Court Opinion

ID: 4035202
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-09-20 16:01:08.362831+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:29:34.313447
License: Public Domain

RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
                                   Pursuant to Sixth Circuit I.O.P. 32.1(b)
                                            File Name: 16a0237p.06

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                        FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
                                          _________________

 ALIXPARTNERS, LLP,                                              ┐
                                         Plaintiff-Appellee,     │
                                                                 │
                                                                 │
            v.                                                    >        No. 16-1027
                                                                 │
                                                                 │
 CHARLES BREWINGTON,                                             │
                                     Defendant-Appellant.        │
                                                                 ┘
                             Appeal from the United States District Court
                            for the Eastern District of Michigan at Detroit.
                         No. 2:14-cv-14942—Gerald E. Rosen, District Judge.

                                 Decided and Filed: September 2, 2016*

                   Before: MOORE, ROGERS, and SENTELLE,** Circuit Judges.

                                            _________________

                                                 COUNSEL

ON BRIEF: Steven E. Aldous, FORSHEY PROSTOK, LLP, Dallas, Texas, for Appellant.
Jason C. Schwartz, David J. Debold, GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP, Washington, D.C.,
Karl G. Nelson, GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP, Dallas, Texas, for Appellee.
                                            _________________

                                                  OPINION
                                            _________________

        SENTELLE, Circuit Judge.              AlixPartners, LLP (“Alix”) hired Charles Brewington
(“Brewington”), a resident of Texas, as a Talent Acquisitions Director in Alix’s Dallas office.

        *
         This decision originally issued as an unpublished opinion filed on September 2, 2016. The court has now
designated the opinion as one recommended for full-text publication.
        **
         The Honorable David B. Sentelle, Senior Circuit Judge for United States Court of Appeals for the District
of Columbia Circuit, sitting by designation.

                                                        1
No. 16-1027                         AlixPartners v. Brewington                          Page 2

After he was terminated by Alix, Brewington filed a demand for arbitration on behalf of himself
and a purported class of current, former, and potential Alix employees. Alix filed an action in
the Eastern District of Michigan, seeking a declaratory judgment that Brewington was precluded
from pursuing claims in arbitration on behalf of any purported class. Brewington moved to
dismiss Alix’s complaint for lack of personal jurisdiction under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
12(b)(2). The district court, finding that Brewington’s contacts with the State of Michigan were
sufficient to establish personal jurisdiction, denied the motion. Alix filed a motion for summary
judgment, arguing that the arbitration clause in Brewington’s employment agreement did not
authorize him to pursue classwide arbitration. The district court granted Alix’s motion for
summary judgment and enjoined Brewington from pursuing claims in arbitration on behalf of
any absent individual or purported class. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm.

                                      I. BACKGROUND

       Alix is a global consulting and business advisory firm with offices around the world,
including one in Southfield, Michigan. Alix’s Michigan office processes and administers payroll
and benefits for employees in the United States and is directly involved in the hiring of new
personnel in the United States. In early 2013, Alix hired Brewington, a Texas resident, to serve
as a Talent Acquisitions Director and a member of Alix’s Corporate Services team in its Dallas,
Texas office. The employment agreement contains two provisions relevant to this case. First,
the agreement provides that it “will be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of
the State of Michigan.” Second, it contains the following arbitration clause:

       Except for any action by the Company seeking any injunctive relief or other
       equitable relief against you, any dispute arising out of or in connection with any
       aspect of this Agreement and/or any termination of employment thereunder . . .,
       shall be exclusively subject to binding arbitration under the National Rules for the
       Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association
       (“AAA”), provided all substantive rights and remedies including any applicable
       damages provided under any pertinent statute(s) related to such claims . . . shall
       be available in the AAA forum. Any decision of the arbitrator shall be final and
       binding as to both parties, and enforceable by any court of competent
       jurisdiction. . . .

       In March 2014, Brewington was terminated. He responded by filing a demand for
arbitration with the AAA, asserting claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
No. 16-1027                        AlixPartners v. Brewington                         Page 3

42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e et seq. Brewington filed the demand not only on behalf of himself, but also
on behalf of a purported nationwide class of current, former, and potential Alix employees.
Alix responded by filing an action in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Michigan under the Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201–2202, seeking a declaration
that Brewington was precluded from pursuing claims in arbitration on behalf of any purported
class or absent individuals.

       Brewington moved to dismiss Alix’s action, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
12(b)(2), for lack of personal jurisdiction. Alix responded by submitting declarations and record
evidence concerning Brewington’s contacts with Michigan. The record shows that, although
Brewington lives in Texas, Alix’s Michigan-based personnel were involved in his hiring.
As part of the candidate evaluation process, for example, Brewington communicated with Dr.
Leslie Evola, an on-staff psychologist in the Michigan office, and completed a personality and
skills assessment that was reviewed by Dr. Evola. After Alix extended an offer to Brewington,
Alix’s Director of Human Resources signed the proposed agreement in Michigan and sent it to
Brewington in Texas to be signed and returned. Brewington sent the completed agreement,
which included the Michigan choice-of-law provision, back to Alix’s Michigan office. In late
April 2013, Brewington travelled to Alix’s Michigan office to attend a mandatory orientation
program before beginning his full-time work in Texas.

       While working in Dallas, Brewington maintained a substantial connection with Alix’s
Michigan office. As a member of the Talent Acquisition Team, Brewington was responsible for
recruiting candidates for Alix’s Financial Advisory Services (“FAS”) group, which required him
to communicate directly with Alix’s Michigan-based personnel.          He worked directly with
Patricia Diefenbacher, Alix’s Director of Talent Management for FAS, who was based in the
Michigan office.      According to Diefenbacher, she had numerous email and telephone
communications with Brewington concerning candidates and available positions in the FAS
group. On at least one occasion, Brewington worked with Ray Kantor, an Internal Audit
Director based in the Michigan office, to recruit and network with Michigan candidates for
Alix’s “Detroit Internal Audit Manager” position.
No. 16-1027                                AlixPartners v. Brewington                                   Page 4

         Based on these facts, the district court denied Brewington’s motion to dismiss.
AlixPartners, LLP v. Brewington, 133 F. Supp. 3d 947 (E.D. Mich. 2015). Relying on “factually
similar cases,” the district court found that Brewington “established connections with Michigan
and availed himself of the forum.”                   Id. at 957–58.          The district court emphasized:
(1) Brewington’s “semi-regular” email and telephone contact with his supervisors in Michigan;
(2) the agreement’s Michigan choice-of-law provision; (3) Brewington’s visit to Michigan for an
orientation session; and (4) Brewington’s work in recruiting Michigan candidates to fill positions
in the Michigan office.1 Id. at 958. The district court also determined that the cause of action
had a “‘substantial connection’” with Brewington’s in-state activities, id. at 959 (quoting S.
Mach. Co. v. Mohasco Indus., Inc., 401 F.2d 374, 384 (6th Cir. 1968)), and concluded that the
forum was “a reasonable one” for Brewington, “given that the contract was formed, and partly
carried out, in Michigan,” id. at 960.

         While the motion to dismiss was pending, Alix filed its motion for summary judgment.
Relying on our decision in Reed Elsevier, Inc. ex rel. LexisNexis Division v. Crockett, 734 F.3d
594 (6th Cir. 2013), Alix argued that Brewington’s arbitration agreement did not authorize him
to pursue arbitration on behalf of a class. In Reed Elsevier, we held that “the question whether
an arbitration agreement permits classwide arbitration is a gateway matter, which is reserved ‘for
judicial determination unless the parties clearly and unmistakably provide otherwise.’” Id. at
599 (quoting Howsam v. Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc., 537 U.S. 79, 83 (2002)). The district court
granted Alix’s motion. AlixPartners, LLP v. Brewington, No. 14-CV-14942, 2015 WL 8538089
(E.D. Mich. Dec. 10, 2015). The district court found that the arbitration clause did not “clearly
and unmistakably” provide that class arbitrability was a question left for the arbitrator, id. at *4–
5, and after finding no “material distinction” between Reed Elsevier and the instant case, the
district court granted Alix’s motion and enjoined Brewington from “pursuing claims in

         1
           The district court also found that the fact that Brewington “sent and received e-mails contained on servers
located entirely in Michigan” supported the conclusion that Brewington had sufficient minimum contacts with the
forum. AlixPartners, 133 F. Supp. 3d at 958. Brewington may not be haled into court in Michigan based on Alix’s
unilateral activity. Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 475 (1985). Therefore, Alix’s decision to store
its emails on servers located in Michigan, without more, does not support the exercise of personal jurisdiction over
Brewington.
No. 16-1027                           AlixPartners v. Brewington                      Page 5

arbitration on behalf of any absent individual or purported class arising out of the events giving
rise to this suit . . . .” Id. at *5–6. This appeal followed.

        We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291.

                                          II. DISCUSSION

        We review de novo both the district court’s denial of Brewington’s motion to dismiss for
lack of personal jurisdiction, Air Prods. & Controls, Inc. v. Safetech Int’l, Inc., 503 F.3d 544,
549 (6th Cir. 2007), and the district court’s grant of Alix’s motion for summary judgment, Reed
Elsevier, 734 F.3d at 596–97 (citing Grden v. Leikin Ingber & Winters PC, 643 F.3d 169, 171
(6th Cir. 2011)).

                                                   A.

        The plaintiff bears the burden of establishing the existence of personal jurisdiction.
Serras v. First Tenn. Bank Nat’l Ass’n, 875 F.2d 1212, 1214 (6th Cir. 1989) (citations omitted).
When the district court resolves a Rule 12(b)(2) motion solely on written submissions, the
plaintiff’s burden is “relatively slight,” and “the plaintiff must make only a prima facie showing
that personal jurisdiction exists in order to defeat dismissal[.]” Air Prods., 503 F.3d at 549
(citations and quotation marks omitted).         The plaintiff meets this burden by setting forth
“specific facts showing that the court has jurisdiction.” Serras, 875 F.2d at 1214 (citation and
quotation marks omitted). “[T]he pleadings and affidavits submitted must be viewed in a light
most favorable to the plaintiff, and the district court should not weigh ‘the controverting
assertions of the party seeking dismissal.’” Air Prods., 503 F.3d at 549 (quoting Theunissen v.
Matthews, 935 F.2d 1454, 1459 (6th Cir. 1991)).

        When a federal court’s subject-matter jurisdiction is based on a federal question, the
court’s exercise of personal jurisdiction must be both authorized by the forum State’s long-arm
statute and in accordance with the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Bird v.
Parsons, 289 F.3d 865, 871 (6th Cir. 2002) (quoting Mich. Coalition of Radioactive Material
Users, Inc. v. Griepentrog, 954 F.2d 1174, 1176 (6th Cir. 1992)). Michigan’s long-arm statute
allows a court to exercise “general” personal jurisdiction, Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.701, as well
No. 16-1027                          AlixPartners v. Brewington                           Page 6

as “limited” personal jurisdiction, id. § 600.705. Here, Alix alleges that limited jurisdiction
exists pursuant to § 600.705(1), which allows a court to exercise jurisdiction over a nonresident
for claims “arising out of an act” which constitutes “[t]he transaction of any business within the
state.” Section 600.715(1) is satisfied by “‘the slightest act of business in Michigan,’” Neogen
Corp. v. Neo Gen Screening, Inc., 282 F.3d 883, 888 (6th Cir. 2002) (quoting Lanier v. Am. Bd.
of Endodontics, 843 F.2d 901, 906 (6th Cir. 1988)), and Brewington does not appear to contest
that his conduct falls within the statute. Moreover, Michigan’s long-arm statute “extends to the
limits imposed by federal constitutional due process requirements and thus, the two questions
become one.” Mich. Coalition, 954 F.2d at 1176 (citing Chandler v. Barclays Bank PLC,
898 F.2d 1148, 1150–51 (6th Cir. 1990)). We must therefore determine whether the exercise of
personal jurisdiction over Brewington comports with constitutional due process.

       “The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment constrains a State’s authority to
bind a nonresident defendant to a judgment of its courts.” Walden v. Fiore, 134 S. Ct. 1115,
1121 (2014) (citing World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson, 444 U.S. 286, 291 (1980)). For
a nonresident defendant to be subject to personal jurisdiction, he must have “certain minimum
contacts [with the forum State] such that the maintenance of the suit does not offend traditional
notions of fair play and substantial justice.” Id. (citations, quotation marks, and ellipsis omitted).
As noted, Alix asserts that limited, or specific, jurisdiction is present. Therefore, focusing on
“the relationship among the defendant, the forum, and the litigation,” id. (citations and quotation
marks omitted); see also Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 472–73 (1985), we
employ a three-part test to determine whether the exercise of personal jurisdiction over
Brewington comports with constitutional due process:

       First, the defendant must purposefully avail himself of the privilege of acting in
       the forum state or causing a consequence in the forum state. Second, the cause of
       action must arise from the defendant’s activities there. Finally, the acts of the
       defendant or consequences caused by the defendant must have a substantial
       enough connection with the forum state to make the exercise of jurisdiction over
       the defendant reasonable.

Air Prods., 503 F.3d at 550 (emphasis added) (quoting Mohasco, 401 F.2d at 381).
No. 16-1027                         AlixPartners v. Brewington                          Page 7

                                                 1.

       Brewington argues that the purposeful availment test is not met. “Purposeful availment”
is “the constitutional touchstone of personal jurisdiction,” and it exists “where the defendant’s
contacts with the forum state proximately result from actions by the defendant himself that create
a substantial connection with the forum State . . . and where the defendant’s conduct and
connection with the forum are such that he should reasonably anticipate being haled into court
there.” Neogen, 282 F.3d at 889 (citations and quotation marks omitted). “This purposeful
availment requirement ensures that a defendant will not be haled into a jurisdiction solely as a
result of random, fortuitous, or attenuated contacts, . . . or of the unilateral activity of another
party or a third person[.]” Burger King, 471 U.S. at 475 (citations and quotation marks omitted).
Thus, a nonresident who deliberately engages in “significant activities within a State” or creates
“continuing obligations between himself and residents of the forum” satisfies this requirement.
Id. at 475–76 (citations and quotation marks omitted).

       Alix alleges that Brewington purposefully availed himself of Michigan by: (1) pursuing
employment through email and telephone communications with personnel in Alix’s Michigan
office; (2) signing an employment agreement with a Michigan choice-of-law provision and
returning it to Alix’s Michigan office; (3) attending a mandatory orientation session in Michigan;
(4) communicating with his Michigan-based supervisors over the course of his employment; and
(5) recruiting Michigan candidates for a position in Alix’s Michigan office.          Viewing the
evidence in the light most favorable to Alix, we conclude that Alix has made the required prima
facie showing. See Air Prods., 503 F.3d at 549; Neogen, 282 F.3d at 887.

       Despite the fact that Alix is not headquartered in Michigan, a number of the company’s
business and personnel departments, including Human Resources, Benefits, and Payroll, are
housed in its Michigan office. Accordingly, Brewington secured employment with Alix through
the company’s Michigan office and attended the mandatory orientation session in Michigan.
Furthermore, Brewington’s duties required him to report to and conduct business with his
Michigan-based colleagues throughout his employment with Alix. In addition to his connection
with Alix’s Michigan-based personnel, the record shows that Brewington’s official duties
included recruiting Michigan candidates to fill job openings in Michigan. Because Brewington
No. 16-1027                         AlixPartners v. Brewington                         Page 8

accepted a job in which his duties were purposefully aimed at, and tied to, Michigan and its
residents, Michigan was, at least in part, the focus of Brewington’s employment and the parties’
relationship. Compare Lanier, 843 F.2d at 911 (holding that personal jurisdiction existed where
“the real object” of nonresident’s contacts was to have “ongoing, far-reaching consequences” in
the forum State), with Kerry Steel, Inc. v. Paragon Indus., Inc., 106 F.3d 147, 151 (6th Cir. 1997)
(holding that plaintiff failed to make prima facie showing where it “alleged no facts connecting
either the subject matter of the contract or its performance to the State of Michigan”). The fact
that Brewington voluntarily executed an employment agreement with a Michigan choice-of-law
provision reinforces the conclusion that he “deliberate[ly] affiliate[ed]” himself with the forum.
Burger King, 471 U.S. at 480–82; see also LAK, Inc. v. Deer Creek Enters., 885 F.2d 1293, 1295
(6th Cir. 1989).

       The facts of this case establish that Brewington knowingly “created a connection” with
Alix’s Michigan office that was “intended to be ongoing in nature,” as opposed to “a ‘one-shot
affair.’” See CompuServe, Inc. v. Patterson, 89 F.3d 1257, 1263–65 (6th Cir. 1996) (quoting
Mohasco, 401 F.2d at 385).        Accordingly, his contacts with Michigan are not “random,
fortuitous, or attenuated, but are the result of deliberate conduct that amounts to purposeful
availment.” Air Prods., 503 F.3d at 551 (quotation marks omitted); see also Burger King, 471
U.S. at 480–81 (concluding that nonresident’s “continuous course of direct communications”
with plaintiff in Florida confirmed that nonresident “knew that he was affiliating himself with an
enterprise based primarily in Florida”); Kelly Servs. v. Eidnes, 530 F. Supp. 2d 940, 947 (E.D.
Mich. 2008) (finding that nonresident’s “semi-regular contact with Michigan-based supervisors
during the course of her employment” supported finding of purposeful availment).

       Brewington’s reliance on Aysling, L.L.C. v. Mejia, No. 13-13027, 2014 WL 545816 (E.D.
Mich. Feb. 11, 2014), and Calphalon Corp. v. Rowlette, 228 F.3d 718 (6th Cir. 2000), is
misplaced. For the reasons identified by the district court, we find that there are “several
distinctions that limit the applicability of [Aysling] here.” See AlixPartners, 133 F. Supp. 3d at
958 n.7. In Calphalon, unlike the instant case, the quality of the parties’ relationship revealed
that the nonresident defendant’s contacts with the forum State were “purely ‘fortuitous’ and
‘attenuated.’” 228 F.3d at 722. Notably, the parties’ relationship “centered” on the defendant’s
No. 16-1027                          AlixPartners v. Brewington                        Page 9

work outside the forum State and the defendant’s communications and physical visits to the
forum “occurred solely because [the plaintiff] chose to be headquartered in [the forum], not
because [the defendant] sought to further its business and create ‘continuous and substantial’
consequences there.” Id. at 723. Based on the fact that the defendant “did not make a deliberate
affiliation with th[e] state nor could [it] reasonably foresee possible litigation there,” the
agreement’s Ohio choice-of-law provision was not decisive. Id. In contrast, Brewington’s
contacts with Michigan are not purely fortuitous and attenuated.            He made a deliberate
connection with the forum State and its residents that was centered in part on his work in
Michigan.     Moreover, the Michigan choice-of-law provision in Brewington’s employment
agreement, when combined with his relationship with Alix’s Michigan office, “reinforce[s] his
deliberate affiliation with the forum State . . . .” Burger King, 471 U.S. at 482.

       Brewington’s primary argument is that, in light of the fact that Alix is not a Michigan
resident, the Court must determine whether Alix’s connection with Michigan is sufficient for
Brewington to have anticipated being haled into court there. Brewington’s argument misses the
mark. The minimum contacts analysis focuses on “the defendant’s contacts with the forum State
itself, not the defendant’s contacts with persons who reside there.” Walden, 134 S. Ct. at 1122
(citations omitted).   Thus, the “plaintiff’s residence in the forum State is not a separate
requirement, and lack of residence will not defeat jurisdiction established on the basis of
defendant’s contacts.” Keeton v. Hustler Magazine, Inc., 465 U.S. 770, 780 (1984); see also
Walden, 134 S. Ct. at 1124–25 (noting that the plaintiff’s contacts with the defendant and the
forum cannot “drive the jurisdictional analysis”).        We agree with the district court that
“[r]egardless of [Alix’s] status as a forum resident, [Brewington’s] actions established
connections with Michigan,” AlixPartners, 133 F. Supp. 3d at 959, and therefore, Alix’s
purported “lack of ‘contacts’” with Michigan “will not defeat . . . jurisdiction,” Calder v. Jones,
465 U.S. 783, 788 (1984) (citing Keeton, 465 U.S. at 779–81).

                                                 2.

       We next consider whether Alix’s action arises from Brewington’s contacts with
Michigan. “We have articulated the standard for this prong in a number of different ways, such
as whether the causes of action were made possible by or lie in the wake of the defendant’s
No. 16-1027                          AlixPartners v. Brewington                           Page 10

contacts, or whether the causes of action are related to or connected with the defendant’s contacts
with the forum state[.]” Air Prods., 503 F.3d at 553 (citations and internal quotation marks
omitted). It is clear, however, that this is a “‘lenient standard’” and “the cause of action need not
‘formally’ arise from defendant’s contacts.” Id. (quoting Bird, 289 F.3d at 875). At a minimum,
this factor is satisfied if “‘the cause of action, of whatever type, ha[s] a substantial connection
with the defendant’s in-state activities.’” Bird, 289 F.3d at 875 (quoting Third Nat’l Bank v.
Wedge Grp., Inc., 882 F.2d 1087, 1091 (6th Cir. 1989)).

       Alix brought a declaratory judgment action seeking to determine the parties’ rights under
Brewington’s employment agreement, which, as explained above, was centered in part on
Brewington’s activities in Michigan. Prior to and during his employment, Brewington frequently
communicated with Alix’s Michigan-based personnel concerning the negotiation, execution, and
performance of the agreement.        Pursuant to that agreement, which contains a Michigan
choice-of-law provision, Brewington agreed to resolve “any dispute” through arbitration, and the
scope of that arbitration clause is at issue in the instant action. “Especially given that this prong
is a ‘lenient standard,’ that the cause of action need not ‘formally’ arise from [Brewington’s]
contacts, and that [Alix] need only make a prima facie showing of jurisdiction under the
procedural posture of this case, this prong is satisfied in this case.” Air Prods., 503 F.3d at 554.

                                                 3.

       The final requirement is “whether exercising personal jurisdiction over [Brewington]
would be reasonable, i.e., whether it would comport with traditional notions of fair play and
substantial justice.” CompuServe, 89 F.3d at 1267–68 (citations and internal quotation marks
omitted). Where, as here, “the first two criteria are met . . . only the unusual case will not meet
this third criterion.” Theunissen, 935 F.2d at 1461) (citations and quotation marks omitted). In
analyzing this requirement, we consider a number of factors, including: “(1) the burden on the
defendant; (2) the interest of the forum state; (3) the plaintiff’s interest in obtaining relief; and
(4) other states’ interest in securing the most efficient resolution of the policy.” Air Prods.,
503 F.3d at 554–55 (citation omitted).
No. 16-1027                         AlixPartners v. Brewington                         Page 11

       Brewington argues that it would be unreasonable to subject him to personal jurisdiction
in Michigan because “the current dispute has only a tenuous connection with the State of
Michigan.”    As explained above, however, Brewington deliberately affiliated himself with
Michigan and its residents, and the fact that Brewington lives in Texas does not overcome the
inference of reasonableness. See, e.g., Youn v. Track, Inc., 324 F.3d 409, 420 (6th Cir. 2003)
(“We have also upheld specific jurisdiction in cases where doing so forced the defendant to
travel.”). “Because there is an inference of reasonableness when the first two Southern Machine
prongs are satisfied, and because there are no considerations put forward by [Brewington] to
overcome or contradict that inference, the exercise of jurisdiction is reasonable under the
circumstances of this case.” Air Prods., 503 F.3d at 555; see also AlixPartners, 133 F. Supp. 3d
at 960 (“While this Court may not be the most convenient forum for Defendant, it is a reasonable
one given that the contract was formed, and partly carried out, in Michigan.”).

       Finding that Brewington is subject to personal jurisdiction in Michigan, we next review
the district court’s grant of Alix’s motion for summary judgment.

                                                B.

       Brewington concedes that our review of Alix’s motion for summary judgment is
controlled by Reed Elsevier, Inc. ex rel. LexisNexis Division v. Crockett, in which we held that
“the question whether an arbitration agreement permits classwide arbitration is a gateway matter,
which is reserved for judicial determination unless the parties clearly and unmistakably provide
otherwise.” 734 F.3d at 599 (citation and quotation marks omitted); see also Huffman v. Hilltop
Cos., LLC, 747 F.3d 391, 398 (6th Cir. 2014).

       Brewington argues that the broadly-worded arbitration clause in his employment
agreement “clearly and unmistakably” establishes that the parties agreed to submit the question
of whether the agreement permits classwide arbitration to the arbitrator. But the arbitration
clause is “silent as to whether an arbitrator or a court should determine the question of classwide
arbitrability, meaning the determination lies with this court.” Huffman, 747 F.3d at 398 (citing
Reed Elsevier, 734 F.3d at 599). Given this silence, the clause’s broad language covering “any
dispute” is insufficient evidence that the parties intended for the arbitrator to decide this
No. 16-1027                         AlixPartners v. Brewington                         Page 12

question, Reed Elsevier, 734 F.3d at 599, as is the incorporation of the AAA’s rules,
see Huffman, 747 F.3d at 393–94, 398; Reed Elsevier, 734 F.3d at 599-600. We must therefore
decide whether the parties agreed to arbitrate. Reed Elsevier, 734 F.3d at 599 (citation omitted).

       An agreement must expressly include the possibility of classwide arbitration for us to
conclude that the parties agreed to it. Id. at 600; see also Huffman, 747 F.3d at 398–99. This
arbitration clause is silent on the availability of classwide arbitration, and we may not presume
from “mere silence” that the parties consented to it. See Stolt-Nielsen S.A. v. AnimalFeeds Int’l
Corp., 559 U.S. 662, 687 (2010). Further, the clause limits its scope to claims “arising out of or
in connection with any aspect of this Agreement,” as opposed to other employees’ and/or
potential employees’ agreements, and states that the arbitrator’s decision “shall be final and
binding as to both parties.”    The mere incorporation of the AAA’s rules is not sufficient
evidence that the parties agreed to classwide arbitration. See Huffman, 747 F.3d at 393–94, 398–
99; Reed Elsevier, 734 F.3d at 599–600. We therefore conclude that the parties’ arbitration
clause does not authorize classwide arbitration, and hold that Brewington must proceed on an
individual basis.

                                      III. CONCLUSION

       For the foregoing reasons, the orders of the district court are affirmed.

       So ordered.