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Adam Wolek (pro hac vice) 

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP 

111 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 2800 

Chicago, Illinois 60601 

Tel: 312.836.4063 

Fax: 312.966.8598 

awolek@taftlaw.com 

DAVID A. MAKMAN (SBN 178195) 

david@makmanlaw.com 

LAW OFFICES OF DAVID A. MAKMAN 

655 Mariner’s Island Blvd, Suite 306 

San Mateo, CA 94404 

Telephone: (650) 242-1560 

Facsimile: (408) 716-3052 

Attorneys Appearing in a Limited Capacity for 

Counter-Defendants Boon Global Limited, F8 

Vietnam Company Limited, California Fitness 

& Yoga Centers, California Management 

Group, and Randy Dobson 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PARKRIDGE LIMITED, a Hong Kong corporation, by 

Mabel Mak, and MABEL MAK, an individual, 

Plaintiffs, 

v. 

INDYZEN, INC., a California corporation, and PRAVEEN 

NARRA KUMAR, an individual, 

Defendants. 

Case No. 16-cv-07387 

CALIFORNIA FITNESS & YOGA 

CENTERS COMPANY 

LIMITED’S MOTION TO 

DISMISS INDYZEN’S PETITION 

TO COMPEL ARBITRATION 

PURSUANT TO FRCP 12(b)(2), 

12(b)(3), AND (12)(b)(6) 

Date: February 16, 2018 

Time: 9:00 AM 

Dept.: Courtroom 5, 2nd Floor 

Judge: Hon. Jeffrey S. White

INDYZEN, INC., a California corporation, and PRAVEEN 

NARRA KUMAR, an individual, 

Counter-Plaintiffs, 

v. 

PARKRIDGE LIMITED, a Hong Kong corporation, BOON 

GLOBAL LIMITED, a Hong Kong corporation, F8 

VIETNAM COMPANY LIMITED, a Vietnam company, 

CALIFORNIA FITNESS & YOGA CENTERS, an entity of 

unknown form, CALIFORNIA MANAGEMENT GROUP, 

an entity of unknown form, and RANDY DOBSON, an 

individual, 

Counter-Defendants. 

Case 4:16-cv-07387-JSW Document 45 Filed 01/18/18 Page 1 of 23
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MOTION TO DISMISS PETITION TO COMPEL ARBITRATION 

Counter-Defendant California Fitness & Yoga Centers Company Limited (“CFYC”), pursuant 

to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(2), 12(b)(3), and 12(b)(6), moves to dismiss the Petition to 

Compel Arbitration (the “Petition”) filed by Counter-Plaintiff Indyzen (“Indyzen”), for the reasons set 

forth below. CFYC notices this Motion for February 16, 2018 at 9:00 A.M., which is the date set by 

this Court for hearing on the Petition. See Status Report, ECF No. 42. 

CFYC seeks that this Court dismiss with prejudice the Petition pursuant to Federal Rules of 

Civil Procedure 12(b)(2) and 12 (b)(3) because this Court does not have personal jurisdiction and 

venue over CFYC. Furthermore, to the extent that this Court has jurisdiction, CFYC seeks a dismissal 

of the Petition pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) for failure to properly state a 

claim, and because Indyzen’s claims against CFYC falls outside the scope of the arbitration clause 

agreed to by Indyzen and Parkridge Limited (“Parkridge”).

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT ............................................................................................................ v

I. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 1

II. STATEMENT OF FACTS ....................................................................................................... 1

A. Background ................................................................................................................... 1

B. Procedural History ........................................................................................................ 2

III. ARGUMENT ............................................................................................................................ 3

A. There Is No Basis for Personal Jurisdiction over CFYC Because It Did Not 

Consent to Jurisdiction and Has No Contacts with California. .................................... 3

1. This Court Does Not Have General Jurisdiction over CFYC. .......................... 3

2. Specific Jurisdiction Does Not Exist over . ...................................................... 4

B. The Petition Should Be Dismissed for Improper Venue. ............................................. 6

C. Indyzen’s Allegations to Compel CFYC to Arbitration Do Not Meet Pleadings 

Standards. ...................................................................................................................... 6

D. The Petition Fails Because CFYC Was Not a Party to the Morfit Agreement and 

Never Agreed to Arbitration. ........................................................................................ 8

1. Indyzen Erroneously Claims There Is a Presumption in Favor of 

Compelling Non-signatories to Arbitration. ..................................................... 8

2. CFYC Cannot Be Compelled to Arbitrate Because It Is Not a Signatory 

to the Morfit Agreement or any Agreement to Arbitrate with Indyzen. ........... 8

3. The Morfit Agreement’s Arbitration Clause Is Narrow and Only Applies 

to Disputes “Between” Parkridge and Indyzen, Not Non-signatories. ............. 9

4. Arbitration Cannot Be Compelled Against CFYC Under an Alter Ego 

Theory. ............................................................................................................ 10

5. Indyzen’s Narrow Equitable Estoppel Argument Should Be Rejected 

Because CFYC Did Not Exploit the Morfit Agreement. ................................ 12

6. CFYC Is Not the Agent of Parkridge. ............................................................. 14

7. CFYC Is Not a Third Party Beneficiary of the Morfit Agreement. ................ 14

E. The Arbitrator Does Not Have the Authority to Decide Whether Non-Parties to 

An Arbitration Agreement Are Within Its Jurisdiction. ............................................. 14

 

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TABLE OF AUTHORITIES 

Cases

Adobe Sys. Inc. v. Trinity Software Distrib., Inc., No. C. 12-1614 SI, 

2012 WL 3763643 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 29, 2012) ................................................................................. 4, 5 

Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662 (2009) .................................................................................................. 12 

AT&T Techs., Inc. v. Commc’ns Workers,

475 U.S. 643 (1986) ......................................................................................................................... v, 8 

Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 

550 U.S. 544 (2007) ........................................................................................................................... 12 

Benasra v. Marciano, 

112 Cal. Rptr. 2d 358 (Cal. Ct. App. 2001) ........................................................................................ 14 

Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 

471 U.S. 462 (1985) ............................................................................................................................. 5 

Cape Flattery Ltd. v. Titan Mar., LLC, 

647 F.3d 914 (9th Cir. 2011) ........................................................................................................ 13, 15 

Comer v. Micor, Inc., 

436 F.3d 1098 (9th Cir. 2006) ............................................................................................................ 12 

Exigen Properties, Inc. v. Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, Inc., No. A140081, 

2016 WL 520283 (Cal. Ct. App. Feb. 9, 2016) .................................................................................. 13 

First Options of Chi., Inc. v. Kaplan, 

514 U.S. 938 (1995) ........................................................................................................................... 15 

Frank Gari Prods., Inc. v. Smith, CV 12-248-GHK (FFMx), 

2012 WL 12895672 (C.D. Cal. June 15, 2012) ................................................................................ v, 6 

Fresno Motors, LLC v. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, No. 1:10CV012 AWI DLB, 

2010 WL 1136192 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 22, 2010) ...................................................................................... 9 

Fund Raising, Inc. v. Alaskans for Clean Water, Inc., No. CV 09-4106 AHM (VBKx), 

2009 WL 3672518 (C.D. Cal. Oct. 29, 2009) ...................................................................................... 7 

Goodyear Dunlop Tires Operations, S.A. v. Brown, 

564 U.S. 915 (2011) ............................................................................................................................. 3 

Grey v. Am. Mgmt. Servs., 139 Cal. Rptr. 3d 210 (Cal. Ct. App. 2012) ............................................ 8, 15 

Howsam v. Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc., 

537 U.S. 79 (2002) ............................................................................................................................. 15 

Levy v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., 

58 Cal. Rptr. 3d 54 (Cal. Ct. App. 2007) .............................................................................................. 7 

Marsch v. Williams, 

28 Cal. Rptr. 2d 398 (Cal. Ct. App. 1994) ............................................................................................ 8 

Mundi v. Union Sec. Life Ins., 

555 F.3d 1042 (9th Cir. 2009) ................................................................................................ v, 8, 9, 12 

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Nielson v. Union Bank of Cal., N.A., 

290 F. Supp. 2d 1101 (C.D. Cal. 2003) .............................................................................................. 11 

Pavlovich v. Super. Ct., 

58 P.3d 2 (Cal. 2002) ............................................................................................................................ 3 

Peralta v. Cal. Franchise Tax Bd., 

124 F. Supp. 3d 993 (N.D. Cal. 2015) .............................................................................................. 6, 7 

Pestmaster Franchise Network, Inc. v. Mata, No. 16-cv-7268-EMC, 

2017 WL 1956927 (N.D. Cal. May 11, 2017) ...................................................................................... 3 

Purdue Research Found. v. Sanofi-Synthelabo, S.A., 

338 F.3d 773 (7th Cir. 2003) ................................................................................................................ 4 

Riddle v. Leuschner, 

335 P.2d 107 (Cal. 1959) .................................................................................................................... 11 

Sandoval v. Ali,

34 F. Supp. 3d 1031 (N.D. Cal. 2014) ............................................................................................ v, 11 

Schwarzenegger v. Fred Martin Motor Co., 

374 F.3d 797 (9th Cir. 2004) ................................................................................................................ 5 

Sonora Diamond Corp. v. Super. Ct., 

99 Cal. Rptr. 2d 824 (Cal. Ct. App. 2000) .......................................................................................... 10 

Spinks v. Equity Res. Briarwood Apts, 

90 Cal. Rptr. 3d 453 (Cal. App. Ct. 2009) .......................................................................................... 14 

Tracer Research Corp. v. Nat’l Env. Servs. Co.,

42 F.3d 1292 (9th Cir. 1994) .............................................................................................................. 13 

United Steelworkers of Am. v. Warrior & Gulf Navigation Co., 

363 U.S. 574 (1960) ........................................................................................................................... 15 

Walden v. Fiore, 

134 S. Ct. 1115 (2014) .......................................................................................................................... 4 

Wistron Corp. v. Phillip M. Adams & Assocs., LLC, 10-cv-4458 EMC, 

2011 WL 4079231 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 12, 2011) ..................................................................................... 7 

Statutes

28 U.S.C. § 1391 ...................................................................................................................................... 6 

9 U.S.C. § 4 .............................................................................................................................................. 6 

9 U.S.C. § 6 .............................................................................................................................................. 1 

Rules

Civil L.R. 7.3(c) ....................................................................................................................................... 1 

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(2) ........................................................................................... v, 1 

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(3) ........................................................................................... v, 1 

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) ........................................................................................... v, 1 

	 	

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SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT 

Indyzen brought its Petition in order to force CFYC, a Vietnam entity, to arbitrate claims under 

an agreement CFYC never signed (the “Morfit Agreement”). This Court should dismiss the Petition 

under F.R.C.P. 12(b)(2) and (b)(3) due to lack of personal jurisdiction and proper venue. CFYC is not 

a citizen of California, does not conduct business in California, and has nothing to do with the Morfit 

Agreement, a contract that never refers to CFYC nor provides it any substantive rights. California’s 

long-arm statute cannot confer jurisdiction over CFYC under these circumstances. 

Furthermore, to the extent that jurisdiction exists, CFYC nevertheless should be dismissed 

under F.R.C.P. 12(b)(6). Indyzen has not alleged any cognizable claim against CFYC. See Frank Gari 

Prods., Inc. v. Smith, CV 12-248-GHK (FFMx), 2012 WL 12895672, at *4 (C.D. Cal. June 15, 2012) 

(dismissing petition to compel arbitration for failure to plead a claim). Moreover, CFYC did not sign 

the Morfit Agreement’s arbitration clause. By its very terms, the clause is narrow and only applies to 

disputes “between” Indyzen and Parkridge Limited (“Parkridge”). This express language excludes 

claims against CFYC. See Mundi v. Union Sec. Life Ins., 555 F.3d 1042, 1045-47 (9th Cir. 2009) 

(rejecting petition to compel non-signatory to arbitration based upon a similar arbitration clause). 

Finally, Indyzen has not shown any equitable reason for compelling CFYC to arbitration. CFYC is not 

an alter ego of Parkridge, nor is CFYC a third party beneficiary or agent of Parkridge, despite 

Indyzen’s unsupported conclusions to the contrary. See Sandoval v. Ali, 34 F. Supp. 3d 1031, 1040 

(N.D. Cal. 2014) (rejecting allegations based simply upon conclusions). For these reasons, this Court 

should dismiss CFYC from this case with prejudice. See AT&T Techs., Inc. v. Commc’ns Workers,

475 U.S. 643, 649 (1986) (“[A]rbitration is a matter of contract and a party cannot be required to 

submit to arbitration any dispute which he has not agreed so to submit.”). 

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I. INTRODUCTION 

Counter-Defendant CFYC,1 through its undersigned counsel, submits this Motion to Dismiss 

Indyzen’s Petition. CFYC brings this Motion pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(2), 

12(b)(3), and 12(b)(6).2 

II. STATEMENT OF FACTS 

A. Background

Parkridge was founded in 2013 to create a mobile software application combing health and 

fitness information with social media networking. Possessing limited technical expertise internally, 

Parkridge hired Praveen Narra Kumar (“Narra”), due to Narra’s self-proclaimed experience in 

software development, as Chief Technology Officer (“CTO”) to lead its mobile app development. 

After assuming his duties as CTO of Parkridge, Narra hired his own software company, Indyzen, to 

develop the mobile app. Narra helped Parkridge negotiate a contract with Indyzen, including 

providing the specifications for the mobile app and directing Parkridge as to necessary terms in the 

contract. On January 5, 2015, Parkridge signed a contract with Indyzen for development of the mobile 

app, known as the Morfit Agreement. 

The result was disastrous for Parkridge. The mobile app, which was later known as Morfit (the 

“Morfit App”), did not work and was grossly inferior to comparable apps in the industry. Moreover, 

 

1

 CFYC is only appearing in a limited capacity, without prejudice to any defenses or arguments, and 

expressly reserve all rights including, but not limited to, challenging personal jurisdiction, the 

propriety of the jurisdiction before this Court, the propriety of the disputes before this Court, the 

propriety of the process, and the sufficiency of the allegations made. 

2

 Indyzen incorrectly filed its Petition as a Motion to Compel, whereas Petitions to Compel 

Arbitration constitute pleadings under 9 U.S.C. § 6 of the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”). Because 

Indyzen’s Petition constitutes a “pleading,” CFYC’s Motion to Dismiss is an initial Motion which 

under Civil L.R. 7.3(c) further permits a reply. Accordingly, CFYC respectfully reserves the right to 

reply to any opposition to its Motion to Dismiss pursuant to the content and timing requirements of 

Civil L.R. 7.3(c). 

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Indyzen charged Parkridge exorbitant development prices. In short, Narra abused his position as 

Parkridge’s CTO to siphon money from Parkridge to benefit himself and his company, Indyzen. 

B. Procedural History 

Parkridge filed suit against Narra and Indyzen (collectively, “Defendants”) in the Northern 

District of California on December 29, 2016. See Compl., ECF No. 1. Defendants then moved to 

compel arbitration as to Parkridge and Mabel Mak (collectively, “Plaintiffs”), Parkridge’s sole 

shareholder, and stay the case. See Mot. to Compel Arb., ECF No. 12; Mot. to Stay, ECF No. 13. 

Plaintiffs opposed arbitration, particularly as to their claims against Narra, because the Morfit 

Agreement, which contained the arbitration provision, was only between Parkridge and Indyzen. The 

magistrate judge compelled arbitration and stayed the case, ruling that Plaintiffs’ claims against Narra 

may have arisen out of his role under the Morfit Agreement, and the Arbitrator could determine the 

extent of his jurisdiction. 

Accordingly, Plaintiffs filed a demand with the American Arbitration Association on June 8, 

2017. Defendants filed counterclaims naming five additional entities—CFYC, Boon Global Limited 

(“Boon”), F8 Vietnam Company Limited (“F8”), California Management Group (“CMG”), and 

Randy Dobson in his individual capacity (collectively, the “Non-signatories”)—who were not parties 

to the Morfit Agreement. Plaintiffs and the Non-signatories3

 moved to dismiss the counterclaims 

because: (1) they were outside the scope of the arbitration provision; (2) the Non-signatories were 

neither parties to nor bound by the Morfit Agreement; and (3) the counterclaims failed to state a 

claim. See Mot. to Dismiss Countercls., Ex. A. On November 6, 2017, the Arbitrator dismissed the 

five Non-signatories. See Proced. Order No. 2 at 11, Ex. B. 

Indyzen subsequently filed a Petition to Compel Arbitration against the Non-signatories in the 

stayed federal case. See Pet. to Compel Arb., ECF No. 32. As the Non-signatories are not parties to 

 

3

 The Non-signatories appeared in the arbitration for the limited purpose of contesting the arbitral 

jurisdiction. 

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the pending federal litigation and never consented to the jurisdiction of the magistrate judge, at least 

one party filed a Declination to Proceed Before a Magistrate Judge, reassigning the case to this Court. 

See Declin., ECF No. 36. 

III. ARGUMENT 

A. There Is No Basis for Personal Jurisdiction over CFYC Because It Did Not Consent to 

Jurisdiction and Has No Contacts with California. 

There is no basis for personal jurisdiction over CFYC in California. Indeed, CFYC owns and 

operates workout gyms located in Vietnam, and has no business in the United States. CFYC is not a 

citizen of California, does not conduct business in California, and did not sign the Morfit Agreement. 

Under California’s long-arm statute, personal jurisdiction is unable to be exerted over CFYC in these 

circumstances. 

As an initial matter, Indyzen bears the burden of demonstrating facts justifying the exercise of 

personal jurisdiction over CFYC such that compelling CFYC to arbitration is proper. Pavlovich v. 

Super. Ct., 58 P.3d 2, 6-7 (Cal. 2002). Indyzen has not met its burden. 

1. This Court Does Not Have General Jurisdiction over CFYC.

A court may find general personal jurisdiction where a defendant’s “affiliations with the state 

are so ‘continuous and systematic’ as to render them essentially at home in the forum State.” 

Pestmaster Franchise Network, Inc. v. Mata, No. 16-cv-7268-EMC, 2017 WL 1956927, at *2 (N.D. 

Cal. May 11, 2017) (quoting Goodyear Dunlop Tires Operations, S.A. v. Brown, 564 U.S. 915, 919 

(2011)). Only in an “exceptional case” will general jurisdiction be available outside a corporation’s 

place of incorporation and principal place of business. See id. at *2-3. 

It is undisputed that CFYC is a Vietnam corporation with its principal place of business in 

Vietnam. See Aff. of CFYC, Ex. C. Its gyms are in Vietnam, not in the U.S. CFYC is accordingly not 

domiciled in California. Moreover, CFYC has no employees, agents, or representatives in California. 

CFYC has no bank accounts or real property in California and does not conduct business in, or target 

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or direct any of its activities, towards the state. Id. Thus, there is no basis for the exertion of general 

jurisdiction over CFYC. 

Indyzen argues that this Court has general jurisdiction over CFYC because it “worked 

extensively with Narra while he was in California on the development of the Morfit App[ and that] F8 

and Boon...marketed and sold the Morfit App in online app stores in California.” Pet. for Order 

Compelling Arb. at 3, ECF No. 32-1. “CFYC owns gyms throughout Vietnam” and manages certain 

aspects of various companies. Aff. of Dobson at 2, Ex. D. Fundamentally, CFYC runs gyms in 

Vietnam, and is not in the software business. It never developed any software apps, including the 

Morfit App, never designed any app interface, and never reviewed or copied any software code for 

any apps. While CFYC permitted Parkridge to talk about the anticipated (though ultimately failed) 

release of the Morfit App at its office in Vietnam, and allowed some testing at its testing of the app 

prototype at its gyms in Vietnam, that is wholly insufficient to “form the necessary connection with” 

to render CFYC “essentially at home” in California. Walden v. Fiore, 134 S. Ct. 1115, 1122 (2014); 

see also Adobe Sys. Inc. v. Trinity Software Distrib., Inc., No. C. 12-1614 SI, 2012 WL 3763643, at 

*5 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 29, 2012) ( rejecting argument for general or specific jurisdiction and stating 

“[t]he standard for establishing general jurisdiction is fairly high and requires that the defendant’s 

contacts be of the sort that approximate physical presence”); Purdue Research Found. v. SanofiSynthelabo, S.A., 338 F.3d 773, 781 (7th Cir. 2003) (“[C]ontracting with an out-of-state party alone 

cannot establish automatically sufficient minimum contacts in the other party's home forum.”). 

2. Specific Jurisdiction Does Not Exist over . 

The Ninth Circuit has established a three-prong test for analyzing specific jurisdiction: 

(1) The non-resident defendant must purposefully direct activities or consummate some 

transaction with the forum or resident thereof; or perform some act by which he purposefully 

avails himself of the privilege of conducting activities in the forum, thereby invoking the 

benefits and protection of its laws; 

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(2) the claim must be one which arises out of or relates to the defendant's forum-related 

activities; and 

(3) the exercise of jurisdiction must comport with fair play and substantial justice. 

Adobe, 2012 WL 3763643, at *5 (quoting Schwarzenegger v. Fred Martin Motor Co., 374 F.3d 797, 

802 (9th Cir. 2004)). The plaintiff bears the burden of establishing the first two prongs; if satisfied, the 

burden shifts to the defendant to “‘present a compelling case’ that the exercise of jurisdiction would 

not be reasonable.” Id. (quoting Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 477 (1985)). 

As previously established, CFYC is a Vietnam entity that does not conduct business in 

California. CFYC and its activities are entirely unrelated to the allegations giving rise to the 

contractual dispute between Parkridge and Indyzen. CFYC did not sign the Morfit Agreement, nor 

does the contract contain any explicit or implicit reference to CFYC. Indyzen further fails to allege 

that CFYC had any role in contract negotiations or in any activities related to development of the 

Morfit App. Rather, Indyzen alleges (a) Dobson, Parkridge, CMG, and CFYC “are one and the same 

as F8 Fit and Boon,”4

 and (b) F8 offers the F8Fit App while supposedly using “intellectual property” 

allegedly owned by Indyzen. Mem. in Supp. of Pet. at 3, 8, ECF No. 32-2. Indyzen neither lays out 

any specific intellectual property that has been stolen nor demonstrates how any intellectual property 

was supposedly stolen, stark omissions given the Morfit Agreement states that any intellectual 

property developed by Indyzen related to the Morfit App is the property of Parkridge. See Compl., 

Ex. B at 4-5, ECF No. 1-2. Indeed, such an accusation is nonsensical as to CFYC as it runs and 

operates gyms in Vietnam, and does not develop apps. 

Moreover, Indyzen has not sufficiently pled this allegation and has not given adequate notice 

to a claim, or shown how this allegation relates to the contractual duties between Parkridge and 

Indyzen under the Morfit Agreement. See Peralta v. Cal. Franchise Tax Bd., 124 F. Supp. 3d 993, 

 

4

 CMG “is an association or network of independent companies who have strategic relationships with 

one another, and CMG’s personnel and overall control is through CFYC.” Aff. of Dobson at 3, Ex. D. 

Accordingly, CFYC addresses Indyzen’s baseless allegations as related to CMG and CFYC. 

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1001 (N.D. Cal. 2015) (noting that the “infringement claim also fails because [plaintiff] has not put 

defendants on notice of the alleged infringement in any meaningful detail”). Because Indyzen has not 

shown any evidence or allegations of how CFYC allegedly “targeted its infringing activities” to 

California, nor any contractual provision it had violated, there is no personal jurisdiction over CFYC. 

B. The Petition Should Be Dismissed for Improper Venue. 

Under 9 U.S.C. § 4, venue is proper on a petition to compel arbitration in “any United States 

district court which, save for such agreement, would have jurisdiction under title 28, in a civil action 

or in admiralty of the subject matter of a suit arising out of the controversy between the parties.” 9 

U.S.C. § 4; also 28 U.S.C. § 1391 (providing standard for venue). Because this Court lacks personal 

jurisdiction over CFYC for the reasons stated above, venue in the Northern District of California is 

also improper. 

C. Indyzen’s Allegations to Compel CFYC to Arbitration Do Not Meet Pleadings 

Standards. 

Indyzen’s petition has not met basic pleadings standards required under the Federal Rules of 

Civil Procedure and therefore should be dismissed. Fundamentally, Indyzen neither puts this Court 

nor CFYC on notice of exactly what claims are to be decided against CFYC in arbitration. Indyzen 

chose not to file a complaint or counterclaim against CFYC and instead petitioned this Court to 

compel arbitration under the FAA without specifying its asserted allegations. A petition to compel 

arbitration must still meet basic pleading standards under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, 

however. See Frank Gari, 2012 WL 12895672, at *4 (“Plaintiffs set forth no factual allegations in the 

Petition to support their conclusory statement that they have claims against [Defendant]. While 

Plaintiffs need not articulate their claims against Defendant in as detailed a fashion as they would in a 

complaint, they must provide sufficient factual allegations about their purported claims for us to 

determine whether the claims fall within the scope of the arbitration clause.”); Fund Raising, Inc. v. 

Alaskans for Clean Water, Inc., No. CV 09-4106 AHM (VBKx), 2009 WL 3672518, at *4 (C.D. Cal. 

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CFYC’s Mot. to Dismiss - 7 - No. 16-cv-07387 

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Oct. 29, 2009) (concluding Petitioner failed to allege “sufficient non-conclusory facts that would 

enable it to establish alter ego”). 

Neither the allegations raised in the Petition against CFYC nor in the arbitration meet basic 

pleadings standards for purposes of deciding Indyzen’s Petition. First, the breach of contract 

counterclaim fails to allege facts to give sufficient notice about how the Morfit Agreement was 

conceivably breached by CFYC. See Levy v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., 58 Cal. Rptr. 3d 54, 57 (Cal. 

Ct. App. 2007) (“Facts alleging a breach, like all essential elements of a breach of contract cause of 

action, must be pleaded with specificity.”). No such alleged breaches of the Morfit Agreement were 

pled by Indyzen against CFYC. 

The arbitration counterclaims also allude to a vague “misappropriation of intellectual 

property” claim against CFYC. CFYC is unable to discern whether Indyzen is raising a patent 

infringement, trade secret misappropriation, copyright infringement, or any other claim related to 

intellectual property. Regardless of Indyzen’s past and future characterizations, the claim falls well 

short of pleadings requirements. Notably, Indyzen fails to identify the intellectual property, the scope 

of Indyzen’s alleged rights to the intellectual property, how its rights were somehow misappropriated, 

who specifically wrongfully used the intellectual property, and the circumstances of any alleged 

wrongful use. See Peralta, 124 F. Supp. 3d at 1000 (dismissing individuals because plaintiff had “not 

alleged a sufficient nexus between them and the alleged infringement”); Wistron Corp. v. Phillip M. 

Adams & Assocs., LLC, 10-cv-4458 EMC, 2011 WL 4079231, at *4 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 12, 2011) 

(generic descriptions of accused product, i.e., “computer chips, motherboards, computers” were 

insufficient to state infringement claim). Indyzen further fails to provide this Court with a proper basis 

for ascertaining whether such a claim falls within the Morfit Agreement’s arbitration clause. 

Case 4:16-cv-07387-JSW Document 45 Filed 01/18/18 Page 13 of 23
CFYC’s Mot. to Dismiss - 8 - No. 16-cv-07387 

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D. The Petition Fails Because CFYC Was Not a Party to the Morfit Agreement and Never 

Agreed to Arbitration. 

Indyzen’s Petition ignores a fundamental legal principle: a party cannot compel another party 

to arbitration where those entities never signed an agreement with an arbitration clause. See Marsch v. 

Williams, 28 Cal. Rptr. 2d 398, 400 (Cal. Ct. App. 1994) (“[A] party can be compelled to submit a 

dispute to arbitration only where he has agreed in writing to do so.”). 

1. Indyzen Erroneously Claims There Is a Presumption in Favor of Compelling 

Non-signatories to Arbitration. 

As an initial matter, Indyzen incorrectly argues that there is a presumption in favor of 

arbitration regarding CFYC. See Mem. in Supp. of Pet. at 4, ECF No. 32-2 (Indyzen claiming that the 

“burden of proof” is on the parties “resisting arbitration”). To the contrary, the “general principle [is] 

that only those who have agreed to arbitrate are obliged to do so.” Mundi, 555 F.3d at 1046; Grey v. 

Am. Mgmt. Servs., 139 Cal. Rptr. 3d 210, 214 (Cal. Ct. App. 2012) (“[F]undamentally, a party is not 

obligated to arbitrate unless he or she has expressly agreed to do so by entering into a valid and 

enforceable written contract with the party who seeks arbitration.”).

2. CFYC Cannot Be Compelled to Arbitrate Because It Is Not a Signatory to the 

Morfit Agreement or any Agreement to Arbitrate with Indyzen. 

CFYC did not sign the Morfit Agreement, did not agreed to arbitrate any disputes with 

Indyzen, and is not a signatory or a party. See Compl., Ex. B, ECF No. 1-2; see also AT&T, 475 U.S. 

at 649 (“[A]rbitration is a matter of contract and a party cannot be required to submit to arbitration 

any dispute which he has not agreed so to submit.”). Rather, the software development agreement to 

develop the Morfit App was between two parties: Indyzen, Inc. and Parkridge Ltd. Zero language in 

the Morfit Agreement explicitly or implicitly refers to CFYC. Indeed, Indyzen has not identified any 

contract between Indyzen and CFYC, let alone one with an arbitration clause. Moreover, CFYC has 

never conducted business with Indyzen, nor does Indyzen allege it. These facts are dispositive. 

Case 4:16-cv-07387-JSW Document 45 Filed 01/18/18 Page 14 of 23
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Because CFYC did not agree to arbitrate the claims and counterclaims with Indyzen, it cannot be 

required to arbitrate them. 

3. The Morfit Agreement’s Arbitration Clause Is Narrow and Only Applies to 

Disputes “Between” Parkridge and Indyzen, Not Non-signatories. 

The Morfit Agreement has a very narrow arbitration clause that by its terms does not apply to 

CFYC. The arbitration clause is expressly limited to “any dispute or disagreement between the 

Company and the Customer....” See Compl., Ex. B, ECF No. 1-2 (emphasis added). Under the Morfit 

Agreement, “Company” is defined as “Indyzen[ ]Inc.,” and “Customer” is defined as “Parkridge 

Limited.” Id. The arbitration clause contains no broad language to show any intent to arbitrate matters 

other than disputes between the defined parties. See Fresno Motors, LLC v. Mercedes-Benz USA, 

LLC, No. 1:10CV012 AWI DLB, 2010 WL 1136192, at *4 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 22, 2010) (“The public 

policy favoring arbitration does not apply to disputes the parties have not agreed to arbitrate.”). 

In Mundi, the Ninth Circuit addressed a very similar arbitration clause to the one at issue here 

that was also limited to disputes “between” defined parties. 555 F.3d at 1047. The Ninth Circuit 

rejected the argument that a non-signatory should be compelled to arbitration because the arbitration 

agreement at issue was “premised on a disagreement between Wells Fargo and the borrower.” Id. at 

1045, 1047 (emphasis added) (“[A]ny disagreement between the borrower and a third party...is simply 

not within the scope of the arbitration agreement, even if it is related in some attenuated way to the” 

subject of the agreement.). The Morfit Agreement’s arbitration clause contains the same qualifying 

language as in Mundi, limiting arbitration disputes “between” defined parties: Indyzen and Parkridge. 

Despite the Morfit Agreement’s explicit language and clear intentions, Indyzen argues this 

Court should force CFYC into arbitration based upon vague theories of alter ego, agency, equitable 

estoppel, or third party beneficiary status. While on rare occasions courts have applied these principles 

to require a non-signatory to participate in arbitration, these exceptions do not apply here, and any 

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CFYC’s Mot. to Dismiss - 10 - No. 16-cv-07387 

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notions of fairness and equity further prevent CFYC from being forced into an arbitration that it did 

not agree to. 

4. Arbitration Cannot Be Compelled Against CFYC Under an Alter Ego Theory. 

Indyzen first argues that CFYC should be compelled into arbitration, (a) alleging Parkridge, 

CMG, and CFYC are one and the same entity, and (b) conflating CMG with the“CMG.ASIA 

Limited” entity. See Mem. in Supp. of Pet. at 6, ECF No. 32-2. Indyzen seeks an order from this Court 

disregarding CFYC’s corporate structures and binding it to Parkridge’s contractual obligations based 

on nothing more than allegations that all entities related to Dobson are “one and the same.” This 

argument is meritless. 

Indyzen’s conclusory assertions that Parkridge, CMG, CFYC, and CMG.ASIA are one and the 

same are belied by the facts. CMG “is an association or network of independent companies who have 

strategic relationships with one another, and CMG’s personnel and overall control is through CFYC.” 

Aff. of Dobson at 3, Ex. D. “CMG.ASIA Limited is an inactive company” and “is not associated with 

CMG, CFYC, or Parkridge.” Id. Moreover, “[t]he ‘cmg.asia’ website is the website for CMG,” and 

CMG.ASIA Limited “does not own the website or any brands associated with the ‘cmg.asia’ website 

or CMG.” Id. For example, UFC Gym, a CMG-associated company and strategic partner, is...one 

independent company operating in the CMG network. Neither CMG nor CFYC owns or is the same 

entity as UFC. Id. Accordingly, as CMG.ASIA Limited in an unrelated and dormant entity, and that is 

not named in and is entirely unrelated to this dispute, CFYC directs its response to Indyzen’s 

allegations as related to CMG and CFYC. 

CFYC is a legal entity with its own distinct liabilities and obligations that is separate and 

distinct from its stockholders, officers and directors. Aff. of CFYC at 1, Ex. C; and see Sonora 

Diamond Corp. v. Super. Ct., 99 Cal. Rptr. 2d 824, 836 (Cal. Ct. App. 2000). Under California law, 

for a court to disregard a corporate identity, a plaintiff must establish: (1) such a unity of interest and 

Case 4:16-cv-07387-JSW Document 45 Filed 01/18/18 Page 16 of 23
CFYC’s Mot. to Dismiss - 11 - No. 16-cv-07387 

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ownership exists that the personalities of the corporation and individual are no longer separate, and (2) 

an inequitable result will follow if the acts are treated as those of the corporation alone. See Sandoval,

34 F. Supp. 3d at 1040. A plaintiff must establish both of these elements by facts supporting each. See 

Nielson v. Union Bank of Cal., N.A., 290 F. Supp. 2d 1101, 1115 (C.D. Cal. 2003); Sandoval, 34 F. 

Supp. 3d at 1040 (finding that plaintiff’s alter ego allegations were “too conclusory to survive a 

motion to dismiss”). 

Indyzen does not allege unity of interest or fraud. The crux of Indyzen’s argument is that 

CFYC, Parkridge, and the other Non-signatories all have common ownership, and therefore should all 

be treated as a single entity. “Common ownership alone,” however, “is insufficient to disregard the 

corporate form.” Sandoval, 34 F. Supp. 3d at 1040 (dismissing alter ego claims because common 

ownership is insufficient to treat two separate entities as the same entity); see also Riddle v. 

Leuschner, 335 P.2d 107, 109-10 (Cal. 1959) (rejecting alter ego claim based upon the same person 

having roles or positions in different companies). The Petition also labels CFYC and the Nonsignatories as “sham companies,” “one and the same,” and corporate “fronts.”5

 Mem. in Supp. of Pet. 

at 6, ECF No. 32-2. Indyzen’s recitation of these unsupported adjectives does not establish the 

existence of an alter ego relationship between CFYC and Parkridge, as no facts are provided to show 

CFYC disregarded corporate formalities or operated as a fraud, allegations that would have been 

required to be pled with particularity under F.R.C.P. 9(b) and were not. See Sandoval, 34 F. Supp. 3d 

at 1040 (imposing a heightened pleading standard and noting that a party “must allege specifically 

both of the elements of alter ego liability, as well as facts supporting each”). 

Furthermore, Indyzen has not shown (or even alleged) that CFYC is underfunded, disregards 

corporate formalities, lacks corporate records, or shares identical officers and employees with any of 

the other entities—all relevant factors for establishing alter ego liability. See Nielson, 290 F. Supp. 2d 

 

5

 CFYC takes exception to the characterizations used by Indyzen; they are defamatory, untrue, and 

unsupported in fact. 

Case 4:16-cv-07387-JSW Document 45 Filed 01/18/18 Page 17 of 23
CFYC’s Mot. to Dismiss - 12 - No. 16-cv-07387 

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at 1115 (party must allege facts supporting each element of alter ego relationship). Indeed, such 

allegations could not, in good faith, be made against CFYC; the evidence shows that it maintains 

corporate formalities, i.e., has separate bank accounts, is adequately funded, is separately owned and 

managed, maintains corporate records, and is located in different places. See Aff. of CFYC, Ex. C. 

Indyzen therefore has not provided any basis to compel arbitration based upon the alter ego doctrine. 

5. Indyzen’s Narrow Equitable Estoppel Argument Should Be Rejected Because 

CFYC Did Not Exploit the Morfit Agreement. 

To bind a non-signatory to an arbitration clause under an equitable estoppel theory, a party 

must demonstrate the non-signatory “knowingly exploit[ed] the agreement containing the arbitration 

clause despite having never signed the agreement.” Comer v. Micor, Inc., 436 F.3d 1098, 1101 (9th 

Cir. 2006). Furthermore, the Ninth Circuit construes the equitable estoppel exception narrowly in the 

context of a signatory seeking to compel a non-signatory into arbitration. See Mundi, 555 F.3d at 1046 

(labeling the equitable estoppel exception as within “very narrow confines” in light of the “general 

principle that only those who have agreed to arbitrate are obliged to do so”). 

Applying the Ninth Circuit’s Comer test, Indyzen’s allegation of equitable estoppel fails 

because it has not shown that CFYC knowingly exploited the Morfit Agreement. CFYC is not 

connected in any way to the contractual dispute between Parkridge and Indyzen. The Morfit 

Agreement neither refers to CFYC nor expressly or impliedly confers any contractual rights upon 

CFYC. The Petition notably omits any allegations that CFYC received any revenue, product code, or 

anything else of value from Indyzen, important factors under an equitable estoppel analysis. 

Indyzen’s claim of equitable estoppel further fails because their allegations that CFYC 

misappropriated Indyzen’s intellectual property does not meet the Twombly or Iqbal standards, and 

nevertheless falls outside of the arbitration clause. See Mem. in Supp. of Pet. at 10, ECF No. 32-2; 

Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662 (2009); Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544 (2007). As stated 

Case 4:16-cv-07387-JSW Document 45 Filed 01/18/18 Page 18 of 23
CFYC’s Mot. to Dismiss - 13 - No. 16-cv-07387 

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above, Indyzen’s “misappropriation” claim fails basic pleadings standards and is factually 

underdeveloped. 

But even if properly alleged, such a tort claim is not the proper subject of arbitration when the 

Morfit Agreement’s arbitration clause expressly is limited to claims between Parkridge and Indyzen. 

See Cape Flattery Ltd. v. Titan Mar., LLC, 647 F.3d 914, 924 (9th Cir. 2011) (holding that tort claim 

was not arbitrable under the parties’ arbitration clause); Tracer Research Corp. v. Nat’l Env. Servs. 

Co., 42 F.3d 1292, 1295 (9th Cir. 1994) (finding that misappropriation claim was not a proper subject 

for arbitration where the arbitration clause was narrow). 

Indyzen cites to an unpublished opinion, Exigen Properties, Inc. v. Genesys 

Telecommunications Laboratories, Inc., in support of its position, but it is distinguishable. No. 

A140081, 2016 WL 520283 (Cal. Ct. App. Feb. 9, 2016). First, the arbitration clause at issue in 

Exigen had significantly different scope than present here, and applied to “any” disputes “arising out 

of or in connection with” the contract, which is substantially broader than the Morfit Agreement’s 

arbitration clause. Id. at *1-2. Furthermore, the non-signatory in Exigen received direct benefits from 

the contract in the form of marketing, pricing discounts, promotion, and maintenance of shared 

confidential information. Id. at *9. In contrast, Indyzen has not shown that CFYC received anything 

from Indyzen. 

Indyzen also claims that CFYC is “inextricably intertwined” with Parkridge without providing 

any facts or case law in support of this argument. Indyzen accordingly cannot establish an equitable 

estoppel basis to compel CFYC into arbitration, as CFYC did not knowingly exploit the Morfit 

Agreement, and the allegations are insufficiently pled and would nevertheless fall outside of the 

arbitration clause if true. 

Case 4:16-cv-07387-JSW Document 45 Filed 01/18/18 Page 19 of 23
CFYC’s Mot. to Dismiss - 14 - No. 16-cv-07387 

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6. CFYC Is Not the Agent of Parkridge. 

Indyzen’s Petition provides zero factual allegations linking CFYC to Parkridge or Mak. 

Rather, Indyzen alleges CFYC is an agent of Parkridge merely because Dobson signed the Morfit 

Agreement. Under California law, signing an arbitration agreement as an agent for a disclosed 

principal does not bind the agent to arbitrate claims brought against him personally. Benasra v. 

Marciano, 112 Cal. Rptr. 2d 358, 361-62 (Cal. Ct. App. 2001) (stating agent was “not the one who 

wants to be bound by the arbitration provision in a contract that he signed only in a representative 

capacity”). Indyzen’s agency argument should be rejected, as CFYC did not sign the Morfit 

Agreement, and even if CFYC did, it is not bound to arbitrate claims brought against it personally 

under California law. 

7. CFYC Is Not a Third Party Beneficiary of the Morfit Agreement. 

In order to determine whether a contract was made for the benefit of a third person, a court 

must look at whether the parties’ intent to benefit a third person appears from the terms of the 

contract. Spinks v. Equity Res. Briarwood Apts, 90 Cal. Rptr. 3d 453, 468-69 (Cal. App. Ct. 2009). 

Here, CFYC is not named in the Morfit Agreement, nor is there clear intent in the terms of the Morfit 

Agreement to benefit CFYC. Rather, the contract was to benefit Parkridge by Indyzen developing a 

mobile app for it, and not for CFYC. Thus, CFYC is not a third party beneficiary of the Morfit 

Agreement. 

E. The Arbitrator Does Not Have the Authority to Decide Whether Non-Parties to An 

Arbitration Agreement Are Within Its Jurisdiction. 

Indyzen’s request for the Court Order to empower the Arbitrator “to decide whether additional 

parties can be added to the arbitration in the future” without court review is patently contrary to basic 

principles of contract, arbitration and due process. See Indyzen’s Mem. in Supp. of Pet. at 13, ECF 

No. 32-2. Arbitration is a “matter of contract,” and “a party cannot be required to submit to arbitration 

any dispute which he has not agreed so to submit.” United Steelworkers of Am. v. Warrior & Gulf 

Case 4:16-cv-07387-JSW Document 45 Filed 01/18/18 Page 20 of 23
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Navigation Co., 363 U.S. 574, 582 (1960); see also Grey, 139 Cal. Rptr. 3d at 212-15. Disputes about 

whether a party is bound by a given arbitration clause “raises a ‘question of arbitrability’ for a court to 

decide.” Howsam v. Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc., 537 U.S. 79, 84 (2002). A court “should not assume 

that the parties agreed to arbitrate arbitratibility unless there is clear and unmistakable evidence that 

they did so.” Cape Flattery, 647 F.3d at 920 (quoting First Options of Chi., Inc. v. Kaplan, 514 U.S. 

938, 944 (1995)). Because any currently unidentified additional companies have clearly not signed the 

Morfit Agreement, zero evidence supports Indyzen’s request to provide the Arbitrator with boundless 

authority to decide which parties are within its jurisdiction. 

Case 4:16-cv-07387-JSW Document 45 Filed 01/18/18 Page 21 of 23
CFYC’s Mot. to Dismiss - 16 - No. 16-cv-07387 

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DATED: January 18, 2018 Respectfully submitted, 

 

 By: /s/ Adam Wolek 

 Adam Wolek (pro hac vice) 

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP 

111 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 2800 

Chicago, Illinois 60601 

Tel: 312.836.4063 

Fax: 312.966.8598 

awolek@taftlaw.com 

DAVID A. MAKMAN (SBN 178195) 

david@makmanlaw.com 

LAW OFFICES OF DAVID A. MAKMAN 

655 Mariner’s Island Blvd, Suite 306 

San Mateo, CA 94404 

Telephone: (650) 242-1560 

Facsimile: (408) 716-3052 

 

Attorneys Appearing in a Limited Capacity for 

Counter-Defendants Boon Global Limited, F8 

Vietnam Company Limited, California Fitness 

& Yoga Centers, California Management 

Group, and Randy Dobson

 

Case 4:16-cv-07387-JSW Document 45 Filed 01/18/18 Page 22 of 23
CFYC’s Mot. to Dismiss - 17 - No. 16-cv-07387 

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

The undersigned certifies that, on January 18, 2018, she caused this document to be 

electronically filed with the Clerk of Court using the CM/ECF system, which will send 

notification of filing to counsel of record for each party. 

DATED: January 18, 2018 Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP 

 

 By: /s/ Adam Wolek 

Case 4:16-cv-07387-JSW Document 45 Filed 01/18/18 Page 23 of 23