Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-01511/USCOURTS-cand-4_15-cv-01511-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 196
Nature of Suit: Franchise
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal

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STIP. AND [PROP.] ORDER TO DISMISS ACTION AND COMPEL ARBITRATION ON MODIFIED TERMS 

Case No. 3:15-cv-1511

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Vincent M. Spohn, Esq. (SBN 092334)

vms@vspohnlaw.com

Law Offices of Vincent Martin Spohn, A.P.C.

P.O. Box 5748

Napa, California 94581-0748

Telephone: (707) 255-1885

Facsimile: (707) 255-0974

Attorney for Plaintiffs

RANDY STEVENS and ELISSA STEVENS

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RANDY STEVENS and ELISSA STEVENS, 

Plaintiffs,

v. 

JIFFY LUBE INTERNATIONAL, INC. A 

CORPORATION, and DOES 1 through 50, 

inclusive,

Defendant.

Case No. 3:15-cv-1511

STIPULATION AND ORDER TO 

DISMISS ACTION AND COMPEL 

ARBITRATION ON MODIFIED TERMS 

Date: September 3, 2015

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Judge: Honorable Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr.

Dept.: Courtroom 15, 18th Floor

 

Plaintiffs RANDY STEVENS and ELISSA STEVENS, through their counsel Vincent M. 

Spohn, Esq., and Defendant JIFFY LUBE INTERNATIONAL, INC., through its counsel Marc A. 

Koonin, Esq., (collectively referred to herein as the “Parties”) hereby submit this Stipulation and 

[Proposed] Order to Dismiss Action and Compel Arbitration on Modified Terms.

STIPULATION 

WHEREAS, on or about January 8, 1997, Plaintiffs Randy and Elissa Stevens (“Plaintiffs”) 

entered into a Franchise Agreement with Defendant Jiffy Lube International, Inc. (“Jiffy Lube” or 

“Defendant”) regarding a Jiffy Lube franchise in Napa, California (the “Napa Franchise”) which 

Case 4:15-cv-01511-HSG Document 30 Filed 09/03/15 Page 1 of 7
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STIP. AND [PROP.] ORDER TO DISMISS ACTION AND COMPEL ARBITRATION ON MODIFIED TERMS 

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contained an arbitration provision (the “Arbitration Agreement”) concerning disputes regarding the 

terms and conditions of the Franchise Agreement or the relationship of the Parties. 

WHEREAS, Defendant Jiffy Lube terminated the Franchise Agreement for the Napa Franchise 

on or about June 25, 2013. 

WHEREAS, Plaintiffs were dissatisfied with some of the terms of the Arbitration Agreement 

and filed the current action in Napa County Superior Court on February 25, 2015 and served Jiffy 

Lube with the Complaint on March 4, 2015. 

WHEREAS, on April 2, 2015, Jiffy Lube removed this action to the U.S. District Court for the

Northern District of California on the basis of diversity jurisdiction. 

WHEREAS, on April 9, 2015 Defendant filed a Motion to Compel Arbitration and Dismiss

Complaint for Failure to State a Claim or, Alternatively, to Stay Action Pending Arbitration (“Motion 

to Compel Arbitration”)

WHEREAS, the Motion to Compel Arbitration hearing was originally calendared for August 

20, 2015.

WHEREAS, the Parties filed a Stipulation to Continue to Hearing Regarding Defendant’s 

Motion to Compel Arbitration and Dismiss Complaint or, Alternatively, to Stay Action Pending 

Arbitration on August 19, 2015.

WHEREAS, on August 20, 2015, the Court issued an Order granting the Stipulation and 

setting the hearing for the Motion to Compel Arbitration on September 3, 2015.

WHEREAS, the hearing on the Motion to Compel Arbitration is currently scheduled to be 

heard on September 3, 2015, at 2:00 p.m.;

WHEREAS, the Parties have negotiated to resolve their differences regarding the terms of the 

Arbitration Agreement and are willing to proceed with arbitration under the terms of the Arbitration 

Agreement as modified below.

NOW, THEREFORE, PLAINTIFFS AND DEFENDANT, BY AND THROUGH THEIR 

RESPECTIVE COUNSEL OF RECORD, HEREBY STIPULATE AS FOLLOWS:

1. The Parties request that the Court dismiss the First Cause of Action, for deceptive 

business practices under the Consumer Legal Remedies Act (Cal. Civ. Code § 1750, et 

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STIP. AND [PROP.] ORDER TO DISMISS ACTION AND COMPEL ARBITRATION ON MODIFIED TERMS 

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seq.) and the Third Cause of Action for relief under the Unfair Competition Law (Cal. 

Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200 et seq.) with prejudice. 

2. The Parties request that the Court grant the Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss, dismissing 

the remaining portions of this Action in its entirety pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil 

Procedure 12(b)(6), with each party to bear his, her, or its own costs and fees. 

3. The Parties further request that this Court order the Plaintiffs to pursue their claims in 

this matter in arbitration before the American Arbitration Association consistent with 

the terms of the Franchise Agreement as modified by the Court’s Order and/or by any 

further written stipulations of the Parties. Any such arbitration will be held in San 

Francisco, California, and, except to the extent that the Federal Arbitration Act controls 

issues of arbitrability and related enforcement, the arbitration will proceed applying the 

substantive law of California except to the extent that any federal issues must be 

construed under federal law (or the applicable rules adopted by the Parties, including 

the arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA), provide 

otherwise). However, the terms of the Arbitration Agreement are modified as follows:

a. So long as Plaintiffs re-submit their claims to arbitration and do not pursue any 

of the dismissed claims and/or any equitable relief, within one month of the 

dismissal of this Action, Jiffy Lube will waive the contractual statute of 

limitations with regard to the remaining claims in the current complaint. In 

doing so, Defendant is allowing the remaining claims in arbitration to relate 

back to the date of the Complaint, but is not waiving any other rights regarding 

limitations;

b. Arbitration shall proceed before one arbitrator only rather than a panel of three 

arbitrators, with the arbitrator to be selected consistent with the applicable rules 

and practices of the AAA;

c. Defendant shall pay the hourly rate for the arbitrator for all fees associated with 

the arbitration and the arbitrator shall not award the costs of any arbitration fees 

to the prevailing party. The Parties shall each be responsible for the payment of 

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STIP. AND [PROP.] ORDER TO DISMISS ACTION AND COMPEL ARBITRATION ON MODIFIED TERMS 

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their own attorney fees related to the arbitration and the arbitrator shall not 

award any attorney fees to the prevailing party. Plaintiffs shall pay the initial 

administrative filing fee to the AAA, based on alleged damages of $800,000, for 

the arbitration, subject to reimbursement by the Defendant. Defendant shall 

provide reimbursement to Plaintiffs’ counsel upon submission of an invoice 

proving payment of the fees to Defendant’s counsel, with reimbursement to be 

made within 30 days of receipt of the invoice. Defendant shall also pay for any 

related final arbitration administrative fee.

d. Plaintiffs shall not seek any equitable relief in arbitration;

e. Plaintiffs can pursue statutory claims for punitive damages only, but not any 

punitive damages based on common law causes of action; and

f. The Parties agree that the arbitration shall be conducted without delay absent an 

agreement of the Parties or a showing of good cause to be determined by the 

arbitrator.

4. Although Plaintiffs are prohibited from pursuing their dismissed claims against Jiffy 

Lube in a judicial forum by this Order, this Order is not intended to and does not 

prevent Plaintiffs or Defendant from appearing before this or any other court of 

competent jurisdiction to confirm, correct, modify, or vacate any resulting arbitral 

award or decision, or to enter or enforce a judgment based upon any resulting arbitral 

award or decision, or to further compel arbitration.

IT IS SO STIPULATED BY AND THROUGH COUNSEL OF RECORD: 

Dated: September 2, 2015 LAW OFFICES OF VINCENT M. SPOHN, A.P.C.

By /s/ Vincent M. Spohn 

 VINCENT M. SPOHN, ESQ.

 Attorney for Plaintiffs

 RANDY STEVENS and ELISSA STEVENS

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STIP. AND [PROP.] ORDER TO DISMISS ACTION AND COMPEL ARBITRATION ON MODIFIED TERMS 

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Dated: September 2, 2015 SEDGWICK L.L.P.

By /s/ Marc A. Koonin 

 MARC A. KOONIN, ESQ.

 Attorneys for Defendant 

 JIFFY LUBE INTERNATIONAL, INC. 

 A CORPORATION

CERTIFICATE OF CONCURRENCE

I, Vincent M Spohn, hereby declare:

Pursuant to Local Rule No. 5-1(i)(3) concurrence in the filing of the document has been 

obtained from Marc A. Koonin to show his signature as /s/ on this pleading in lieu of his physical 

signature on the document.

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is 

true and correct and that this declaration is executed at San Rafael, California on September 2, 2015.

/s/ Vincent M. Spohn 

Vincent M. Spohn

ORDER

The Court, having considered the Parties’ stipulation, hereby grants the Parties' requests and 

orders the following:

1. The First Cause of Action, for deceptive business practices under the Consumer Legal 

Remedies Act (Cal. Civ. Code § 1750, et seq.) and the Third Cause of Action for relief 

under the Unfair Competition Law (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200 et seq.) are hereby 

DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. 

2. This Action (including all remaining portions of this Action) is DISMISSED IN ITS 

ENTIRETY pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), with each party to 

bear his, her, or its own costs and fees. 

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STIP. AND [PROP.] ORDER TO DISMISS ACTION AND COMPEL ARBITRATION ON MODIFIED TERMS 

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3. Plaintiffs shall pursue their claims in this matter, if at all, in arbitration before the 

American Arbitration Association consistent with the terms of the Franchise Agreement

as modified by this Order and/or by any further written stipulations of the Parties. Any 

such arbitration will be held in San Francisco, California, and, except to the extent that 

the Federal Arbitration Act controls issues of arbitrability and related enforcement, the 

arbitration will proceed applying the substantive law of California except to the extent 

that any federal issues must be construed under federal law (or the applicable rules 

adopted by the Parties, including the arbitration rules of the AAA, provide otherwise). 

However, the terms of the Arbitration Agreement are modified as follows:

a. So long as Plaintiffs re-submit their claims to arbitration and do not pursue any 

of the dismissed claims and/or any equitable relief, within one month of the 

dismissal of this Action, Jiffy Lube will waive the contractual statute of 

limitations with regard to the remaining claims in the current complaint. In 

doing so, Defendant is allowing the remaining claims in arbitration to relate 

back to the date of the Complaint, but is not waiving any other rights regarding 

limitations;

b. Arbitration shall proceed before one arbitrator only rather than a panel of three 

arbitrators, with the arbitrator to be selected consistent with the applicable rules 

and practices of the AAA;

c. Defendant shall pay the hourly rate for the arbitrator for all fees associated with 

the arbitration and the arbitrator shall not award the costs of any arbitration fees 

to the prevailing party. The Parties shall each be responsible for the payment of 

their own attorney fees related to the arbitration and the arbitrator shall not 

award any attorney fees to the prevailing party. Plaintiffs shall pay the initial 

administrative filing fee to the AAA, based on alleged damages of $800,000, for 

the arbitration, subject to reimbursement by the Defendant. Defendant shall 

provide reimbursement to Plaintiffs’ counsel upon submission of an invoice 

proving payment of the fees to Defendant’s counsel, with reimbursement to be 

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STIP. AND [PROP.] ORDER TO DISMISS ACTION AND COMPEL ARBITRATION ON MODIFIED TERMS 

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made within 30 days of receipt of the invoice. Defendant shall also pay for any 

related final arbitration administrative fee.;

d. Plaintiffs shall not seek any equitable relief in arbitration;

e. Plaintiffs can pursue statutory claims for punitive damages only, but not any 

punitive damages based on common law causes of action; and

f. The Parties shall conduct the arbitration without delay absent an agreement of 

the Parties or a showing of good cause to be determined by the arbitrator.

4. Although Plaintiffs are prohibited from pursuing their dismissed claims against Jiffy 

Lube in a judicial forum by this Order, this Order is not intended to and does not 

prevent Plaintiffs or Defendant from appearing before this or any other court of 

competent jurisdiction to confirm, correct, modify, or vacate any resulting arbitral 

award or decision, or to enter or enforce a judgment based upon any resulting arbitral 

award or decision, or to further compel arbitration.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 3, 2015 _____________________________________

HONORABLE HAYWOOD S. GILLIAM, JR.

United States District Court Judge

Case 4:15-cv-01511-HSG Document 30 Filed 09/03/15 Page 7 of 7