Serpa
Serpa v. California Surety Investigations, Inc.
Opinion
Opinion
Perluss, J.
Valerie Serpa sued California Surety Investigations, Inc. (CSI), its employee Peter Holds worth and CSI’s parent company, Two Jinn, Inc., doing business as Aladdin Bail Bonds (collectively CSI parties), for sexual harassment, employment discrimination, wrongful termination in violation of public policy and related causes of action. The trial court denied the CSI parties’ motion to compel arbitration, finding the agreement to arbitrate lacked mutuality. The court rejected the CSI parties’ argument the requisite mutuality was provided by the bilateral arbitration provisions in CSI’s employee handbook, incorporated by reference into the arbitration agreement, because CSI could change the handbook at its sole discretion and without notice. We reverse.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
1. Serpa’s Complaint
On June 24, 2011 Serpa filed a complaint in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging claims against the CSI parties under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA; Gov. Code, § 12900 et seq.) for sexual harassment, gender discrimination, retaliation and failure to prevent harassment and discrimination (Gov. Code, § 12940, subds. (a), (h), (i), (j) & (k)).…