INTRODUCTION

This is an appeal from the denial of a motion to compel arbitration and request for stay of defendants Paramount Citrus LLC, Paramount Citrus II LLC, Paramount Citrus Holdings LLC, Paramount Citrus Packing Company LLC, Paramount Citrus Ventures LLC, Paramount Citrus Cooperative, and Wonderful Brands Sales and Merchandising LLC (collectively, Paramount). Paramount is a grower and processor of citrus crops in Kern County. The Randstad Corporation (Randstad) is in the business of providing temporary workers to its various client companies, including Paramount. Placement Pros is a division of Randstad. Randstad, through Placement Pros, assigned plaintiffs Victor Zepeda and Alejandra Villegas to perform work at Paramount’s citrus packing facilities. Prior to beginning their temporary work assignments at Paramount, plaintiffs executed contracts with Randstad, agreeing to arbitrate certain claims between them and “Randstad, its related companies, and/or their current or former employees” that may arise during their employment—including claims based on their wages and compensation. Plaintiffs sued Paramount, who are nonsignatories to the agreement, for unpaid wages and…