Quintana

INTRODUCTION

Plaintiff Dulce Quintana sued Defendant American International Industries for wrongful discriminatory employment termination. Defendant appeals the trial court’s denial of its petition to compel arbitration of Quintana’s claims, asserting that the trial court erred in finding that no valid, enforceable arbitration agreement existed. We affirm because Defendant failed to show that Quintana executed an arbitration agreement and thus consented to the arbitration terms.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Quintana cannot read, write, or understand English. In July 2012, Quintana applied for employment with Defendant, filling out an employment application. Quintana began working for Defendant in July 2012, and worked for Defendant for a little more than a year. In October 2014, Quintana brought the present lawsuit against Defendant, alleging wrongful termination, discrimination, and other related causes of action. In response, Defendant filed a petition to compel arbitration, alleging Quintana signed an employment application and an employee trade secrets and inventions agreement, both containing clauses that require her to arbitrate all disputes regarding her employment.…