Joshua Baker, et al. v. PJ Ohio, LLC, et al.

Summary

The court held Defendants’ motion to stay the proceedings and compel arbitration in abeyance because Plaintiffs disputed formation of the arbitration agreements. The court ordered limited discovery concerning the agreements’ validity, referred that discovery to the magistrate judge, set a summary trial for May 14, 2026, and imposed an April 14, 2026 discovery deadline.

Holdings

1. Conflicting electronic records and affidavits denying signature created a genuine dispute of fact concerning formation of the arbitration agreements, including whether Plaintiffs agreed to arbitrate at all.
2. The motion to stay the proceedings and compel arbitration should be held in abeyance while the parties conduct narrowly tailored discovery and proceed to a summary trial limited to formation of the arbitration agreements.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the conflicting electronic records and Plaintiffs' affidavits created a genuine dispute of fact concerning formation and validity of the arbitration agreements.
2. Whether the court should hold Defendants' motion to stay the proceedings and compel arbitration in abeyance and permit limited discovery followed by a summary trial under 9 U.S.C. § 4.

Disposition

other