Opinion ID: 794138
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Comcast's structural argument

Text: 95 Comcast asserts that because the damages limitation appears in a separate section of the Policies & Practices from the arbitration agreement, the damages limitation does not apply to disputes resolved in arbitration. The language of the damages limitation itself effectively nullifies this assertion. The damages limitation states that: SUCH LIMITATION OF LIABILITY APPLIES IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. This remedies limitation applies any time Comcast incurs liability, including in arbitration. 96 Moreover, in the 2001 Policies & Practices, the damages limitation is located within the arbitration section; therefore, under the 2001 agreement, the limitation on liability clearly applied to arbitration proceedings. At the very least, the 2002/2003 arbitration agreements' damages limitation does the same. In fact, given the new location of the damages limitation outside the arbitration provision, it is a fair conclusion that Comcast intends it to apply in court as well as in arbitration proceedings, i.e., Comcast expanded the scope of the damages limitation in the 2002/2003 Policies & Practices. Additionally, it would be nonsensical for Comcast to create a mandatory alternate resolution system to resolve disputes with its subscribers, and then include a damages limitation that — under the theory Comcast offers here — would never apply because all cases would go to arbitration. In dealing with the retroactivity question, we found that the 2002/2003 arbitration agreements reflected a change in language but not a significant change in the substance of the contractual relationship between Comcast and its subscribers. Comcast's separate section argument is unpersuasive.