Opinion ID: 206212
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Enforceability of the Forum-Selection Clause

Text: Slater next argues that the forum-selection clause should not be applied to her claims brought pursuant to Title VII, FCRA, and FWA for public policy reasons. On appeal, Slater offers three policy arguments against enforcement of the forum-selection clause: the policy against depriving plaintiffs of their day in court, the policy against the maintenance of parallel proceedings, and the policy against enforcing forum-selection clauses in civil rights actions. Mandatory forum-selection clauses are presumptively valid and enforceable absent a strong showing that enforcement would be unfair or unreasonable under the circumstances. Krenkel v. Kerzner Int'l Hotels Ltd., 579 F.3d 1279, 1281 (11th Cir.2009) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). A forum-selection clause will be invalidated when: (1) its formation was induced by fraud or overreaching; (2) the plaintiff would be deprived of its day in court because of inconvenience or unfairness; (3) the chosen law would deprive the plaintiff of a remedy; or (4) enforcement of the clause would contravene public policy. Id. Slater raised only two policy arguments in the district court: that enforcement of the forum-selection clause deprives her of her day in court and violates this court's policy against the maintenance of parallel proceedings. Slater argues that enforcement of the forum-selection clause in this case effectively denies her an opportunity to present her claim because her ninety-day period for filing her Title VII claim has expired. Therefore, she argues, it is doubtful that she will be able to refile her Title VII claim against ESGI in the Eastern District of Virginia. Slater also argues that the court should decline to enforce the forum-selection clause because it will result in parallel proceedingsone in the Eastern District of Virginia against ESGI and one in the Middle District of Florida against Progress Energy and Florida Power. Slater argues that maintaining two proceedings is expensive, a drain on judicial resources, and may result in inconsistent results or prejudice to her claims if the Defendants each try to cast liability on an absent party. Slater's original policy arguments are not sufficient to establish the strong showing of unenforceability required to overcome the presumption that a forum-selection clause is valid and enforceable. First, Slater offers little more than speculation that she may be unable to refile her claims against ESGI in the Eastern District of Virginia; such speculation falls short of meeting her burden of showing unenforceability. Further, we conclude that many of the dangers associated with maintaining parallel proceedings are not implicated here. Slater has alleged that ESGI employed her as a staffing employee and as part of its business operations assigned her to work at Progress Energy's plant facility as a receptionist/healthcare technician for the other Defendants. The evidentiary details regarding the employment relationship between Slater and ESGI and between Slater and the other Defendants will not considerably overlap. Because ESGI employed Slater in a different manner and made its termination decision based on the reports from the other Defendants, the factual issues surrounding Slater's employment through ESGI will vary from the factual questions regarding Slater's employment with the other Defendants. Thus, separating the claims against ESGI while Slater's claims against the remaining two Defendants are handled together does not implicate any danger typically associated with the maintenance of parallel proceedings. For the first time on appeal, Slater presents a third policy argument against enforcement of the forum-selection clause: forum-selection clauses are unenforceable as a matter of law in civil-rights actions. Appellate courts generally will not consider a legal issue that was not presented to the trial court. Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc. v. Fernandez, 741 F.2d 355, 360 (11th Cir.1984). We have recognized several exceptions to this rule, including where (1) the issue involves a pure issue of law and refusal to consider it would result in a miscarriage of justice; (2) the appellant did not have the opportunity to raise the issue to the district court; (3) substantial justice is at stake; (4) the proper resolution is beyond any doubt; and (5) the issue presents significant questions of great public concern. Id. at 360-61. Because we are persuaded that the exceptions are not applicable to Slater's argument, we decline to consider it for the first time on appeal.