Gooden

BACKGROUND

There are two agreements involving Astrix and plaintiff and respondent Toni Gooden concerning Gooden’s employment claims: an April 30, 2021 contingent worker agreement to which Astrix, Gooden, and Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Gilead), are parties; and a May 11, 2021 employment agreement, involving only Astrix and Gooden. Astrix is a company that places contingent workers in science-based companies. Gooden was hired by Astrix for a temporary assignment at Kite Pharma, Inc. (Kite), a Gilead subsidiary. Before beginning the assignment, Gooden was required to sign Gilead’s contingent worker agreement that included binding arbitration for disputes involving a “Worker and Gilead or their related parties.” The agreement was attached to an email sent to Gooden. Astrix contends Gooden signed the agreement via DocuSign on April 30, 2021. Gooden’s lawsuit against Astrix Gooden’s employment with Astrix lasted until October 2021. Subsequently she sued Astrix and others for various Labor Code violations. The claims were brought on behalf of Gooden and a putative class. After dismissing the other defendants from her suit, Gooden filed a first amended complaint solely against Astrix. Astrix…