Mahendra Singh v. Rockwell Automation Inc

MEMORANDUM

Rockwell Automation, Inc., and Baldor Electric Company terminated the employment of Plaintiff Mahendra Pratap Singh as a business development executive. Plaintiff challenged that decision in a lawsuit, but the district court compelled arbitration pursuant to the parties’ agreement, and the arbitrator dismissed Plaintiffs claims on the merits. Plaintiff appeals the district court’s orders confirming the arbitration award and compelling arbitration in the first place, and we review de novo. Bridge Fund Capital Corp. v. Fastbucks Franchise Corp., 622 F.3d 996, 1000 (9th Cir.2010); Aramark Facility Servs. v. SEIU, Local 1877, 530 F.3d 817, 822 (9th Cir.2008). We now affirm.

1. We affirm the district court’s order compelling arbitration because the arbitration provision is not unconscionable under Washington law, either procedurally or substantively.

2. The issue of systemic bias — like other issues — had to be raised before the arbitrator but was not. Even assuming that the issue was properly preserved, and properly presented to the district court, the claim was not proved.

3. Plaintiff did not meet any of the statutory standards for refusing to enforce a binding…