LITTLER MENDELSON, P.C. 

500 Capitol Mall 

Suite 2000 

Sacramento, CA 95814 

916.830.7200

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DECLARATION OF JJM ISO DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO COMPEL ARBITRATION 

BARBARA A. BLACKBURN, Bar No. 253731

bblackburn@littler.com 

LITTLER MENDELSON, P.C. 

500 Capitol Mall, Suite 2000 

Sacramento, CA 95814 

Telephone: 916.830.7200 

Fax No.: 916.561.0828 

JEFFREY J. MANN, Bar No. 253440 

jmann@littler.com 

LITTLER MENDELSON, P.C. 

TREAT TOWERS 

1255 Treat Blvd., Suite 600 

Walnut Creek, CA 94597 

Telephone: 925.932.2468 

Fax No.: 925.946.9809 

Attorneys for Defendant 

O.C. COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

DESIDERO SOTO, STEVEN 

STRICKLEN, STEEVE FONDROSE, 

LORENZO ORTEGA, and JOSE FARIAS, 

JR., on behalf of themselves and all others 

similarly situated, 

Plaintiffs, 

v. 

O.C. COMMUNICATIONS, INC, 

COMCAST CORPORATION, and 

COMCAST CABLE 

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT, 

LLC, 

Defendants. 

Case No. 3:17-cv-00251-VC 

ASSIGNED FOR ALL PURPOSES TO JUDGE 

VINCE CHHABRIA 

DECLARATION OF JEFFREY MANN IN 

SUPPORT OF DEFENDANT OCC 

COMMUNICATIONS, INC.’S MOTION TO 

COMPEL ARBITRATION, STRIKE CLASS 

ALLEGATIONS, AND STAY ANY NONARBITRABLE PROCEEDINGS 

DATE: September 27, 2018 

TIME: 10:00 AM 

COURTROOM: 4, 17th Floor 

COMPLAINT FILED: January 18, 2017 

Case 3:17-cv-00251-VC Document 259-1 Filed 08/23/18 Page 1 of 3
LITTLER MENDELSON, P.C. 

500 Capitol Mall 

Suite 2000 

Sacramento, CA 95814 

916.830.7200

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2. 

DECLARATION OF JJM ISO DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO COMPEL ARBITRATION 

I, Jeffrey J. Mann, declare as follows: 

1. I am an Associate with the law firm of Littler Mendelson, a Professional Corporation, 

counsel of record in this matter for Defendant O.C. Communications, Inc. (“OCC”). I make this 

declaration in support of OCC’s Notice of Motion and Motion to Compel Arbitration and Dismiss 

the Complaint, or in the Alternative, Stay the Proceedings. 

2. I have personal knowledge of the matters contained in this declaration, and if called 

to do so, can testify competently to the same. 

3. Attached hereto as Exhibit A are true and correct copies of excerpts from the 

deposition of Desidero Soto. [Soto Deposition Transcript, 70:14-19, and exhibit.] 

4. Prior to answering the original complaint, on February 9, 2017 I requested that 

Plaintiffs’ counsel stipulate to the arbitration of the claims raised in the complaint. On February 13, 

2017, as part of that process, I provided Plaintiffs’ counsel with copies of all of the applicable 

Arbitration Agreements executed in writing by Plaintiffs Soto and Stricklen, the only named 

plaintiffs at the time. In response, Plaintiffs’ counsel refused to arbitrate their claims, citing the Ninth 

Circuit’s decision in Morris. A true and correct copy of the email chain discussing the above is 

attached hereto as Exhibit B.

5. Based on the binding Ninth Circuit precedent, OCC asserted the existence of the 

Arbitration Agreements as an affirmative defense rather than filing a futile motion to compel 

arbitration. 

6. On August 1, 2018, following the Supreme Court’s decision in Epic Systems, I 

renewed our demand that Plaintiffs arbitrate their claims. On August 6, 2018, Plaintiffs’ counsel 

refused, stating that “Plaintiffs’ claims are not subject to a valid and enforceable arbitration 

agreement.” In response, I requested that Plaintiffs agree to a streamlined presentation of the over 

950 arbitration agreement acknowledgments at issue. Plaintiffs’ counsel refused. A true and correct 

copy of this email chain is attached hereto as Exhibit C. 

/// 

/// 

/// 

Case 3:17-cv-00251-VC Document 259-1 Filed 08/23/18 Page 2 of 3
LITTLER MENDELSON, P.C. 

500 Capitol Mall 

Suite 2000 

Sacramento, CA 95814 

916.830.7200

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3. 

DECLARATION OF JJM ISO DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO COMPEL ARBITRATION 

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California and the United 

States of America that the foregoing is true and correct. 

Executed this 23rd day of August, 2018 at Walnut Creek, California. 

 

 /s/ Jeffrey J. Mann Jeffrey J. Mann 

Firmwide:156290904.1 092551.1001 

Case 3:17-cv-00251-VC Document 259-1 Filed 08/23/18 Page 3 of 3