Meadows
Meadows v. Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants Inc.
Opinion
Lead Opinion
Tigar, J.
ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO COMPEL ARBITRATION
Before the Court is Defendant Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Ine.’s Motion to Compel Arbitration. ECF No. 15. For the reasons set forth below, the Court will grant the motion.
I. BACKGROUND
A. Parties and Claims
Defendant Dickey’s Barbeque Restaurants, Inc. (“Dickey’s”) is a Texas-based corporation that operates a chain of corporate and franchise restaurants known as Dickey’s Barbeque Pits. ECF No. 10 ¶ 8. Plaintiffs Amy Meadows, Dawn Toff, Donna Schiano, Alfred Pena, Christy Bagby, James Domsic, Charyl Hart, George Jones, and GJones3 Ventures, LLC 1 (“Plaintiffs”) are California residents seeking to represent a class of owners and former owners of Dickey’s Barbeque Pit franchises in California. Id. ¶¶ 1-7, 20. All of the Plaintiffs purchased a Dickey’s franchise after receiving Dickey’s Franchise Disclosure Documents and signing a Dickey’s Franchise Agreement. Id.
On July 10, 2015, Plaintiffs filed their First Amended Complaint alleging fraud, violations of California’s Franchise Investment Law, and violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law. See ECF No. 10 ¶¶ 22-41. Plaintiffs allege that the Franchise…